Won the lottery--what caliber?

mozey

Long Time Member
Messages
3,045
The NM lottery gods smiled on me this year and I drew a OIL desert bighorn on the Armendaris Ranch. I'm trying to decide which of my rifles (25-06, 7mmRemMag, or 300 WSM), I should go with (I shoot them all reasonably well out to 500 yards). Or should I use this hunt as justification to get a new rifle in either 270 or 270 WSM (been waiting for a good reason to get one of these for awhile now).

From what I've heard, this hunt is not that difficult, but being a OIL I'd like to improve my chances however I can.

What would you all recommend?
 
You poor, poor soul Mozey lol! I used my Tikka 300WSM on my White Sands desert sheep hunt last year. Everything Stillwater165 said is spot on. Was it overkill? Most likely, but I'm very confident with that rifle and didn't want to fool around. That being said, the rifle I bought this morning would probably be the one I'd want to use for sheep if/when I have a do-over. The NM draw Gods gave me my 4th antelope tag in the last 5 years, so I saw that as an omen. I picked up a Browning Hell's Canyon Speed 6.5 Creedmore at Sportsman's in Albuquerque and after the mail in rebate, I paid $899 for it. BTW, they had one more in 6.5 left haha!

Seriously man, anything you mentioned will be more than adequate. My sheep MIGHT have field dressed 160-165, so they're not that big. We can talk some time about the sheep hunt. I'll PM ya.

Phil
 
Congrats Mozey!

My 13 year old daughter shot her ram on the Armendaris with her 243wssm with a 100 grain Speer Pro Hunter at 325 yards. One shot and he ran 20 yards and tipped. In jealous but excited for you! Any rifle you shoot we'll will tip a ram over. I can't wait to see your ram and hear the story!

Jed
 
Get a Weatherby Mark 5 in 270 weatherby mag, I have one and its the sweetest shooter I have in the collection.
PB
 
Any of the rifles would work. But a 6.5 Creedmoore may be what you need. A nice lite rifle easy to pack. Ya you need a a new sheep gun. ?Congrats on your tag !!!
 
Of the guns you have I would say 25-06. I used a 308 for my rocky in 2011 and it was plenty. WHEN I draw my desert tag I will probably be packing a 240 weatherby, although a 257 wby in a mark v ultra light would be tough to beat...
 
I would use the 7 mag of what you have. more bullet weight for the wind.

But if I were buying a gun just for pronghorn I'd buy a 264 Win Mag. or something similar let's face it we're splitting hairs here.

















Stay Thirsty My Friends
 
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>I would use the 7 mag
>of what you have. more
>bullet weight for the wind.
>
>
>But if I were buying a
>gun just for pronghorn I'd
>buy a 264 Win Mag.
> or something similar let's
>face it we're splitting hairs
>here.
>
>


Two thumbs up! 7mm caliber is hard to beat and the Rem cartridge is just a classic!

With that said, there's nothing wrong with .308 caliber in a variety of cartridges or .277 calibers for that matter.

Zeke
 
Nothing wrong with any of the calibers you have. I'd pick the 7mm and spend time practicing angled shots from field positions.
 
Pick the rifle you shoot best of the three you have. the money you save on buying a new rifle should go for plenty of ammo for practice before the hunt. Bullet placement is far more important then caliber used.

RELH
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

LAST EDITED ON Apr-17-17 AT 10:40PM (MST)[p]Just for the record, I've killed multiple animals and have had a lot of practice with all three. So assuming my proficiency with each one, my original question has more to do with which caliber is best suited for the desert bighorn and the hunting terrain/conditions that I'll be in.

I do appreciate the feedback thus far. It's making me think I'll be armed with a capable tool regardless, but it's also influencing me more heavily toward one of the three. I do reload, so maybe I should instead be asking what bullet? I've had a lot of good luck with 139-grain SSTs & RL-22...

Muchos gracias!
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

LAST EDITED ON Apr-18-17 AT 07:08AM (MST)[p]Sheep are small and easy to kill. Caliber is not a big factor. Shoot the rifle you would use if your life depended on making one well-placed shot.

I have been blessed to take two sheep - including an AZ desert ram - and am going for my 3/4 slam in August. Like many, I'm a good shot, but not an expert at long range. IMO folks tend to get in their mind sheep hunting means long range shooting, when that is simply not the case. 90% of the time any ram can be stalked to 300 or under. I believe the "long range" mindset can often provide an opportunity for needless trouble and is where most mistakes are made on sheep because many "stretch" their comfort zone with longer shots than necessary when just a little patience would have resulted in a much more comfortable shot.

Case in point: my desert ram was unaware of us but on the move feeding with 2 other rams. I had one opportunity at him at 520 yards, but declined. Was able to stalk in close and make a much more comfortable 220 yard shot an hour later. It made all the difference in the world - as a OIL opportunity was riding on that shot.

If you are an expert at long range shooting, then disregard all of the above. :)

Congratulations on a great tag and have a great hunt!
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

>LAST EDITED ON Apr-17-17
>AT 10:40?PM (MST)

>
>Just for the record, I've killed
>multiple animals and have had
>a lot of practice with
>all three. So assuming
>my proficiency with each one,
>my original question has more
>to do with which caliber
>is best suited for the
>desert bighorn and the hunting
>terrain/conditions that I'll be in.
>
>
>I do appreciate the feedback thus
>far. It's making me
>think I'll be armed with
>a capable tool regardless, but
>it's also influencing me more
>heavily toward one of the
>three. I do reload,
>so maybe I should instead
>be asking what bullet?
>I've had a lot of
>good luck with 139-grain SSTs
>& RL-22...
>
>Muchos gracias!

So to answer your question again: The 7mm caliber is excellent and the Rem cartridge cartridge is what to use. The LR ability of that cartridge is legendary (which you'll probably never need). The wind drift is better than the others mentioned until you get into the really heavy 30 cal bullets, which you don't need that bullet mass for sheep.
Since it looks like you've had good luck with Hornady bullets, I'd try some of the new 150 ELD-X pills and practice to ranges well beyond what you'd actually attempt in the field.

Just my 2 cents,
Zeke
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

Thanks for that--I do have some 180-grain ELDs that I'm currently experimenting with the 300, but I haven't previously considered trying them out with my 7mm.
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

The 178 ELD-X 308 cal has a BC of .552 whereas the 150 7MM has a BC of .573 and I suspect the 7mm mag will shoot the 150's facter than the WSM will shoot the 178's.... which makes the 7mm Rem Mag the winner with reduced recoil and you don't need the bullet mass of the 178's in a 30 cal for sheep.

We are simply splitting hairs here now.

Zeke
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

....and a HUGE congratulation on pulling a great tag! Any sheep tag is the best of the best IMHO.

Zeke
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

Thank you--and to be honest, "splitting hairs" is the point I wanted to get to, so in my mind this is all good. I've yet to shoot anything but targets with ELD-Xs, so I need to do a little more research on how they perform once they make contact with a sheep-sized animal.
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

If you're going to split hairs, IMO a Nosler Partition, Accubond, or any old good old cup and core bullet is preferable for sheep than a monometal bullet.

Shoot what your rifle likes of those types. If it doesn't like any of those types but likes monometals - shoot them if that particular rifle is your security blanket. If not wed to a particular rifle, start over and see above. My 2 cents.

My old Sako has always liked plain old Winchester PowerPoints in the gray box. So that's what I used on my desert.
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

I've shot a couple antelope and an elk with the 143 .264 ELD-X and they worked just fine. It's a great choice for deer, sheep, antelope but I prefer a bullet with a bit heavier construction or a larger starting mass for elk.

The 178 gr ELD-x in the 300 WSM should be great for elk IMO but I've not used them yet.

I'm using the ELD-X 212 .308 caliber in a 300 RUM for elk this year and that should have enough mass to perform well at most ranges but way more "rip n snort" that needed for sheep.

My last sheep was a couple years ago with a 280 AI loaded with 150 BT Nosler. The 150 ELD-X from your 7mm Rem Mag would be near identical to what I used.

Zeke
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

>If you're going to split hairs,
>IMO a Nosler Partition, Accubond,
>or any old good old
>cup and core bullet is
>preferable for sheep than a
>monometal bullet.
>


ELD-X is a streamlined cup and core Hornady bullet, not a monolithic projectile.

Zeke
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

Thanks all--based on this I'm probably going to use my 7mm, and start with 139 gr SSTs, but also experiment a little with a 150 gr ELD-X to see if I can beat the SST's accuracy. I've got a few months to get it right.

After that: fine-tuning the 300 for my BC moose in October. It's funny how instantly my priorities shifted after drawing the bighorn, but if you have any opinions on the best moose medicine out of 300 WSM, I'm all ears.
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

I'd load that WSM with 180 Accubonds for your sheep and moose. Kill both and never look back. mtmuley
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

I've never tried Accubonds in this rifle (Tikka). I experimented with Partitions with several different combinations but I've never shot better than a 2" group with those (whereas I've been able to get sub-MOA with Hornady and Barnes), and that turned me off to Noslers in general. Do you have a particular recipe that you like for Accubonds? I'm always willing to try a new load...
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

LAST EDITED ON Apr-24-17 AT 09:30PM (MST)[p]I had a similar dilemma mozey, but in my case, I was headed for a Stone Sheep hunt and choosing between a 300 WSM and a 270WSM.
Both shot adequate 1 to 1.25 MOA groups, but I was hoping to get one to drive tacks.
I messed with different loads, but never found the magic, so I stuck with the 300 since it had killed my other three sheep. In the end I never got to fire a shot making the choice a mute issue. I did however have a sticking trigger problem that could have spelled disaster so make sure whatever you are using is clean and in great working order.

It sounds like you are choosing the 7mag, which is a great choice.

I will tell you that our friend Zeke is building me a new light weight 6.5 Creedmoor (BIG JOHN's recommended sheep gun) for perhaps one more try at a Black Sheep.

Best of luck and keep us posted.
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

Thanks for the input. Yes--I'm leaning towards the 7mm for the sheep hunt and the 300 for the moose hunt. However, I'm going to take both rifles to a smith and give them a tuneup before I make my final decision. After the tuneup, if I shoot either equivalent or tighter groups with the 300, that's the one that will be going sheep hunting.

I will admit that all this talk about Creedmoors is making think about it, but if I miss with one of those I won't very well be able to blame the rifle... ;-)
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

mozey,
It's obvious that you know how very rare sheep hunts are and getting all your ducks in a row is critical, especially your shooting.
I felt the same way with all my sheep hunts and shooting at distance suddenly became a real factor to get more control of. I upped my practice and made sure that I was not going to mess up the shot.
The funny thing is, all three of my sheep were unaware of my presence, and taken at very reasonable distance.
My Rocky was feeding at 110 yards and dropped like a rock. The Dall was the longest at 360 yards, but he was laying down when we snuck up on him and I had 20 minutes to settle my nerves and rest over a rock before he finally stood up. I also snuck in to 150 yards on my desert and he was about half asleep as well. At that distance I could examine every hair on his body, and I couldn't figure any way I could miss so I thumped him in his bed.

You are in for a real adventure and I hope your shot will be as easy as mine have been.
Best of luck and keep us posted.
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

Congrats on the upcoming hunts! I do believe that the guns you already have will work just fine, but it is a great excuse for another one...or two :)

I killed my sheep with a 270 wsm and a 130 gr barnes tsx. I had practiced lots at varying ranges and positions and ended up killing it at just under a football field away. It worked great, that same combo has also worked great on deer, elk, bear, moose, antelope, coyotes, praire dogs, and rock chucks. I am very confident in that set up and would shoot anything with it. Whichever you decided I would shoot it a ton so you have lots of confidence in it. Having said that, a browning xbolt hells canyon speed in 6.5 creedmoor has also found a spot into my gun safe and my heart and it is a sweet little shooter that would make a great sheep gun. Good luck, have fun, and let us know what you decide. PS I will be shooting either the ELDX or the Nosler Accubond LR in the creedmoor this fall.
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

Thank you for your insights. I dropped both guns off at a smith last night. Among other things, I'm putting a muzzle brake on each per his recommendation. I'm pumped. I ordered some 150-grain ELD-X and Hornady brass for the 7mm, but I'm still trying to decide which powders to try. I know it's a mental thing, but I'm hoping to stay above 3K fps muzzle velocity.

I also got some 180-grain Accubonds and Nosler brass for the 300.

These hunts are all I think about. I've just started my last semester for my MBA at UNM, which will be done the last weekend in July. At this rate it will be a miracle if I actually pass my classes... ;-)
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

The last 7mm Rem Mags I loaded was for my son's desert sheep hunt and was loaded with the new temp insensitive IMR 7977 and the velocity was north of 3100 with the 150 bullet.

My 280 AI is at 3090 with the same weight bullet and same powder but a different charge amount, of course.

Zeke
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

No but it'll be easy to look tonight when I get home.

Note: Please please please remember that my 7mm Rem Mag load might be fine in your rifle but it might be too hot also. Always start lower and work up while keeping an eye on pressure signs.

To get a range of powder charge, go to the Hodgdon's reloading site and look up their minimum and maximum loads. I see it's 65 to 70.9 grains os IMR 7977 with a 150 gr bullet (Nosler partition, which I didn't use but the powder data is a good place to start) They show about 3040 fps as max but I got a bit more out of the cartridge than that.

Zeke
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

Thanks, Zeke. No worries about max loads--in my limited reloading I've never even attempted a manual's stated max load and I don't intend to start now. I know there is science behind it if I'm willing to educate myself, but it's just not something that I'm willing to mess with--I always limit my personal max to a couple grains less than whatever the manuals state.
 
RE: Won the--what caliber?

My "Sheep" rifle is a Browning XBolt Carbon Stainless Stalker in 270wsm and it's one of the most accurate out of the box rifles I own. It's what I would take on a sheep hunt if I drew soon and it's what I pack on most of my Barbary hunts due to it's weight. That being said, you're sheep hunt doesn't require you to be a weight Nazi. I would take whichever rifle you're the most comfortable with and have the most confidence in. Just my .02.
 
>Pick the rifle you shoot best
>of the three you have.
>the money you save on
>buying a new rifle should
>go for plenty of ammo
>for practice before the hunt.
>Bullet placement is far more
>important then caliber used.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> RELH

I agree completely.
Save your money for power bars and the taxidermist!

Good luck.
 
I was really leaning towards my 7mm, but after getting both rifles back from the gunsmith, the 300WSM is consistently shooting tighter groups than my 7mm. I'm still experimenting with different loads, but if my hunt were tomorrow, I'd feel really good about taken the 300: Nosler brass/CCI primers/ 150-grain TTSXs/59 grains of 4064 = consistent 3/4" groups. This really is a pleasant surprise.

The best I've been able to do with my 7mm is a hair over an inch, which is actually not quite as good as I was getting before getting it worked on. And it's not consistent yet either. I haven't previously shot it much during summer months, so I'm hoping it will go back to its old self once these NM temps cool down.
 
A big thanks to all of you for your help. My 300 WSM did what I needed it to do:

21365armendarisranchhunt.jpg
 
That's awesome man!
The bases are just massive on that beauty!

Huge congrats,
Zeke


#livelikezac
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-25-17 AT 05:37PM (MST)[p]Sure Zeke, I believe I owe you for all of your sound advice.

This hunt took place in the Fra Cristobal mountain range on Ted Turner's Armendaris Ranch in New Mexico. Not being public land, I was allowed one weekend to scout before my hunt, and because I was in the middle of finishing my final semester for my MBA, the only weekend I had free was seven weeks prior to my hunt (last Jun 30/July 1).

I took two fellow MM brotherhood members with me (one that recently killed a 172" desert) and we first spotted this ram along with his harem and two other rams on Jun 30. We continued scouting the rest of that day and the next, and saw at least 40 other sheep, but none that looked as big as this guy.

Because of work, school, and ranch restrictions, I was not able to get back to the ranch until the day before my hunt. On the day before we spotted another 120 sheep, including one really good ram that in hindsight may have outscored mine because of better symmetry. But from just eyeballing him, he still did not look as big to me as how I remembered this ram. So we headed back to the same canyon that we had saw him seven weeks earlier, and sure enough we jumped him again, and he still looked bigger to me than anything else we had seen. Looked like he was still with the same bunch of ewes, but the other two rams were no longer around.

So I made plans to go after him specifically the next morning. Before the sun peaked over the mountain I spotted a group of sheep feeding their way up a ridge about a mile from where we had seen them the previous afternoon. I wasn't positive it was same group, but I could tell in the mix was a solo big ram, so with the wind in our favor we headed up the mountain after them. We got inside 600 yards as they fed through a saddle, and by then I could see it was the ram we were after.

They dropped out of sight, allowing us to close the remaining 600 yards and then sneak over a cliffy area that was above the saddle. When we peered down into the drainage, they were just 40 yards below, but because he was surrounded by ewes I couldn't get a clear shot. As I tried to work my way to a better vantage, I got busted, and they ran up the ridge. At about 175 yards, they stopped on a rocky outcropping to look back. At just 7:35 opening morning, that was the clear shot that I needed.

Length: 30 & 35. Bases: 15 6/8.
 
Looks like you made the right choice by choosing the gun you shot best!

Congrats on a nice bighorn.

BTW, what is an OIL hunt? That's a term I'm not familiar with.

Thanks again for sharing.
 
That's an excellent story! Your life seems way busy and the only way to get hunts accomplished is "catch as catch can". You did that really well!!!

Zeke

#livelikezac
 
>Thanks, guys. OIL = Once-in-a-Lifetime.
> Maybe I should use
>OIAL instead?

I shoulda been able to figure that one out!

Thanks.
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos
Back
Top Bottom