I was reading the Montana regs for wolf hunting the other night and got to wondering If I were doing a wolf only hunt would my 22-250 running a 55 gr HPBT Gameking would be as deadly on wolves as it is with Coyote's? I know a full grown wolf can weigh up to 150 lbs.
22-250 for wolves?
- Thread starter tecumseh
- Start date
Thebear_78
Handloader
- Sep 30, 2004
- 3,098
- 865
Wolves are pretty tough critters with bone structure closer to a deer than a coyote.
The most successful wolf hunter I know swears by the 80 gd 6 mm hornady as the best all round wolf bullet he ever used. He has shot hundreds of wolves so I tend to listen when he talks about shooting wolves!
Lately he has been using a switch barrel rifle in 223 WSSM AND 243 WSSM. He had been running the 60gr ballistic tip in the 223 WSSM he had a 1-12 twist barrel but it still shot them well. He said it killed ok but they tended to either plop over or run a couple hundred yards and would occasionally make a mess with bone fragments. It just wasn't as consistent as the 6mm 80gr bullet.
His long range wolf rifle was a heavy barreled 308 running 155 scenar. He said this combo worked great at longer rang but messed up the hide too much at closer ranges.
Id Probably opt for a tougher bullet for a dedicated wolf load. Maybe a 60gr Partition or 52gr tsx. Something that ca get to the vitals on a big wolf.
That said I tipped over a big male with a 40gr vmax out of a 222 rem one time, bang flop at 130 yards so don't pass up the opportunity no matter what your carrying!
The most successful wolf hunter I know swears by the 80 gd 6 mm hornady as the best all round wolf bullet he ever used. He has shot hundreds of wolves so I tend to listen when he talks about shooting wolves!
Lately he has been using a switch barrel rifle in 223 WSSM AND 243 WSSM. He had been running the 60gr ballistic tip in the 223 WSSM he had a 1-12 twist barrel but it still shot them well. He said it killed ok but they tended to either plop over or run a couple hundred yards and would occasionally make a mess with bone fragments. It just wasn't as consistent as the 6mm 80gr bullet.
His long range wolf rifle was a heavy barreled 308 running 155 scenar. He said this combo worked great at longer rang but messed up the hide too much at closer ranges.
Id Probably opt for a tougher bullet for a dedicated wolf load. Maybe a 60gr Partition or 52gr tsx. Something that ca get to the vitals on a big wolf.
That said I tipped over a big male with a 40gr vmax out of a 222 rem one time, bang flop at 130 yards so don't pass up the opportunity no matter what your carrying!
filmjunkie4ever
Handloader
- May 4, 2011
- 1,964
- 1,354
Yeah a .22-250 should be fine as long as one sticks to the heavier bullets.
That being said I carry a .25-06 stoked with 85 grain Ballistic Tips at 3450-3500fps for wolves here in Idaho.
Good luck, kill 'em all.
That being said I carry a .25-06 stoked with 85 grain Ballistic Tips at 3450-3500fps for wolves here in Idaho.
Good luck, kill 'em all.
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,789
- 6,036
filmjunkie4ever":21sks0nq said:
That's got to strike like lightning!
filmjunkie4ever
Handloader
- May 4, 2011
- 1,964
- 1,354
Guy Miner":3ai7lp8y said:
Yes Guy it is one of my favorite loads. Honestly if it was a little thicker jacketed, I would use it for deer as it shoots so flat.
My Dad uses a .250-3000 for everything he can with 87 grain Sierra varminters and that gun kills like lightning as well.
He and I are both big proponents of the quarter-bore.
As it is now if I take her deer hunting, I use a 100 or 120 grain instead of that 85 BT.
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,343
- 8,904
I would use the 64 gr BSB bullet and not look back.
JD338
JD338
Thebear_78
Handloader
- Sep 30, 2004
- 3,098
- 865
The Barnes 45, 50 should stabilize even in a 1-14 twist. I'm not sure about the Bsb but I'm sure it would be a great bullet.
A 1-8 or 1-9 twist in the 22-250 is about as good as it gets for light recoil, true long range performance and stretching the bounds of the 224 caliber and its limits on game.
The heavier TSX out of a 1-8 twist 22-250 AI that my buddy built has accounted for several head of big game, up to and including caribou and black bear. The 70gr TSX @ 3300fps shoots very flat and hits hard while being soft on your shoulder.
A 1-8 or 1-9 twist in the 22-250 is about as good as it gets for light recoil, true long range performance and stretching the bounds of the 224 caliber and its limits on game.
The heavier TSX out of a 1-8 twist 22-250 AI that my buddy built has accounted for several head of big game, up to and including caribou and black bear. The 70gr TSX @ 3300fps shoots very flat and hits hard while being soft on your shoulder.
Oldtrader3
Ammo Smith
- Nov 6, 2009
- 8,406
- 6
I have a .204 Ruger but would not use it for wolves. I would prefer my .257 Roberts with 85 grain Ballistic Tips or 100 gr Partitions. This would be my preference for wolves.
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,343
- 8,904
The 64 gr Bonded Solid Base will stabilize in a 22-250 1:14 twist.
I recovered one in the 5th water jug. Pretty awesome bullet.
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=18868
JD338
I recovered one in the 5th water jug. Pretty awesome bullet.
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=18868
JD338
- Thread starter
- #13
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,789
- 6,036
Wolves... Where all can they be hunted?
Canada
Alaska
Idaho
Montana?
Where else is it legal to hunt wolves? I'd sure like to hang a big ol' wolf pelt on the wall...
Guy
Canada
Alaska
Idaho
Montana?
Where else is it legal to hunt wolves? I'd sure like to hang a big ol' wolf pelt on the wall...
Guy
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,789
- 6,036
Yeah, I wasn't sure about Wyoming.
Here in Washington we have plenty of wolves, but it's a no-hunting proposition, unless hired by the state. The state has wiped out a couple of packs that became too troublesome. I think it would be easier if they'd just regulate the wolves the way they do all the other large mammals, by hunting licenses, tags & seasons...
Guy
Here in Washington we have plenty of wolves, but it's a no-hunting proposition, unless hired by the state. The state has wiped out a couple of packs that became too troublesome. I think it would be easier if they'd just regulate the wolves the way they do all the other large mammals, by hunting licenses, tags & seasons...
Guy
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,789
- 6,036
Oldtrader3":3n8pra55 said:
Makes sense to me. I'd think the .257 Roberts would be about perfect.
I'd like to find out what works well for wolves! :mrgreen:
Guy
I'm a fan of Coumadin or cyanide.Guy Miner":27lhd8g1 said:
Just saying.
Hunters, without trapping, are really an ineffective means of control in my opinion.
As for what cartridge to use, I'd use the same as I would on coyotes. Whatever I have at hand. I don't consider coyotes or wolves to be a game animal but rather vermin that is to be dispatched by any means possible.
Sorry for the thread derail and now back to our regularly scheduled program.
Vince
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk
Thebear_78
Handloader
- Sep 30, 2004
- 3,098
- 865
I know a guy who has twin wing mounted 12 ga semi auto shotguns in his bush plane. Loaded with buckshot and teamed up with a holosite mounted on his dash has accounted for a few wolves. Also ar15s are pretty popular for shooting from planes
