which should I take?

[7magnum]

I have a 30-06, 25-06 and 7 mm mag. All shoot less than MOA. I am going on an atelope hunt this fall and would welcome any input as to which would be the "best" gun for my hunt. I heard that it is pretty windy on most days in the are I am going to be in. I am leaning toward the 7 mag with a 120 grain tipped tsx (smokin' fast). Let's hear what you have to say.

[versifier]

Welcome to Gunloads 7mag. Not many antelope in NH, so I'm not much help, but I think you ought to get a few good opinions.

[klausg]

7magnum-
Having spent quite a few years in Wyoming, I may be slightly better qualified than versifier to answer your question. First any of the calibers metioned will work. Antelope aren't particularily big or hard to kill. That being said, speed isn't everything; I personally have never had much luck trying to develop a decent load in the lighter for caliber range. Perhaps that would be better put as I nearly always get better accuracy in the heavier bullet weights for a given caliber. Also the heavier bullets generally have better BC's and definitely don't get bucked by the wind nearly as much. I would lean towards 100-120gr in .257, 140-160gr in .284, and 165-180 in .308. All that being said, I used to use a .25-06 w/a Nosler 120 gr. Partition for everything when I lived in Wyoming, of course it was the only rifle I had at the time. Good luck on your trip!

-Klaus

[kodiak1]

7magnum I have had no troubles at all with the 25-06 120 GRN bullet by speer.
Good Luck on getting that speed goat.
Ken.

[runfiverun]

that 25-06 would work
but to buck the wind and you like the 7mm
i would just use the hornady 139.

most of the time the wind is 10-15 mph in wyo.
and for antelope 300 yd is still a pretty far shot.

would learn your drift tables for what you are going to shoot.
as a 10mph wind will move that 139 off less than 6" at that distance

but a 20 mph gust will ruin a pair of boots.

[dale clawson]

25-06 with 117 gr. Hornady Interlock 4831 powder. Antelope medicine. DALE