would like opinions on a rifle for a sheep hunt

[dkmlever]

I have not drawn my bighorn sheep tag here in Co ...YET, but I am close and maybe this is the year.
I have a choice between using a light weight, Kimber Montana in 308 or a "regular" weight rifle in 30-06 or 300 Weatherby.
So which would you do? Save the weight for the up & downs of the daily hikes at 12,000+ knowing the 308 has some limitations in range and punch or go with the 2 pounds more and extend the range?
I don't think sheep are that hard to kill (I did shoot my Mt Goat here in Co with the Kimber but got within 150 yards) but would hate to have this life time tag boil down to a 300 yard cross canyon shot on the last day.
Any advice or opinons are welcome. The bottom line is I have been holding on to the Kimber for this hunt but if it is not the best rifle to use it is going to be sold.

 

[Guy Miner]

Three hundred yards is a piece of cake for a good-shooting .308 Win. I'd take the light rifle.

 

[Kodiak]

The 308 is not out of the picture @ 300 yards, when the 165 gr. Partition is used, starting out at about 2800 fps. If zero'd at 200, its down 8" at 300, which is still a center hold. Haveing a range-finder along is wise. Energy is down slightly at 300 at around 1800 FPs, but still enough to do its job. Of course, shooting at sheep at longer ranges can be an "iffy" chore in windy, high mountainous country.

Use it if you like it!

 

[gerry]

I have not drawn my bighorn sheep tag here in Co ...YET, but I am close and maybe this is the year.
I have a choice between using a light weight, Kimber Montana in 308 or a "regular" weight rifle in 30-06 or 300 Weatherby.
So which would you do? Save the weight for the up & downs of the daily hikes at 12,000+ knowing the 308 has some limitations in range and punch or go with the 2 pounds more and extend the range?
I don't think sheep are that hard to kill (I did shoot my Mt Goat here in Co with the Kimber but got within 150 yards) but would hate to have this life time tag boil down to a 300 yard cross canyon shot on the last day.
Any advice or opinons are welcome. The bottom line is I have been holding on to the Kimber for this hunt but if it is not the best rifle to use it is going to be sold.

You will do just fine with the 308, with 150-165 gr bullets it really doesn`t give much up to the 30-06. I would be comfortable shooting up to around 400 yards with a good sleek bullet like the the Ballistic Tip, AccuBond and the like. FWIW I shot my one and only Stone sheep with a 35 Whelen and did fine

Edit:
Have also carried a 308 Norma Mag, 300 WSM, 264 Win Mag and 260 Rem in the past while chasing sheep I would have gladly shot out to 400 with the 260 as well.

 

[DrMike]

I'd have no difficulty going after sheep with a good .308. Guy is right that a 300 yard shot with a good .308 is a piece of cake. The next time I do a sheep hunt, I'll likely carry a .280 or even my 270WSM. They shoot flat and will work very well on sheep.

 

[Guy Miner]

dkm - I have not hunted sheep. Three of my friends here in Washington have been fortunate enough to draw the tag and collect their rams.

I can't remember what the first guy used.

Another buddy shot what turned out to be the World Record "California" subspecies bighorn. Used a Tikka .300 WSM with a 150 gr Hornady bullet. What a ram!

And another friend used the same good old .30-06 he has used on many a mule deer since he and I started hunting together years ago. 165 gr factory ammo of some sort. He tagged a decent ram, but not a brute like the other fellow. All of this sheep hunting was within 10 miles of my home. I sure hope to draw one of those "once-in-a-lifetime" tags someday myself.

You might want to take a look at this test I did of the 165 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip, from my .308 Win. It's proven to be an exceptionally accurate and lethal bullet for me. A lot of the comments from other posters are well worth reading, as they provide great info:

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=18211

Best of luck on your sheep hunt. I'm mildly jealous... :mrgreen:

IF I was drawn, I'd grab my .25-06 700 CDL, as it is not overly heavy, is quite accurate, and I've got a lot of experience with it afield.

Regards, Guy

 

[PJGunner]

I haven't shot a sheep with a .308, or anything else for that matter but I have shot big Nevada Mule deer. The longest shot I ever made was at 427 paces at a deer my hunting partner wounded and was runnig off. The rifle was a 20" barreled Remington 660 shooting a 150 gr. Sierra Pro-Hunter although I don't recall them being called that back in 1973. Call the shot an honest 400 yards at least. IIRC, that deer dressed out at 196 pounds. The only other fairly long shot was at a Mule Deer up in Arizona's Kaibab National Forest and that one was at 250 yards, laser measured. Rifle was a Ruger M77 RSI, 18.5" barrel shooting a 165 gr. Speer Hot-Core at 2550 FPS. Most of my .308 deer kills were at 100 yards or less and those ae th two longest shots. That 165 gr. load does 2610 FPS from a 22" Winchester M70.
The reason for the slow load is that Ruger will only shoot that one load. Dunno why but it's a one trick pony. :roll: Switch to a different 165 gr. bullet and it's all over the place. Damned if I know why. Wierd.
If I were lucky enough to draw a sheep tag, I would take my M70 with a good 150 or 165 gr. bullet, whichever shot best and never look back.
Paul B.

 

[SJB358]

I would be okay with a 308 loaded up with a high BC 165-168 for sheep. I would think you'd still have plenty of energy out to 400 or better. The rifle that let's you hunt longer without fatigue, might be a better choice than a heavier one that doesn't allow you to clear the next ridge. Plus, you can get 2750 with just about any decent 165 and with a good scope, should allow you to hammer sheep.

 

[JD338]

Your 308 Win is more than up to the task. A 165 gr PT or AB will get the job done out to 500 yds. Good optics are important. The VX-3 with a B&C reticle should get you out to 450 yds.

JD338

 

[dkmlever]

Thanks for the advice, I will check my records for the Kimber and see what loads I have already worked up and test some 165 accubonds in it.
Guy I also thought about grabbing my 25-06 but lean toward the heavier bullet in the 30 cal.
JD338, The Kimber wears a Leupold Vari-X-III 2.5x8x32 on it, I kind of like that scope for shorter light weight rifles.
Thanks again, I will keep you posted on th eloads and the tag draw!

 

[DrMike]

Thanks for the advice, I will check my records for the Kimber and see what loads I have already worked up and test some 165 accubonds in it.
Guy I also thought about grabbing my 25-06 but lean toward the heavier bullet in the 30 cal.
JD338, The Kimber wears a Leupold Vari-X-III 2.5x8x32 on it, I kind of like that scope for shorter light weight rifles.
Thanks again, I will keep you posted on th eloads and the tag draw!

We're all wishing you every success. We all like to see fellows who post here get the opportunity to hunt in great areas.

 

[Tobey284]

308 Win, 165 AB @ 2790 = sheep sandwiches
Hope you draw that tag!

 

[FOTIS]

308 will do you fine.

 

[DrMike]

308 Win, 165 AB @ 2790 = sheep sandwiches
Hope you draw that tag!

A successful sheep hunt has to be one of the most satisfying feelings ever. Great picture of the conclusion of a successful hunt.

 

[JD338]

Thanks for the advice, I will check my records for the Kimber and see what loads I have already worked up and test some 165 accubonds in it.
Guy I also thought about grabbing my 25-06 but lean toward the heavier bullet in the 30 cal.
JD338, The Kimber wears a Leupold Vari-X-III 2.5x8x32 on it, I kind of like that scope for shorter light weight rifles.
Thanks again, I will keep you posted on th eloads and the tag draw!

dkmlever

That is a great scope and it will serve you well.
Good luck on the draw, I hope you pull a tag.


JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

Tobey, cool photo! Your ram? Congrats!

 

[dkmlever]

What a great photo of a successful hunt, thanks for sharing both the photo and your load data.

 

[Tobey284]

Thanks Guy, that's my NM ram from last year. Dkmlever, 308 is plenty for sheep, that little cartridge hunts bigger than some give it credit for. I used a T/C Icon with hogue stock and weathercoating because of the rain and mud encountered on scouting trips, I wanted something that might bounce it's way out of a rockslide. The Icon is not a particularly light rifle, but we used horses for the most part to get around and weight was not so much an issue. If I was to pack in on foot I would definately go with the lighter rifle. The Leupold 2.5-8 is my favorite scope for a mountain rifle, great optics and very flexible for most situations. I sent one of my 2.5s in to leupold this year and had them install a CDS dial for an ibex hunt, works pretty well and gives you a little more confidence if you have to set up for a longish poke on the last day. Practice shooting and most importantly get in shape, I pack out several elk a year without the benefit of horses and generally don't think too much about it but that big ol sheep noggin and backstraps at 11,000 feet nearly whipped me (loved every minute of it :grin: ) Hope you pull that tag and please share the hunt with us here, best of luck

 

[cloverleaf]

Been doing a little reading lately,... Jack O'Connor quoted a freind as saying "....the trick is in finding them,.... find 'em and Ill hunt them with a .22". The gentleman in question, hunted them with a 25-35. :shock: :wink: His contention was that good glass was more important than a flatliner rifle. CL

 

[35 Whelen]

The little 308 will get the job done . I would caution you against using bullets that are too heavy.
If I were going I would take your 25-06 as it is really a better "sheep rifle" imho.
I think I would look at some 150gr stuff,[ just a standard BT 150gr or an SST] for the 08 if thats what you decide to take, As I have seen lots of sheep shot will 165/180gr bullets, outta 06-08 both, and they almost always whistle right on thru the animals.................. lots of wasted energy sailing out thru the back side.
Sheep are not hard to kill at all, and one of the best calibers to kill Dahl Sheep was always a 270W but I have seen a fair few shot with just 243's, with standard 100gr loads, and it will knock them as flat as a flounder, if you do your part, So I wouldnt get to carried away about a large bullet weight, or you may defeat your purpose, and have you chasing one all over the mountain or worse ............ trying to retrieve it up outta some cliff it has staggered off over!
Good luck with the tag, and especially on the hill , heres hopin you get a big en !!