Wolf Calibre

[Coast mountain guy]

Spent some time the last couple weeks chasing wolves. I've taken 2 so far but I'm having trouble with the holes my gun is leaving. Shooting a 7mm rem mag. I'm looking for some input on what I can use that will kill but not leave such a big exit hole.

[hunter1993ap]

might just need to try a different bullet, what bullet are you using now?

[The Dude]

Don't forget to post location, story and pics on my wolf threads, please :D

7mm mag is big for light-skinned game. Do you have access to a .222, .223, a .243, or even a .270 or 6.5x55 you can use light loads in.
Note: don tuse hollow-ogive "Match" bullets, they're hell on fur.

[WKCotts]

25-06 or maybe lighter round

[HIGHRPM]

You can use a 130 grain out of the 7mm but you need a bullet that will pass through and not expand, that will work.The 130 grain Sierra Matchkings would work great, great hitting power and target build for a clean pass trough, or something along that line.

[Coast mountain guy]

Using factory sierra game king's 165gr. Both wolves were medium size but the hole it left was the size of your fist on the opposite side. They're a good bullet but I think dropping down to a 223 or 22-250 might be the answer. fast but small. This is the first time I've actually gone out to target them but I'm definitely going to spend a lot more time so I figured I'd better see what the consensus was.

[hunter1993ap]

you could also use a nosler partition and it wont give a big hole. probably want a heavy one like 175gr but the hide would have little holes compared to the ones you are getting.

[Johnny G1]

Does it really matter, one less wolf???

[tomahawk]

Thunderhead broadhead, easy to sew.

[BlacktailStalker]

How about posting some pics a story and your tactics ? To just go out and target wolves and actually get one let alone two in a week is quite an accomplishment. Fuel the fire and fill us in !
Congrats by the way :cool:

[Gateholio]

Are you looking to buy a whole new rifle just for wolves? If so, I'd look at 22-250, .243, .260,6.5x55, 25-06.

[The Dude]

It matters on a nice big winter wolf you want to make a beauty rug out of :D

[The Dude]

Using factory sierra game king's 165gr. Both wolves were medium size but the hole it left was the size of your fist on the opposite side. They're a good bullet but I think dropping down to a 223 or 22-250 might be the answer. fast but small. This is the first time I've actually gone out to target them but I'm definitely going to spend a lot more time so I figured I'd better see what the consensus was.

OK, enough already! Details please! If you could tell the tale here http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?88087-Wolf-and-Coyote-Database-Mainland-BC I would greatly appreciate. Keeps me from chasing 80 diff threads when I get the Maps up and running.

[Coast mountain guy]

More than likely get a new caliber. Something small that I can use on deer and other small creatures. I've been reading up on the 223 so I'm leaning that way. I have pics of 2 but can't figure out how to load. I have a good friend who's trapline has been kinda stale so I figured I'd give him a hand and keep the line going. You need to trap a min of 200$ a year to keep it open so What not a better way than to help out the moose at the same time. Both wolves I've caught out in the open on gravel bars on the river. Just luck I guess. But howling keeps them around just long enough.

[BCBRAD]

260 Rem with a Hornaday V-Max 95gr bullet, cartridge good for deer as well.

[OSKsniper]

22-250 + 55gr V-Max = thing of beauty!!

[The Dude]

22-250 and 25-06 are on my wish list, so a big nod to those two as well. :D

[Skull Hunter]

.243 is what I'm using. Had about a townie size exit with fed blue box 95 grain bullets.

[todbartell]

I'd take a 243 with a 80gr Nosler BT or 87gr Hornady Vmax. Good balance of weight but without too much penetration. Flat shooting too and low recoil

[boxhitch]

7 mm. is a good calibre
17 to 20 gr of trail boss will give you about 1400 to 1700 fps with a 140 gr bullet in the 7 mag.
That should slow the dogs down enough

What distance are you hitting at ? Close I bet

[Brew]

Try out a tsx bullet. It will leave a nice clean whole that's not too big. Or buy a 243. Great cartridge for wolves and deer.

[hawk-i]

How about a 7mm-08 with 139 SST's or 140 TSX's.... I shot a wolf with mine using 139SST's and the exit hole was only about an inch in size....also a great caliber for deer and with proper shot placement it works for moose and elk too.

[argyle1]

decker shot one the other day with his .300--only left a 1 1/2" exit hole, but I'm not sure what bullet he used

[bellero]

What rifle calibers work best for shooting wolves?Keep in mind that the following list is not the end all be all for choosing a rifle for hunting wolves, but we believe it is a good guideline for someone who has never shot a wolf before. This list is by no means exhaustive. Don’t worry if you don’t see your favorite caliber; hopefully we’ve included something similar to what you plan on using.
Calibers & cartridges not recommended for wolf huntingUnder no circumstance do we recommend using these calibers for hunting wolves. These cartridges are simply not powerful enough to reliably kill wolves. In some regions where wolves are classified as big-game species it may even be illegal to use some of these cartridges.


Any rimfire cartridge (.22 LR, 17HMR, .22 Mag)
Any caliber less than .22” (17 Remington, .204 Ruger)
Small capacity .22 center fire cartridges (.22 hornet, .218 Bee)
Medium capacity .22 center fire cartridges with varmint bullets (.223, 22/250)

Calibers effective for shooting wolves at shorter ranges (<200 yards)We tentatively recommend the following cartridges under the condition that quality hunting bullets are used. With light, varmint bullets these cartridges are not sufficient for hunting wolves.


.223 Remington (200 yards is absolute maximum recommended range)
.22/250
30/30

Ideal Calibers for wolves at medium range (200-400 yards)These cartridges include many popular rounds for deer and antelope, and have enough power and velocity to shoot wolves at medium ranges, while doing minimal damage to the hide. If you already have a rifle chambered in one of these cartridges, or something similar, it will work great for hunting wolves in most conditions.


.220 Swift (with heavy, solid core bullets)
.243 and other short action 6mms
7mm/08
.308
.270 Winchester

Ideal calibers for shooting wolves at long range (>400 Yards)If you plan on hunting wolves in Southern Idaho or the frozen tundra of Alaska where wide open spaces are prevalent and long shots are to be expected, you need a powerful cartridge that has good bullet selection and high velocity. Be aware that at shorter ranges these cartridges may leave large exit holes that can damage the hide of a wolf.


25/06 and other long action .25” cartridges
30/06
7mm Magnum
Any of the big .300 Magnum rounds (.300 Win Ultra Mag, 300RUM, .338 )

–Note these will definitely tear up a wolves hide at close range


Bullet Selection for Shooting WolvesIf you have elected to use your deer or elk rifle to go wolf hunting, bullet selection is not critical. Any round you have used successfully for deer or elk will be sufficient for hunting wolves. If anything, you may want to choose the lightest commercial available round for your rifle to obtain greater velocity, and therefore greater range.
However, if you have elected to uses a smaller caliber rifle such as a .223 or 22/250, it is absolutely critical that you select high quality hunting rounds to ensure clean, ethical kills when hunting wolves.
Recommended Bullets for Hunting WolvesBullets we recommend for hunting wolves with are quality hunting bullets that expand and mushroom, while retain most of their mass and creating a large wound channel. These bullets include:


Nosler Partions
Federal Fusions
Any other bullet advertised as effective for deer or medium-sized game

Bullets Not Recommended for Hunting WolvesAny bullet advertised as a “varmint” bullet it is not recommended for hunting wolves.
While these bullets work great for “varmints” like prairie dogs or rabbits, and will certainly kill foxes and coyotes with great success, they are simply not sufficient for killing wolves. These bullets are designed to fragment explosively on impact and have very poor penetration. If they happen to miss bones, and heavy muscle mass, they may kill a wolf but will blow enormous holes in the hide on exit that can ruin the fur.
These include:


Hornady V-Max
Nosler Ballistic Tips
Barnes Varmint Grenades
Any bullet with deep hollow points that advertises high fragmentation

Other bullets that should be avoided are bullets designed for military purposes, such as full metal jacket (FMJ) bullets that are commonly found for the .223/5.56mm cartridge.
FMJs maintain form on impact and pass completely through wolves. They punch a tiny hole and leave an extremely small wound channel. These will only wound a wolf unless you have a perfect shot to the heart or lungs, and are not recommended ever.
Other bullets that should be avoided are match bullets for target shooting. They may be very accurate, but generally have poor terminal performance when compared to good hunting bullets.

http://www.huntwolves.com/the-best-rifles-for-hunting-wolves/

[The Dude]

Bellero: Gonna repost that in my Wolf thread, if that's OK, if not, let me know, and I'll pull it,
Cheers
Chris

[junkyard_g]

shot a wolf with my .338 win mag last year. the liver fell out the exit hole. elected for a head mount lol.

[25tikka]

25-284 and 100 gr ttsx work great with a fairly small exit. Same ballistics as 25-06.

[bellero]

Bellero: Gonna repost that in my Wolf thread, if that's OK, if not, let me know, and I'll pull it,
Cheers
Chris

Please do, I'm not the author of these lines, I got this article on huntwolves.com and I don't think it's copyrighted.

[teleman]

Can't you use FMJ for Wolves?

[Coast mountain guy]

I've been playing with the 140gr TSX out of my 7mm. They shoot unbelievable outta my gun so I'll give them a go and see how it goes. Thanks for all your input. I'm still considering a 243 but that may be just me looking for a new toy.

[warnniklz]

I may have a 25_06 rig coming up for sale...

[.257mag]

I shoot a 7mm as well 150gr tsx shot 2 wolves friday nice little holes called them in to 30 yrds

[r106]

good for wolfs and deer. I would think a 243 or 260 would good. but your 7mm will work fine. The problem with big exit wounds is not the 7mm rem mag it's just the bullet used. you will have the same problem with smaller calibers if the right bullet is not used.

[r106]

I shoot a 7mm as well 150gr tsx shot 2 wolves friday nice little holes called them in to 30 yrds

I was thinking the tsx would work good. My buddy shot two coyotes with his 270 using sst's, it dam near cut them in half

[The Dude]

I shoot a 7mm as well 150gr tsx shot 2 wolves friday nice little holes called them in to 30 yrds

Did you post it on the Wolf thread?

[Mr. Dean]

Can't you use FMJ for Wolves?

IIRC not for hunting, period.

[1899]

I shot one with a .300 Win Mag and 180gr Ballistic Tips. Two small holes and one dead wolf. I would try the 150gr BT as it is a fairly hard bullet. Even then I'd be trying to avoid hitting bone.

[.257mag]

everyone who hunts should comment on the wolf management plan