Good wolf medicine?

[5575]

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?

 

[Buckmaster81]

I wouldn't count on minimal pelt damage with TTSX unless its a shot at extended range

 

[5575]

Well I'm thinking the closest shot will be around 225ish. What do you suggest?

 

[fj40]

Silver bullet.

 

[Big Iron]

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]

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]

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

 

[luvcatchingbass]

For a test you could always wax a yote with your 7 and that should give you an idea.

 

[SDMF]

25-06/100’s.

 

[KDM]

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]

Tannerite in the bait and get more than one at a time. 7stw with 195 Berger eol

 

[Coyote Hunter]

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]

25-06/100's digs deeper than the rest with less in/out damage than the rest.

 

[Lungdeflator]

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]

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]

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]

I'm guessing SDMF has experience in the 25-06 100ttsx combo, I for one am not going to argue his suggestion.

 

[5575]

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.

 

[bigv]

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]

I think you are looking for the 155 mm M198 howitzer... it'll get the job done