Not at all, i agree with bullet and shooter mean much more than caliber!!! People focus way to much on caliber instead of bullet for the job and efficiency!
New Antelope Rilfe Help
- Thread starter gtk
- Start date
Tnshooter15
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2020
- Messages
- 251
Look into the 25-06.
DaveB
Well-Known Member
I have seen an antelope at 400 yards. They are slightly larger than fawn of the year size
They like to hang out where the wind never stops.
There are generally some natural range flags but they look like a hurricane is in the area they flap so hard at 6 mph .
Whatever you choose, bring plenty of ammo. Start practicing your low-crawl wearing a gillie.
400 yards is doable if no/little wind and they aren't spooked and moving all around like kids in a candy shop.
Ya got to be closer.
It'll be a lot of fun.
They like to hang out where the wind never stops.
There are generally some natural range flags but they look like a hurricane is in the area they flap so hard at 6 mph .
Whatever you choose, bring plenty of ammo. Start practicing your low-crawl wearing a gillie.
400 yards is doable if no/little wind and they aren't spooked and moving all around like kids in a candy shop.
Ya got to be closer.
It'll be a lot of fun.
7mm08
Well-Known Member
Cause that's what I shoot and I'm cool! Ha!
I shoot a encore 243, with a trigger job. My longest lve killed is 324 yards, but most of my antelope are usually under 200.
TiminTN
Well-Known Member
I have been to northwest New Mexico 13 seasons antelope hunting. 280AI to 7/338RUM. Pick out a nice flat shooting cartridge, learn its trajectory and get comfortable in your ability and stay within that range on attempted shots. Never attempt a running shot. Never went with a rifle I built, would love to go again.
I would love to hunt that area just once. From Raton & east, that Hwy that runs to Capulin volcano, is plum covered up with antelope. I have seen some huge antelope on that stretch of road, and herd after herd of them.
PillsburyDoughboy
Well-Known Member
Light weight and factory ammo concerns I would think 6.5Cm more likely to find ammo at most box stores in a pinch.
Get a good trigger and a good Leupold with ballistic calibrated dial and ur good to go.
Get a good trigger and a good Leupold with ballistic calibrated dial and ur good to go.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2016
- Messages
- 9,298
Very interesting thread...3 pages and not much love for the CM.... 
How dare anyone even imply that there might be something better....
My opinion...If my plans were to be shooting past about 500 yards...one of the 6.5s..likely the PRC. If closer...the 7/08. The 6.5s won't gain the advantage till about the 500 yrd line.
This of course depends on your ability to handle the massive, bone crushing recoil of the 7/08...
How dare anyone even imply that there might be something better....
My opinion...If my plans were to be shooting past about 500 yards...one of the 6.5s..likely the PRC. If closer...the 7/08. The 6.5s won't gain the advantage till about the 500 yrd line.
This of course depends on your ability to handle the massive, bone crushing recoil of the 7/08...
Ok i will playVery interesting thread...3 pages and not much love for the CM....
How dare anyone even imply that there might be something better....
My opinion...If my plans were to be shooting past about 500 yards...one of the 6.5s..likely the PRC. If closer...the 7/08. The 6.5s won't gain the advantage till about the 500 yrd line.
This of course depends on your ability to handle the massive, bone crushing recoil of the 7/08...
i cant walk into any store in this county and pick up a box of 7mm-08 , or 6.5 prc, but i can grab 6.5 creedmoor eldx at any of them, that matters when you dont reload now if i was to start fresh with no rifles what so ever i would have sunk all the money i put into 10 different calibers, scopes, and ammo in a nice 270 with a vx5 and a bunch of ammo and called it good
Last edited:
Ooh ooh my turn. 6.5 PRC, 7-08, 6.5 CM. We can salivate over long range performance, but as OP said, 400yards max. When you cut it off there, you have the following (all with Hornady precision hunter eld-x for uniformity. 100y zero and 20mph crosswind):
6.5 PRC: 2477 FPS, 1949 ft-lbs, 23.1" drop, 13.4" drift
6.5 CM: 2244 FPS, 1598 ft-lbs, 28.9" drop, 15.3" drift
7-08: 2268 FPS, 1713 ft-lbs, 27.6" drop, 16.2" drift
They all meet velocity minimums and energy "minimums". The PRC is the straightest shooting. Let me add the 25-06 (would be my choice if I were to buy an antelope specific rifle).
25-06: 2478 FPS, 1500 ft-lbs, 21.3" drop, 17.1" drift
Bottom line, they all do the job. 6.5 cm and 25-05 recoil the least. 6.5 prc the most (although still not hard). The biggest drawback to me on the prc is barrel life. 900-1200 rounds is what's reported for barrel life. If you're going to shoot a lot in preparation, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to have to rebarrel every 2-3 years. All the other choices beat the PRC by thousands of rounds in barrel life.
I would take 25-06 and then 6.5 cm for antelope within 400y. Just my $.02
Now all that being said - I only own one of these, and it's the 6.5 PRC lol. I absolutely love it, and will be taking it for antelope this fall. I bought it as more of a western deer gun, and planned to buy a 25-06 this spring to use for antelope this fall, but I don't feel like spending that money right now so the PRC is coming with me. I certainly will be buying a 25-06 in the near future though.
6.5 PRC: 2477 FPS, 1949 ft-lbs, 23.1" drop, 13.4" drift
6.5 CM: 2244 FPS, 1598 ft-lbs, 28.9" drop, 15.3" drift
7-08: 2268 FPS, 1713 ft-lbs, 27.6" drop, 16.2" drift
They all meet velocity minimums and energy "minimums". The PRC is the straightest shooting. Let me add the 25-06 (would be my choice if I were to buy an antelope specific rifle).
25-06: 2478 FPS, 1500 ft-lbs, 21.3" drop, 17.1" drift
Bottom line, they all do the job. 6.5 cm and 25-05 recoil the least. 6.5 prc the most (although still not hard). The biggest drawback to me on the prc is barrel life. 900-1200 rounds is what's reported for barrel life. If you're going to shoot a lot in preparation, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to have to rebarrel every 2-3 years. All the other choices beat the PRC by thousands of rounds in barrel life.
I would take 25-06 and then 6.5 cm for antelope within 400y. Just my $.02
Now all that being said - I only own one of these, and it's the 6.5 PRC lol. I absolutely love it, and will be taking it for antelope this fall. I bought it as more of a western deer gun, and planned to buy a 25-06 this spring to use for antelope this fall, but I don't feel like spending that money right now so the PRC is coming with me. I certainly will be buying a 25-06 in the near future though.
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2016
- Messages
- 9,298
Don't misunderstand, I'm not bashing any of them...I just find it interesting... considering some other conversations we've had about the CM. I have nothing against the CM, I've owned a few of them...as well as Swedes, Grendel's, 260s, and now a 6.5-284. When deciding on the -284, I was also looking at the PRC. Components were non-existent for both. Then, I got an email from SPS...they had -284 brass in stock. I ordered some and went and bought the rifle. I like the 6.5s...no other reason other than just to be different.....and did before they were "cool". I don't shoot long distance either.Ok i will play
As for ammo availability....I can buy all 3 today...online. And I dang sure wouldn't wait till I got where I was going to hunt to start looking for ammo. I would take it with me.
There is nothing about this post that's meant to piss in anyone's oatmeal. God knows I've done lost enough friends over my opinion of the CM. And I don't even thinking badly of it. Just for 99 percent of hunters, there are better choices. Most hunter's don't have any business shooting at critters 500+ yards away. Inside 500, the 7/08 is the better/more versatile choice. Actually, there are a bunch of better choices.
Again, this is just my opinion....don't no one go and get butt hurt over it.
Here is a comparison Chart I've started. 6.5CM has the most choices.
Goals are (besides accuracy)
1. Lightweight
2. 400-500 yard capable
I really dislike muzzle breaks. I want to keep what little hearing I have left. Probably not going to spend $2k on a rifle either.
I shoot right handed guns left handed, so those models with fancy stock/cheek rests are out of the question
Goals are (besides accuracy)
1. Lightweight
2. 400-500 yard capable
I really dislike muzzle breaks. I want to keep what little hearing I have left. Probably not going to spend $2k on a rifle either.
I shoot right handed guns left handed, so those models with fancy stock/cheek rests are out of the question
| Cost | Weight | Barrel Length | Muzzle Break | |||
| 7mm-08 | A-Bolt III Comp Stalker | 700.00 | 6lb 10oz | 22" | N | |
| X-Bolt Comp Stalker | 1,000.00 | 6lb 5oz | 22" | N | ||
| X-Bolt Speed | 1,380.00 | 6lb 5oz | 22" | Y | Fluted Barrel, Cerakote | |
| 6.5CM | A-Bolt III Comp Stalker | 700.00 | 6lb 10oz | 22" | N | |
| X-Bolt Comp Stalker | 1,000.00 | 6lb 5oz | 22" | N | ||
| X-Bolt Stainless Stalker | 1,330.00 | 6lb 5oz | 22" | N | Matte Stainless | |
| X-Bolt LR Speed | 1,400.00 | 7lb 3oz | 26" | Y | Fluted Barrel, Cerakote | |
| X-Bolt SR Speed | 1,430.00 | 6lb 2oz | 18" | Y | Fluted Sporter Barrel | |
| X-Bolt Speed | 1,380.00 | 6lb 5oz | 22" | Y | Fluted Barrel, Cerakote | |
| X-Bolt Hells Canyon | 2,530.00 | 7lb 7oz | 26" | Y | Fluted Barrel, Cerakote, Picatinny rail | |
| X-Bolt Mountain Pro | 2,630.00 | 5lb 14oz | 22" | Y | Carbon Fiber, Fluted Sporter Barrel | |
| X-Bolt Mountain Pro | 2,630.00 | 5lb 14oz | 22" | Y | Carbon Fiber, Fluted , | |
| X-Bolt Mountain Pro SPR | 2,660.00 | 5lb 12oz | 18" | Y | Carbon Fiber, Fluted Sporter Barrel | |
| X-Bolt Pro | 2,330.00 | 5lb 14oz | 22" | Y | Carbon Fiber, Fluted Sporter Barrel | |
| 6.5 PRC | X-Bolt Mount Pro PRC | 2,650.00 | 6lb 2oz | 24" | Y | Carbon Fiber, Fluted Sporter Barrel |
| X-Bolt Hells Canyon LR | 2,580.00 | 7lb 7oz | 26" | Y | Fluted Barrel, Cerakote, Picatinny rail | |
| X-Bolt Speed | 1,430.00 | 7lb | 24" | Y | Fluted Barrel, Cerakote | |
| X-Bolt Pro | 2,380.00 | 6lb 2oz | 24" | Y | Fluted Sporter Barrel | |
| X-Bolt Hells Canyon LR | 1,400.00 | 7lb 3oz | 26" | Y | Fluted Barrel, Cerakote | |
| X-Bolt Mount Pro SPR | 2,680.00 | 6lb | 20" | Y | Fluted Barrel |
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2016
- Messages
- 9,298
My buddy has the hells canyon speed in 7/08. Nice rifle!!
No longer in production .. Wonder why the quit making those..?
Maybe I missed it in the posts, but why don't you want .308 Winchester?
PillsburyDoughboy
Well-Known Member
Absolutely nothing wrong with the .308. And in some cases might be better. In a lightweight or festherweight rifle u will feel more in the backend in terms of recoil. So that would be a consideration.
6.5 CM gives u slightly better trajectory 0-400. Depending on one's zero and ammo selection you could hold dead nuts zero to 400 and be good to go on most big game.
I generally recommend the Leupold scopes and getting a CDS Dial sent to the factory for the load you plan on shooting and be done with it. Get a Laser range finder and spend some time shooting in different shooting positions off the bench before you go hunting to simulate field positions and you should be gold.
Good Luck in whatever you choose.
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2016
- Messages
- 9,298
No idea. I think he got his a year or so ago. Maybe 2 years.
Because 8 out of 10 center fire rifles sold is a 6.5 CM and companies are diverting production to chamberings that sell.
I've got one in 7rem mag and it's great
