Good wolf medicine?

5575

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2015
Posts
3,725
Likes
587
Points
423
I'm going on a wolf hunt this winter up north.
Been debating hard on what gun to take and what bullet to shoot. I've did allot of Google searching and that seems to have confused me more.
I'm a bow hunter more than I am a rifle hunter. But over the years I've amassed a pretty good gun collection and there are very few calibers I don't have. I know there are some pretty wise rifle hunters on here so I thought I'd pick your brains a little.
Myself I think I'll leave the varmit caliber guns at home. Wolves are allot more like a deer than they are a coyote is my thinking.
The shot may be a poke as we will be baiting on a lake.
I'm thinking 7mm with 160s, 280 with 140, 25-06 with 100, 270 with 130s. Or just take the rifle I shoot 90% of my critters with, that being my 7 STW and 160s.
Bullet wise I'm thinking of using a Barnes ttsx in all of them. Figured it'd zip through with minimal pelt damage.
Then when I think about that bullet I think mmm why not take the 22-250 and shoot 50s out of it?
Well, what do you guys say?
 


5575

Founding Member
Founding Member
Thread starter
Joined
Apr 24, 2015
Posts
3,725
Likes
587
Points
423
Well I'm thinking the closest shot will be around 225ish. What do you suggest?
 

Big Iron

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2015
Posts
739
Likes
29
Points
173
My 2 cents- smallest caliber available so you don't mess up your future pelt. 22-250 would have more than enough balls to put a wolfs dick in the dirt at 300 yards. Don't over think it.
 


luvcatchingbass

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2015
Posts
3,510
Likes
237
Points
313
Location
SE ND.
7MM Rem Mag with 140TTSX has not damaged deer for me. That is with taking at least 1 shoulder out and plenty of bones being hit, my exit wound is about the size of a quarter, even smaller exit with my 6.5 120gr TTSX.
My suggestion is take a 7MM especially if you are comfortable with the 7 STW maybe look at going down to 140gr Barnes, but that might just be me.
 

Buckmaster81

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2015
Posts
1,124
Likes
35
Points
206
Location
Glenfield ND
I luv TTSX but have had some gruesome exit wounds on WT a MD with 140s and 120s out of a 7mm Rem. If I were to go TTSX I would definitely go heavy for caliber
 

KDM

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2015
Posts
9,650
Likes
1,582
Points
563
Location
Valley City
Big and S.....L.....O......W would be my suggestion. Speed tears stuff up real bad and big can oftentimes help when a less than perfect shot is made. My 308 with 165's has only exited the deer I've shot when I hit ribs to ribs. Most of the time I hit one shoulder and find the bullet in the offside. I have NO idea about how tough wolves are, but sure wouldn't want to get a shot at one and blow the bejezzus out of it. Good Luck I really hope you bag one....or 50. (not a wolf fan)
 


Kurtr

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2015
Posts
18,240
Likes
1,973
Points
648
Location
Mobridge,Sd
Tannerite in the bait and get more than one at a time. 7stw with 195 Berger eol
 

Coyote Hunter

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2015
Posts
396
Likes
14
Points
143
Location
North Dakota
I would stay away from the 22-250. It works well on coyotes, but that is all I would use it on. I would go with the .270 with 130s. I think all of those other calibers would be fine though too.

My best advice would be to talk to your guide. He has seen all of those calibers perform on more wolves than all of us combined on Nodak. Good luck.
 

SDMF

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2015
Posts
10,908
Likes
620
Points
438
25-06/100's digs deeper than the rest with less in/out damage than the rest.
 

Lungdeflator

★★★★★ Legendary Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2017
Posts
1,372
Likes
5
Points
166
Location
Berthold, ND
I have heard that a wolf is actually ALOT tougher and harder to put down than a coyote. I don't have personal experience but just something I have heard. I also don't know much about different loads and guns, but I would think a well placed shot from just about anything would do the job.
Not sure what it would be, but maybe something that has very minimal expansion, smaller entry and exit so minimal pelt damage, but wouldn't tear up the insides much?
 

SDMF

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2015
Posts
10,908
Likes
620
Points
438
I have heard that a wolf is actually ALOT tougher and harder to put down than a coyote. I don't have personal experience but just something I have heard. I also don't know much about different loads and guns, but I would think a well placed shot from just about anything would do the job.
Not sure what it would be, but maybe something that has very minimal expansion, smaller entry and exit so minimal pelt damage, but wouldn't tear up the insides much?

30-35# avg size w/50# being a friggin giant vs. 90-150#. Based on that, average wolf is 3x larger than an average coyote, not a surprise they'd be more resilient. Cripes, start a thread about deer and a 22-250 and watch the great wailing, moaning, and gnashing of teeth.......
 


bigv

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
May 18, 2015
Posts
1,024
Likes
81
Points
228
Location
Northeastern SD
I agree with 270 and 130g bullet. I have pals that have been up there hunting over bait. Said wolves are fairly tough. My reasoning is always that if I am paying for a hunt..I want odds stacked in favor of knocking down animal with minimal tracking etc. Put them down, worry about pelt later. Tax man should be able to fix any issues.
 

luvcatchingbass

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2015
Posts
3,510
Likes
237
Points
313
Location
SE ND.
I'm guessing SDMF has experience in the 25-06 100ttsx combo, I for one am not going to argue his suggestion.
 

5575

Founding Member
Founding Member
Thread starter
Joined
Apr 24, 2015
Posts
3,725
Likes
587
Points
423
Thanks guys, lots of different opinions just like I thought, lots of variables.
Couple years ago we were coming back to camp from deer hunting that morning
and there sat a wolf in a clearing at 200 yds. My partner got out and took it out
with his 300 win, can't remember the round but it didn't even tear it up much and it was just a 100 lb female.

In the end I suppose the smart thing would be to just grab the gun I shoot the most and go right.
 
Last edited:

bigv

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
May 18, 2015
Posts
1,024
Likes
81
Points
228
Location
Northeastern SD
When I was in bear camp a few years back a guy shot a younger black bear. Not sure of weight..maybe 100-125lbs? He killed it with a .300. Not sure round either but it left so much damage from exit hole the pelt was useless.
 

RustyTackleBox

Founding Member
Founding Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2015
Posts
1,782
Likes
20
Points
211
Location
Max
I think you are looking for the 155 mm M198 howitzer... it'll get the job done
 


Recent Posts

Friends of NDA

Top Posters of the Month

  • This month: 167
  • This month: 137
  • This month: 121
  • This month: 110
  • This month: 105
  • This month: 88
  • This month: 84
  • This month: 79
  • This month: 77
  • This month: 76
Top Bottom