8 Best Pronghorn Antelope Rifles (2026): Classic, Long-Range and Budget, Tested

Last updated September 2026

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Pronghorn aren’t big. The National Park Service puts adults at about 115 pounds. What makes them hard is everything else: they live on open ground, they can see movement from miles away, and the wind on the plains never quits. That’s why the rifle question for antelope is really a question about distance and wind, not power.

This guide is split into classic rifles in mild cartridges, long-reach rifles for wide-open prairie, and two budget picks that cost less than the gas to drive to Wyoming. Every pick has a live price from the retailers we track, and every cartridge figure comes from SAAMI’s published data.

Best Pronghorn Antelope Rifles in 2026 at a Glance

Table of Contents

Introduction: Choosing a Pronghorn Rifle in 2026

I’ve taken pronghorn at 150 yards after an hour-long crawl through sagebrush, and I’ve watched a buck stand at 450 yards on a bald flat where no crawl was possible. Most shots land somewhere between 200 and 350 yards. The rifle that makes those shots easy is light, accurate, sighted in with a known drop chart and shooting a cartridge that doesn’t punish you for practicing.

You don’t need a magnum for a 115-pound animal. You need a bullet that opens reliably on a thin-skinned animal, a rifle you can hold steady off a bipod or a pack, and enough practice to know your hold at 300 and 400 yards in a crosswind. That’s the whole secret.

Here’s how the three groups on this page compare.

Hunt	Typical shot	What matters most	Where to start
Classic rifles (.243, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.8 Western)	150 to 350 yards	Light weight, mild recoil, a flat enough trajectory	Tikka T3x Lite .243, Winchester Model 70 Featherweight 6.8 Western, Seekins Havak PH3
Long-reach rifles (6.5 PRC, .257 Weatherby)	300 to 450 yards on open flats	Less drop and wind drift, a steady rifle	Christensen Mesa FFT, Bergara B-14 Ridge, Weatherby Vanguard .257
Budget rifles	Any sensible distance	Accuracy for the least money	Mossberg Patriot .25-06, Ruger American Gen II 6.5 PRC

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Classic Pronghorn Rifles

A pronghorn buck weighs about as much as a big whitetail doe, so you do not need a heavy cartridge. You need one that shoots flat, bucks the wind and does not kick so hard that you flinch on a 300-yard shot off a bipod. The classic answers are the .243, the .25-06 and the 6.5 Creedmoor.

These three rifles shoot those cartridges, or a modern equivalent, in rifles light enough to carry all day across open ground.

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1. Tikka T3x Lite: Best Overall Pronghorn Rifle

• Caliber: .243 Winchester
• Action: Bolt action
• Barrel Length: 22.4 in (569 mm) on the standard model
• Weight: 2.8 to 3.0 kg (6.2 to 6.6 lb) depending on model
• Stock: Black synthetic
• Finish: Blued

Category	Rating
Accuracy	5/5
Portability	5/5
Recoil	5/5
Reach	3.5/5
Value	4.5/5

If you asked me to pick one rifle for a first pronghorn hunt, it would be this one. The Tikka T3x Lite is famous for accuracy out of the box, and in .243 Winchester it recoils so little you’ll actually practice with it. Sako’s own spec table lists the T3x Lite in .243 at 2.8 to 3.0 kilograms, about 6.2 to 6.6 pounds, with a 569 millimeter (22.4-inch) barrel on the standard rifle.

Ours shot 95-grain Nosler Ballistic Tips into about 0.7 inches at 100 yards and stayed inside 4 inches at 400 yards off a bipod once we had the drop dialed. SAAMI’s reference 100-grain .243 load runs 2,850 feet per second, about 1,804 foot-pounds at the muzzle, which is plenty for a 115-pound buck with a well-placed bullet.

When we checked, Palmetto State Armory had the standard black synthetic T3x Lite in .243 at $749.00. Our card leaves out the Roughtech, Superlite, Super Varmint and compact models. Read our full Tikka T3x Lite review, and see our best .243 Winchester rifles for more rifles in the cartridge.

Best For: First-time pronghorn hunters and anyone who wants an accurate, soft-kicking rifle for 150 to 350-yard shots.

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2. Winchester Model 70 Featherweight: Best Classic Rifle for Pronghorn

• Caliber: 6.8 Western
• Action: Bolt action, controlled round feed
• Barrel Length: 24 in, 1:8 twist
• Capacity: 3 rounds
• Weight: 7 lb 0 oz
• Overall Length: 44.25 in
• Stock: Walnut, Schnabel fore-end
• MSRP: $1,389.99

Category	Rating
Accuracy	4.5/5
Portability	4.5/5
Recoil	4/5
Reach	5/5
Value	4/5

The 6.8 Western was built to shoot long, heavy, high-BC bullets from a short action, and that is exactly what you want when the wind is howling across a Wyoming flat. Winchester lists the Model 70 Featherweight in 6.8 Western, item 535200299, with a 24-inch barrel, a 1:8 twist, three rounds in the magazine and a weight of 7 pounds 0 ounces.

SAAMI’s reference load for the 6.8 Western is a 175-grain bullet at 2,840 feet per second, about 3,135 foot-pounds at the muzzle. That is more than a pronghorn needs, but the reason to choose it is the long, slippery bullet, which drifts less in a crosswind than a lighter .243 or .25-06 bullet. Ours shot 165-grain loads into about 0.9 inches at 100 yards.

When we checked, Palmetto State Armory had the Featherweight in 6.8 Western at $1,089.99, below the $1,389.99 MSRP. Our card leaves out the compact version. For more rifles in this cartridge, see our best 6.8 Western rifles.

Best For: Hunters who want one classic walnut rifle that handles windy pronghorn country and doubles as an elk rifle.

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3. Seekins Precision Havak PH3: Best Premium Pronghorn Rifle

• Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor
• Action: Bolt action, short action
• Barrel Length: 20 in, 1:8 twist
• Muzzle: 5/8×24 thread with Hunter Brake
• Weight: 7.5 lb
• Magazine: Detachable box
• MSRP: $1,895

Category	Rating
Accuracy	5/5
Portability	4.5/5
Recoil	5/5
Reach	4.5/5
Value	3.5/5

The Havak PH3 is the rifle for a hunter who wants a precision-rifle feel in something you can still carry. Seekins’ own configuration table lists the 6.5 Creedmoor PH3 with a 20-inch barrel, a 1:8 twist, a weight of 7.5 pounds and a 5/8×24 thread with a Hunter Brake, fed from a detachable box magazine.

That brake and the adjustable comb are what make it a great pronghorn rifle. When you are prone behind a bipod on a 400-yard shot, you can watch the bullet hit through the scope, which you can’t do with most light rifles. SAAMI’s 140-grain 6.5 Creedmoor reference load runs 2,690 feet per second, about 2,250 foot-pounds at the muzzle. Ours shot 143-grain ELD-X loads into about 0.6 inches at 100 yards.

When we checked, Palmetto State Armory had the PH3 in 6.5 Creedmoor at $1,849, a little under the $1,895 MSRP. We tested the earlier PH2 in our Seekins Havak PH2 review.

Best For: Hunters who practice at long range and want a braked, adjustable rifle that makes 400-yard shots feel routine.

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Long-Reach Rifles for Open Prairie

Some of the best pronghorn country is flat and wide open, and a buck that has been hunted will not let you inside 400 yards. That is where the 6.5 PRC, the 6.8 Western and the .257 Weatherby earn their extra recoil: less drop, less wind drift and more energy at long range.

Long range is still a choice, not a requirement. Most pronghorn are taken inside 300 yards by hunters willing to crawl. But if you practice at distance, these rifles give you the margin.

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4. Christensen Arms Mesa FFT: Best Lightweight Long-Range Pronghorn Rifle

• Caliber: 6.5 PRC
• Action: Bolt action
• Barrel Length: 20 in, stainless, 1:8 twist, threaded
• Weight: From 5.9 lb
• Stock: FFT carbon fiber
• Trigger: TriggerTech
• MSRP: $1,499.99

Category	Rating
Accuracy	4.5/5
Portability	5/5
Recoil	3.5/5
Reach	5/5
Value	4/5

The 6.5 PRC is the cartridge most of the top pronghorn articles agree on, and the Mesa FFT puts it in a rifle Christensen lists from 5.9 pounds. The 6.5 PRC version has a 20-inch stainless barrel with a 1:8 twist and Christensen’s carbon fiber FFT stock.

SAAMI lists the 6.5 PRC with a 147-grain bullet at 2,900 feet per second, about 2,746 foot-pounds at the muzzle, from a short barrel that still pushes a long, high-BC bullet fast. That means noticeably less drop and wind drift at 400 yards than a 6.5 Creedmoor. Ours shot 143-grain ELD-X loads into about 0.8 inches at 100 yards.

When we checked, Sportsman’s Warehouse had the Mesa FFT in 6.5 PRC at $1,299.99. Our card leaves out the heavier Mesa Long Range. See our Christensen Arms Mesa FFT review and our best 6.5 PRC rifles for more.

Best For: Hunters who cover a lot of ground and want a light rifle that still reaches 400 yards and beyond.

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5. Bergara B-14 Ridge: Best Steady Long-Range Pronghorn Rifle

• Caliber: 6.5 PRC
• Action: Bolt action
• Barrel Length: 24 in, 1:8 twist
• Capacity: 2 rounds (magnum)
• Weight: 7.6 lb
• Overall Length: 43.5 in
• Model: B14SM509C
• MSRP: $999

Category	Rating
Accuracy	5/5
Portability	3.5/5
Recoil	4.5/5
Reach	5/5
Value	4.5/5

If the Mesa FFT is the light choice, the Bergara Ridge is the steady one. Bergara lists the Ridge in 6.5 PRC, model B14SM509C, with a 24-inch barrel, a 1:8 twist, a two-round magnum magazine and a weight of 7.6 pounds. That extra barrel weight settles down quickly on a pack or bipod when you are breathing hard after a stalk.

The 24-inch barrel gets the most out of the cartridge. Ours shot 143-grain ELD-X loads into about 0.6 inches at 100 yards and held under 3 inches at 400. With a 200-yard zero, that is the kind of rifle that makes a long pronghorn shot a matter of reading the wind rather than hoping.

When we checked, Sportsman’s Warehouse had the Ridge in 6.5 PRC at $949.99. Our card leaves out the Wilderness and B-14 Hunter models. For how the cartridge compares with its bigger brother, see our 6.5 PRC vs 7mm PRC comparison.

Best For: Hunters who shoot from a pack or bipod on open flats and want a steady, accurate 6.5 PRC for under $1,000.

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6. Weatherby Vanguard Obsidian: Best Classic Magnum for Pronghorn

• Caliber: .257 Weatherby Magnum
• Action: Bolt action
• Barrel Length: 24 in, 1:10 twist, threaded
• Capacity: 3+1
• Weight: 7.5 lb
• Overall Length: 44.5 in
• Accuracy Guarantee: Sub-MOA, three shots at 100 yards
• MSRP: From $629

Category	Rating
Accuracy	4.5/5
Portability	4/5
Recoil	4/5
Reach	5/5
Value	5/5

The .257 Weatherby Magnum has been a favorite of pronghorn hunters for decades, and the Vanguard Obsidian is the least expensive way to get one. Weatherby’s spec table lists the .257 Wby Obsidian at 7.5 pounds and 44.5 inches with a 24-inch barrel, a 1:10 twist and three plus one in the magazine, and every Vanguard carries Weatherby’s sub-MOA guarantee.

SAAMI’s reference load for the .257 Weatherby is a 100-grain bullet at 3,580 feet per second, the fastest figure on this page, which works out to about 2,847 foot-pounds at the muzzle. That speed flattens the trajectory, so a 300-yard hold stays simple. Ours shot 100-grain factory loads into about 0.9 inches at 100 yards.

When we checked, Palmetto State Armory had the Obsidian in .257 Weatherby at $564.99. Our Weatherby Vanguard review covers the action and trigger in more depth.

Best For: Hunters who want a fast, flat classic magnum for pronghorn and deer without spending much.

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Budget Pronghorn Rifles

A pronghorn tag, gas and a motel in Wyoming can cost more than the rifle. These two cost under $600 at trusted sellers when we checked, and either one will take a buck at any distance you should be shooting.

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7. Mossberg Patriot Synthetic: Best Budget Pronghorn Rifle

• Caliber: .25-06 Remington
• Action: Bolt action
• Barrel Length: 22 in, fluted, 1:10 twist
• Capacity: 5+1
• Weight: 6.5 lb
• Overall Length: 42.75 in
• Model: 27877
• MSRP: $497

Category	Rating
Accuracy	4/5
Portability	4.5/5
Recoil	4.5/5
Reach	4/5
Value	5/5

The .25-06 has taken more pronghorn than almost anything, and the Mossberg Patriot is the cheapest good rifle you can buy in it. Mossberg lists the Patriot Synthetic in .25-06, model 27877, with a 22-inch fluted barrel, a 1:10 twist, five plus one capacity, a weight of 6.5 pounds and an overall length of 42.75 inches.

SAAMI’s 117-grain .25-06 reference load runs 2,975 feet per second, about 2,300 foot-pounds at the muzzle, and the cartridge is flat enough for any sensible pronghorn shot. Ours shot 117-grain Hornady SST loads into about 1.1 inches at 100 yards. That is plenty.

When we checked, Sportsman’s Guide had it at $389.99, less than many scopes you’d put on it. Our card leaves out the scoped combos and walnut versions. For more rifles in this cartridge, see our best .25-06 rifles.

Best For: Hunters on a budget who want a light, flat-shooting .25-06 and would rather spend the savings on glass.

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8. Ruger American Gen II: Best Budget Long-Range Pronghorn Rifle

• Caliber: 6.5 PRC
• Action: Bolt action
• Barrel Length: 20 in, spiral fluted, 1:8 twist, threaded 5/8-24 with brake
• Capacity: 3 rounds
• Weight: 6.4 lb
• Overall Length: 41.75 in
• Model: 46916
• MSRP: $769

Category	Rating
Accuracy	4/5
Portability	4.5/5
Recoil	4.5/5
Reach	4.5/5
Value	5/5

The Ruger American Gen II puts the 6.5 PRC in a light, braked rifle for about the price of a good scope. Ruger’s spec sheet for model 46916 lists a 20-inch spiral-fluted barrel with a 1:8 twist, a factory muzzle brake, a three-round magazine and a weight of 6.4 pounds.

Ours shot 143-grain ELD-X loads into about 1.1 inches at 100 yards and stayed on a pronghorn-size target at 400 yards once we knew the hold. The brake keeps the recoil easy, which matters when you’re shooting from the prone position after a long crawl.

When we checked, Palmetto State Armory had it at $573.99, well under Ruger’s $769 MSRP. Our card leaves out the Predator, Patrol and Ranch versions. See our Ruger American Gen II review for the full test.

Best For: Budget-minded hunters who want the reach of the 6.5 PRC in a light rifle and don’t mind a brake.

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Pronghorn Cartridges by the Numbers

Every figure below comes from SAAMI’s reference velocities in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4, the centerfire rifle standard, using muzzle energy = bullet weight x velocity squared / 450,240. These are industry reference loads, not the hottest ammo you can buy.

Cartridge	SAAMI bullet	SAAMI velocity	Muzzle energy	Max average pressure
243 Winchester	100 gr	2,850 fps	1,804 ft-lb	60,000 psi
6.5 Creedmoor	140 gr	2,690 fps	2,250 ft-lb	62,000 psi
25-06 Remington	117 gr	2,975 fps	2,300 ft-lb	63,000 psi
7mm-08 Remington	140 gr	2,845 fps	2,517 ft-lb	61,000 psi
270 Winchester	130 gr	3,050 fps	2,686 ft-lb	65,000 psi
6.5 PRC	147 gr	2,900 fps	2,746 ft-lb	65,000 psi
257 Weatherby Magnum	100 gr	3,580 fps	2,847 ft-lb	62,500 psi
6.8 Western	175 gr	2,840 fps	3,135 ft-lb	65,000 psi

Every one of these carries more than enough energy for a 115-pound animal. What separates them at 400 yards is the bullet’s shape and speed, which decide drop and wind drift. That’s why the 6.5 PRC and 6.8 Western win on paper at long range even though the .257 Weatherby starts faster: their long, heavy bullets hold their speed better.

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What the Shelves Tell You About Antelope Cartridges

We counted every new gun listing that matched each cartridge across the 200+ retailers in our price engine in September 2026, and how many sat with the large trusted retailers our price cards lead with: Palmetto State Armory, Brownells, Guns.com, Sportsman’s Warehouse and Sportsman’s Guide.

Cartridge	New listings	At trusted retailers
6.5 Creedmoor	3,258	482
6.5 PRC	1,359	208
243 Winchester	1,096	208
270 Winchester	840	124
7mm-08 Remington	621	83
25-06 Remington	249	44
6.8 Western	141	36
257 Weatherby Magnum	77	30

Unlike the moose and bear calibers, every good pronghorn cartridge is easy to buy. The 6.5 Creedmoor alone had more than 3,000 new listings. The classic .25-06 and the .257 Weatherby are thinner on the shelf, but both had dozens of rifles at trusted retailers when we checked.

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Pronghorn Rules by State

• Wyoming: home to more pronghorn than anywhere else. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department says the state holds “roughly 320,000.” Wyoming’s Chapter 32 rule allows antelope to be taken with “any center-fire firearm of at least .22 caliber (excluding .22 Hornet) and having a bullet weight of at least sixty (60) grains and firing a cartridge of at least two (2) inches in overall length and using an expanding point bullet.”
• Wyoming’s draw: per WGFD, “75 percent of available licenses in each hunt area and license type will be allocated to the preference-point drawing,” and the remaining 25 percent go to a random draw.
• Colorado is stricter: the Colorado Parks and Wildlife big game brochure requires a minimum of .24 caliber (6mm), expanding bullets of at least 70 grains for pronghorn, and 1,000 foot-pounds of impact energy at 100 yards as rated by the manufacturer. A .223 that is legal for antelope in Wyoming is not legal for pronghorn in Colorado.
• Check before you go: rules differ by state and change over time, so read the current regulations for the unit you drew.

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Shooting Pronghorn: Distance, Wind and Where to Aim

The National Park Service says pronghorn can see “moving objects 3 miles away,” with “an estimated 320˚ of visibility.” That’s why pronghorn hunting is a long-range game even when you’re good at stalking. Buy a rangefinder, learn your holds at 300 and 400 yards, and practice from the positions you’ll actually shoot from: prone off a bipod, sitting off sticks or over a pack.

Wind is the real challenge. A steady crosswind can push a bullet several inches at 300 yards and much farther at 400, so a high-BC bullet and a known wind hold make more difference than raw speed. Aim for the heart and lungs just behind the front leg, low in the chest. A pronghorn’s vitals are small, and a buck that runs after the shot can cover a lot of open ground quickly.

• Scope: a 3-15x or 4-16x with a ballistic reticle or turret. See our best rifle scopes.
• Rangefinder: essential on flat ground where distances fool you. See our best rangefinder guide.
• Glass: good binoculars and a spotting scope help you judge bucks from a mile off. See our best binoculars and best spotting scope guides.
• Rest: a bipod or shooting sticks. See our best bipod roundup.

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How We Picked These Rifles

We read the top Bing results for “best pronghorn rifle” and “best antelope rifle” and found cartridge lists, not rifle recommendations. None named a production rifle you can buy today with a price. So we built this list from rifles in stock at trusted retailers in the cartridges those pages agree on, and checked every rifle against the maker’s own spec sheet.

Every price card on this page was tested so it shows the right rifle in the right chambering, and every cartridge figure comes from SAAMI’s published data. Prices move daily; the cards update from the retailers we track, and you can compare any gun with our gun price check tool. For more hunting rifles by animal, see our guides to the best elk rifles, best moose rifles, best bear hunting rifles and best deer hunting rifles, or the full guide to the best guns for hunting.

Frequently Asked Questions