.405 Winchester

[dadsbuckshot]

I currently own 1 rifle and 1 shotgun - all that a man needs right???? Well here-in lies my question. I don't have the money at the present time to go out and buy a new rifle - so with that being said.

I own a Ruger #1 Tropical model in .405 Winchester. The go all get all gun. Well have the opportunity to go Pronghorn hunting this year (all expense paid), and all I have to bring is my rifle and ammo. I have heard both sides of the equation regarding the .405 and whitetail deer - it is either an OK calibur or too big of a calibur - depends on who you ask.

Anyhow it is the gun and only gun I presently own.

I am looking for opinions on what you the readers think of using a .405 winchester on pronghorn.

Let me know your views.

Thanks and God Bless...

[jplonghunter]

dadbuckshot

If it was good enough for Teddy Roosevelt its' good enough ! It was, I believe, his favorite rifle.

jplonghunter

[dadsbuckshot]

That true - it was Ol' Teddy's favorite (Big Medicine) Gun...

I am just wondering if it would do too much damage to a soft skinned game such as the prong.

[bsterns]

I don't see why you could not use the 405 winchester on antelope if they are close enough to hit. The slower moving bullet probably will do less meat damage than the fast smaller calibers. The distance and trajectory is the problem. Antelopes tend to keep their distance from hunters and probably will call for some long range shots, IMO.

[huntinbuddy]

i dont know too much about the 405 so i wont be of too much help...but wat i do know is that a 300 WSM is a little bit too much of a cartridge... my step father shot an antelope (pronghorn) at about 100-125 yds (couldnt get the rangefinder on them) and he shot it in the spine just like he does every other animal he hunts...he knocked out 3 vertibre from that distance which we found about 5 yds from the pronghorn...so if this helps then great if not well...then it was great to reminisce

[gd357]

Dead is dead. Whether you use a .223 or a .50 BMG is the end result not the same? If you had a smaller rifle, I'd say use it. You don't, but you have one that will kill without any fuss. Take your .405, and shoot your pronghorn.

gd

[MacD37]

Originally posted by dadsbuckshot
That true - it was Ol' Teddy's favorite (Big Medicine) Gun...

I am just wondering if it would do too much damage to a soft skinned game such as the prong.

Dadsbuckshot, the 405 win will do far less meat damage that any od the 30 cal from 308 up. when you shoot the pronghorn try for the heart/lung area, and stay off the large bones, like spine, and shoulder. These bones turn into handgrenade shrapnel, and bloodshot a lot od meat. The one thing you need to do is find a place where you can practice at from 100 yds , out to 250yds, because pronghorn rarely let you get closer. Make a life size cutout of a pronghorn from cardboard, and shoot at it no shorter than 100 yds, and preferably at 200 yds, from hunting positions. When you get so you can place five shots in a row on the kill zone of the chest, you are ready!

For a side, the rifle Teddy called "BIG MEDICINE" was a H&H double rifle chambered for 500/450 NE given to him by a group of English business men! The 405 Win was an 1895 winchester, and Teddy found it lacking on Africa's game, and wounded lots of game with it in 1909! His favorite rifle was a 1903 Springfield bolt rifle, chambered for 30-06! He killed most of the plains game he took in Africa with his Springfield!

Good luck on your prong hornhunt !

[Catfish]

Guys tend to get into the this round is better because it will shoot point blank for another 15 yrds., or this round has has 100 foot pounds more energy ect. All of that is well, but pretty much there is very little difference in the field. If you load your own, Lead Head makes a 263 gn. cast gas checked bullet with a large meta plate that would make you a good bullet for antilope. I ve pushed them to abt. 2,700 fps. with no leading.

[Rapier]

Take the 405 and practice, practice, practice..... you will do fine.
Ed

[Contenderizer]

With enough practice one can do about anything, but I think there are better choices for pronghorn hunting. As suggested above, range is the big issue and the 405 was never intended for much beyond 150 yards. Since pronghorns don't need much lead to kill, consider borrowing a 30-06, 270, 243 or 6mm Rem from a friend. Or, if you have a really, really good friend, he might lend you his 6-1/2 Swede.

Don't mess-up what sounds like a great trip with a gun that won't reach the target; pronghorn shots are frequently quite long. And, don't forget shooting sticks and a rangefinder.