Best bullet for pronghorn and chamois

[Russ16]

Not Africa related so I apologize.

I have a pronghorn hunt coming up end of August and a chamois in Romania in November. Hoping to use the same load for both. I’m using my great grandfather’s Model 70 in 30-06. I know there are better cartridges but his one is special and I want to use it because it is 80 years old this year.

I’ve been working on some hand loads and have two that shoot ragged holes .5 - .75 inch at 100.

165 grain Barnes TTSX at 2765 fps - pretty mild load
178 grain Hornady ELDX at 2725 fps - near to max load

The difference between the two is basically nil accuracy wise. At 5 shit group from either might be slightly larger or smaller than the other but is inside and inch.

Ballistic tables from AB show the drop to be about the same for either. The 178 bucks the wind slightly better but not life changing.

I’m not a super long range shooter on game I doubt I’ll take a shot over 300 unless conditions are prefect and even then 400 would be max.

Which load/bullet would you go with?

 

[JimP]

Toss a coin and take either one.

Neither animal is difficult to put down if you put the bullet in the right place.

Personally I'd go with the Barnes, but then that is all I shoot anymore out of my rifles.

 

[wesheltonj]

I used a 180g Norma Oryx in 308Win for chamois. My father who hunted lots of pronghorn swore by a 80g Winchester/Western Power Point in 243 Win.

 

[MontanaPat]

Of the choose you gave I would do the Barnes 165gr all the way around

 

[shootist~]

My $.02:

The Barnes needs velocity as well as high spin rare to be optimal. At 300 with 1x10 twist it's running a little low on both.

The ELD-X is designed for distance, has a higher BC and "should" perform better on thin skinned game at 300 and beyond if necessary..

 

[BryceM]

The last several I've killed were with Barnes TTSX. Maybe one Berger HVLD in there.

 

[CO_mtnman]

I use the ttsx for my pronghorn hunts because the meat damage is minimal

 

[Muskox]

I would shoot whatever shot the best.

Neither one of these animals is tough.

I am hunting chamois twice both times in Slovenia this year. I have killed a lot of pronghorns in my life in Wyoming.

25-06 or 243 would be perfect for either one. I am using a 243 this year.

 

[gcbailey]

Pronghorn and Chamois are pretty small so I would use the 165 grain. the ranges at which you will shoot a Chamois may be much farther than a pronghorn. I know some people do long range pronghorn hunting, but I shot mine just within 100 yards. My Chamois was 400 yards.

 

[grand veneur]

Not Africa related so I apologize.

I have a pronghorn hunt coming up end of August and a chamois in Romania in November. Hoping to use the same load for both. I’m using my great grandfather’s Model 70 in 30-06. I know there are better cartridges but his one is special and I want to use it because it is 80 years old this year.

I’ve been working on some hand loads and have two that shoot ragged holes .5 - .75 inch at 100.

165 grain Barnes TTSX at 2765 fps - pretty mild load
178 grain Hornady ELDX at 2725 fps - near to max load

The difference between the two is basically nil accuracy wise. At 5 shit group from either might be slightly larger or smaller than the other but is inside and inch.

Ballistic tables from AB show the drop to be about the same for either. The 178 bucks the wind slightly better but not life changing.

I’m not a super long range shooter on game I doubt I’ll take a shot over 300 unless conditions are prefect and even then 400 would be max.

Which load/bullet would you go with?

If both bullets are ballistically similar, choose the lead-free one, the 165gr TTSX from Barnes, for hunting in the European Community. This way, you will be in all cases on the safe side regarding Europeans laws.

 

[Firebird]

I would take the Barnes. Eld x will leave more meat damage and shrapnel. Both your loads are great but of the two, it is an easy choice for me
Also I have used a .30-06 for exactly the same scenario and it will be awesome. It s as close to hunting with grandpa as you can get!

 

[Russ16]

I would shoot whatever shot the best.

Neither one of these animals is tough.

I am hunting chamois twice both times in Slovenia this year. I have killed a lot of pronghorns in my life in Wyoming.

25-06 or 243 would be perfect for either one. I am using a 243 this year.

Normally I would be thinking my .257 Roberts for these hunts. But it’s important to me to use this rifle this year.

 

[gillettehunter]

Never killed a chamois, but I have killed around 30 pronghorn. Neither are large animals. Pronghorn are relatively easy to kill. They are very thin skinned. I like the Barnes bullet for many applications, but I'd likely choose the ELDX for this opportunity. It's a more frangible bullet and should open up better on pronghorn. I would expect faster kills with it.
Realistically both will work. Hit them in the front third of the body and you should be good to go. The ELDX will also buck the wind better. Often windy in pronghorn country. Good luck.
Bruce

 

[grand veneur]

The topic here is choosing between two bullets. The cartridge 30-06 Springfield is suitable for chamois hunting. Cartridges caliber .243 are certainly sufficient for this hunt, but there are also minimum caliber recommendations in some countries of Europe. In Germany, only cartridges of 6,5 mm and larger are permitted for chamois hunting.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

If you're open to other suggestions the boring old Nosler Ballistic Tip or its close cousin the Accubond would get the job done. Less tough bullets that you can count on opening up regardless of speed.

 

[Surgeon1]

I'm not real fond of the ELD-X but I would choose it over the Barnes any day. In older rifles like
a pre64 Mod 70 the bores tend to be much rougher than even most factory rifles today and with
Barnes copper fouling is a big problem! The Europeans are so hung up on no lead (monoliths) that
you may be forced to use one and then I would look at the Hornady GMX, Hammer bullets, North Forks new monolith. I truly have distain for Barnes bullets for their inconsistent performance and their fouling issues! In a rifle like your great grandfather's Barnes would be my last choice as the slower the velocity and slower twist adds to the unreliable performance!
I know that there is a significant number of people on this site who disagree with me but to each his own.

 

[AZDAVE]

I will throw out a unconventional idea and recommend the CEB 100 gr esp raptor if it shoots well in your rifle.

 

[Russ16]

If you're open to other suggestions the boring old Nosler Ballistic Tip or its close cousin the Accubond would get the job done. Less tough bullets that you can count on opening up regardless of speed.

It really didn’t like the ballistic tip. Shot both the 165 and 150 worse than the accubond.

 

[Throwback]

Toss a coin and take either one.

Neither animal is difficult to put down if you put the bullet in the right place.

Personally I'd go with the Barnes, but then that is all I shoot anymore out of my rifles.

I agree, toss a coin dude. Those two bullets are both my "go to" in multiple calibers. They have obviously served me well. Several Africa trips, European hunts and plenty stateside. No complaints and animals on the ground.

I have heard complaints about the ELD-X up close, meaning within 200 yards not expanding but I have never had that experience, never. I shot a blue wildebeest under 100 and that bullet performed perfectly.

I killed two Chamois in Italy (and hunted Roe deer in Romania with Marius if that is who you are going with) and I personally think Chamois are not too tough to kill and 30.06 is sufficient for sure. The shots were both in the mid 200 yard range though as it is mountain hunting. I got in the prone for both. It sounds like you will be in the mountains so cross winds may be in play and the higher BC would be logical but I I think both the ELD-X or Barnes TTSX will work just fine. Just practice out to 300 yards is my advice. Cheers

 

[pilar]

It really doesn’t matter, if both shoot well out of the rifle , they will kill
Though I personally don’t like the ELDX because of how extremely explosive they are .
Neither animal are very tough , so as mentioned above if copper is the rule barns
If not just go with your own favorite