Hi,
I'm new to this board and new to big game hunting. A little background. I've been hunting birds for 20 years but never anything with 4 legs. This coming Fall I have an antelope hunt in Wyoming and a pig hunt in California.
Here's my confusion and my dilemma. First the dilemma. I have the opportunity to buy a used Remington 700 .257 Roberts in excellent condition at a very good price. I already know this would make a great pronghorn rifle. But I notice that the heaviest bullet spec'd out in this caliber is 120 grains. At 200 yards this load has a velocity of 2360 fps and an energy rating of 1480 ft/lbs.
The other rifle I'm considering is a new Remington 700 in .270. I can load this rifle with a 130 grain bullet and get 2009 ft/lbs of energy and 2639 fps in velocity at 200 yards. Significant difference in energy, small amount in velocity.
Now here's where I get confused. With the same .270 caliber rifle, using the 130 grain bullet at 200 yards the energy is 2009 ft/lbs and velocity is 2639 fps.
If I go up to a 150 grain bullet at 200 yards, energy goes DOWN to 1587 ft/lbs and velocity drops to 2183 fps. I can understand the drop in velocity, you're using a heavier projectile. But how does the energy decrease?
Whichever rifle I get I want to be able to use on both hogs and pronghorns, and it's quite likely that shots will have to be taken at up to 300 yards. I know from my target shooting at the range that I can do this with enough practice and a good scope. But will either rifle make a clean kill at that distance on both species? I will be handloading if that makes any difference.
And the big question, assuming good shot placement, what kills, energy or velocity? If you have to choose one over the other which is more desirable for a quick kill?
Any help clearing up my confusion would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike