Mountain Goat Gun

[flyhigh_206]

Hey all, so i just checked my LEH and found out i get to go after my mountain goat finally :shock: Now i just need some advice on a caliber, keeping in mind id prefer to not purchase a new gun at the moment, these are the calibers I currently own. .300 win mag, .30-30, .22-250, and a .308. Now of those guns im most comfortable with my .300 but im just a little worried that it might be "to much" gun if there is such a thing lol so any advice would be great and if it does come down to it i may just have to make a new purchase based on feedback haha thanks Mike

[palmer]

300 all the way...Goats are one tough SOB....Keep shooting till they stay down....cause they like to jump off 1000ft cliffs...

Good luck
Palmer

[180grainer]

Your 300 is not too much gun. Pound for pound goats at right up there with the toughest animals. Use a good bullet of medium weight.

[BCHunterTV]

i used a .280 with 140gr Noslers/ 258 yard shot. My goat was bedded, never got up.

lots a practice at the range...and anchor the goat


https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/328422_10150287500800069_1202457796_o.jpg

[Robson]

300 all the way. Definitely a tough animal.

[Ovis17]

Nice pic Danny..... Nice looking goat too!

[180grainer]

Nice pic Danny..... Nice looking goat too!

I agree, great photo and nice looking goat.

[Gateholio]

If you like your 300, then take it.

[Buck]

That is a great photo.I shot mine with a 7MM Magnum i thought he was anchored but somehow he pushed himself over the edge.If the 308 was an ultralight it would do the job just fine and be a nice rifle to pack around the mountains..Goats can take a lot of lead even a 375 won't put it down for sure so pick the one your not afraid to beat up.

[gerrygoat]

Either the 308 or 300 will work, since you are comfortable with your 300 go for it like the others have said goats are tough there is no penaly for "overkill"

[j270wsm]

Shot 2 goats, both - bang flop, 270win 130gr hornady interlocks. One at 130yds, the other at 250-280yds

[Everett]

.300 .308 which ever one is lighter

[SHAKER]

Dead is dead but more dead is better.... hammer'em with a quality bullet in the right place with the most boom you can shoot very well!

[ElliotMoose]

You'll want to think about weight too. If your 300 isn't something you wish to pack on a mountain climb and possibly bang up a bit, then perhaps you shouldn't take it. The 308 would be my next choice out of what you mentioned. Make sure you have it sighted in for long range, and take some practice pokes from different angles considering goat hunting rarely presents a perfectly flat shot. I myself will be taking my 7mm on my goat hunt this fall, but a .270 or a .280 would also be ideal

[warnniklz]

no expert on shooting goats but 300 seems to be where it's at...

[SHAKER]

[QUOTE=ElliotMoose;1172728]You'll want to think about weight too. If your 300 isn't something you wish to pack on a mountain climb and possibly bang up a bit, then perhaps you shouldn't take it.
He's bang on with that..... sorry I pack a pretty light one around but I"ve definatly held some old heavy pigs chambered in 300 skin bag.

[BCbillies]

Have used the 270, 300 and the 375 for goats. My 270 is my favorite as it's a tackdriver and has never let me down. The 300 was what I started with and is what I would recommend . . . it's all about shot placement!

[argyle1]

nice picture of a nice goat--looking past him. its a good thing that he didn't move

[olharley guy]

Howdy, yes a very nice goat in the picture! I got a fairly nice one a few years back - 300 mag. 180 gr. Federals. I packed that .300 for 25 years and took quite a bit of game-never worried about scratches as I bought it to use it -valleys or sheep in the mountains anywhere it was needed. Later.

[springpin]

My 7mag with 175g worked perfectly. 1 shot, dead. And it will do it again this year.

[warnniklz]

My personl opinion is the biggest gun you need for anything in BC is a 300 of any sort

[Everett]

This guy went down to .280ai at 400 yards droped pretty much on the spot boderline book goat 9 years old

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/goat_hunt_2011_001_resize.jpg (javascript:;)

[Moose Guide]

My buddy shot his first goat with my .338 WM, it was troting at about 120 yds. and never even wobbled when the 250 gr. Nosler part. went through its chest. When we got up there it was dead within 10 yds. Use your .300 or .308, which ever is lightest!!!

[todbartell]

308 would be fine but the 300 has a bit of an edge in trajectory in case you have a shot past 300 yards. I use a 260 Remington with confidence

[Krico]

Take the lightest one between the 300 and the 308. Heavy guns suck in the mountains.

[REMINGTON JIM]

My personl opinion is the biggest gun you need for anything in BC is a 300 of any sort

Model 99 Savage in 300 Savage with a 180 gr ! :smile:

[Amphibious]

My .308 has taken 2 Billies so far. Weight is critical.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/185225_10150752888520051_3640968_n.jpg

[rcar]

One thing I have read a few times....and found out a couple of years ago shooting steep uphill at a bear is that the .300 mags and up calibers can tend to scope you if you are not careful. Not sure what scope you have but a long eye relief is helpful. Nothing worse than a heavy gash that might need stitches way out in the mountains.

308 is plenty of gun if you can shoot it accurately out to 300 yds. Bottom line is bring the one you can shoot long range with.

[sherpa-Al]

Most importantly, take the rifle that you are most confident shooting accurately. There are a lot of variables that may come into play when shooting at mountain game such as angle, wind, distance and shooter position. Shooting at a mountain goat uphill at 250 yrds in a 15mph crosswind while crouched behind a big rock is not that far fetched.

Al

[.330 Dakota]

300 all the way...Goats are one tough SOB....Keep shooting till they stay down....cause they like to jump off 1000ft cliffs...

Good luck
Palmer

X2.....I whacked one with a 338 once and it ran 150yds with no front shoulder and no lungs

[BCbillies]

One thing I have read a few times....and found out a couple of years ago shooting steep uphill at a bear is that the .300 mags and up calibers can tend to scope you if you are not careful. Not sure what scope you have but a long eye relief is helpful. Nothing worse than a heavy gash that might need stitches way out in the mountains.

308 is plenty of gun if you can shoot it accurately out to 300 yds. Bottom line is bring the one you can shoot long range with.


Hear . . . hear! After being scoped good on the first shot the follow up shots are a gong show with blood spewing, blurred vision, etc. Those steep angles are a pleasure to shoot with the likes of a 270 and your face will thank you! :)

[scottwh]

300 win all the way. Goats are tough animals :)

[flyhigh_206]

WOW I didnt think I'd get such a vast number of responses, so thanks to everyone by the sounds of it I'll be packing the .300 as to me it is the gun im most comfortable behind and have the most experience with, and even though its only 4 years old a little bit of battle scars on it isnt a bad thing, it just adds to the story when you get home lol. Thanks again to everyone who replied -Mike

[dutchie]

Lite guns are the way to go...

the shot placement and bullet construction are more important then the weight of the gun.

[hunter1947]

300 mag all the way..

[BiG Boar]

Just make sure you understand how angled shots work in the mountains. Last thing you want is to not understand that and miss or wound one after an all day hike.

[firstshot]

Most importantly, take the rifle that you are most confident shooting accurately. There are a lot of variables that may come into play when shooting at mountain game such as angle, wind, distance and shooter position. Shooting at a mountain goat uphill at 250 yrds in a 15mph crosswind while crouched behind a big rock is not that far fetched.

Al


I second that!

Devon

[BCRiverBoater]

Good ol' .270 Win. Just ask Jack O'Connor!

[riflebuilder]

There is no thing as too much gun when it comes to goats. Mine dropped to one shot from my 338win but my buddies took two bullets from my. Rifle and four from his to put it down both of us where shooting 338's mine a win his a Lazzeroni. Hunting goats is addictive good luck and have a great time.

[roping_tom]

Shoot whats confortable. to me weight is second to your ability to hit the animal well. One more thing to remember is those nice green shoots that look so easy to hike up.... are usually full of willows and some form of devils club... but part of the goat hunting adventure.

[mnholt]

I love these posts where everyone gets to spray their opinion's, .270 for everything smaller than an Elk/Moose .338 for the rest. A tool is useless regardless of its size if you don't know how to use it...

[barry1974w]

Use what you shoot the best. I'm not an expert goat hunter, but the one I shot took three shots to the chest form a 30-06 before it stayed down. Some guys say the 300 is overkill. But I've never seen anything overdead. Just my .02