wolf/bullet weight
 

So planning to do a wolf hunt or two in the new year. I've got a 30.06 and was on the cabela web site, the lightest bullet weight is 125gr. Are there any factory loads lighter than this available?

I would just use what your shooting now for big game. Small fast thin bullets just make big holes.

If you want to keep the hide for mounting or selling, I would use 150 or 165 grain Barnes so you get a nice small hole in and out. They shoot lots flat enough and deflect less in the wind. The 110 and 125 grain loads make an awful mess on the way out.

Agree with both contributions - The carnage difference between shooting a lighter and faster bullet versus a slower heavier one is obvious on both my 257 bee and 30-06. As a matter of fact the best bullet, regarding fur damage on dogs, for either gun seems to be the 165 gr 30-06.

Most people I know use their deer rifles and cartridges but a few have dedicated
Rifles , sometimes in 22/250 , 243,etc
Cat

I’d use the cartridge that your using for dear or even elk. Some use ultra mags.
Trick is to be confident in your rifle and ability.

I’ve shot a couple wolves with my 30-06 using a 165 gr bullet at 150 yards. Dropped them both in their tracks, laid there for 10-20 seconds, one got up and ran 20 yards into the bush then expired the second one went several hundred yards into the bush.

Wolves are tough and will surprise you what their capable of once they’ve been shot.

PS. I believe we owe it to our game that we hunt the wolves.

AO member Popcan uses a 270WSM and he has had some wolves take off after good lung hits!:thinking-006:
Cat

I shot a big wolf back in the early 70's with a 30-06 loaded with 130 grain Speer Hollow Points, very messy.
If you want to keep the hide, use something not so explosive that will pass through without making high speed burger.

Use your normal hunting weight regular cup and cores are great. From my personal experience Ive seen more runners on barnes bullets than any other Im not saying they are a bad bullet just seem to pencil hole them dogs unless you hit shoulder.
Berger hunting vld, hornady sst and nosler BT work awsome best luck ive had is with a 6.5x284 140vlds and a 6.5x55 140sst drops em dead and not huge holes in them suprisingly
In your 30-06 id also reccomend the 150-165g range

I have a dedicated wolf rifle, tikka .243 with 95gr sst pills. One hole tons of internal damage very little hide damage.

Bass Pro Calgary had Sierra .308 110 gr. HP (+/-5months ago).
A couple of things to consider:
Negatives:
They expand and leave a big hole on the way out.
30-06 might or might not stabilize them very well. You might get good results to 100yd but they might loose consistency further you shot. So you need to investigate a bit.
Positives:
They are very good for plinking and exercising because of less recoil.
You can get +3200fps out of them. If they shot well in your rifle, you can get flat shooting out to 400yds.
If you dont care for fur, use them, as they are cheaper.


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edited to add, I missed the factory load part. Cannot delete now.

I know a fella that has shot 49 wolves in the last 3 winters. He was using a 22-250 but said he was getting too many runners. He said the 243 works much better. Myself I would use a 25-06 or 257wby.

I can second the 243, if my 243 wasn’t also my coyote gun it would probably be a 25-06, imo one of the best wolf/deer/pronghorns/sheep guns around.

That’s crazy! There is no doubt, those critters are very tough..

243 with nosler 90gr BT worked good for me last spring. For the 30-06 I would also stick to the 150gr range.

I agree - seems to me (I'm not a ballistics expert) but a fast bullet seems to just devastate dogs. Every wolf (except one) I've shot with the 257 has been quick and immediate. I think the hydro static shock causes massive internal trauma.

The bad news is the holes it leaves - it you are a fur hunter - there's probably much better choices.

I guess smaller (or no) exit holes equals a higher chance the wolf will run after getting hit. Trade off I guess.

Rather sew a hole than lose a dog lol
Fur sells for taxidermy purposes mostly anyway at auction

.243, 85gr. Speer BTHP
6.5mm, 140gr Berger
30-06, 165gr. cup and core bullet (best bc with out the recoil)Vs bigger bullets
.257 Roberts .117 gr.

There are a bunch more, 22-250 ballistics suck, compared to other calibers, .204 fast, accurate, deadly.

But if this subject is on a one man with one rifle then the above 4 work but there are others, many others that would work just as well.

Thanks for the replies and the in field results. Time to buy some more ammo and put some holes in the paper.

And wolves!!

55 gr to 750 gr to ford to gmc gr

I have shot 9 wolves with everything from a .204 to a .338 Lapua ... Even shot one with a bow... It’s more about the here you put it...

I agree. This is true with most game animals but with wolves it is paramount. I have also shot them with .204,.243,3006,7rem mag and arrowed one too. My feelings are that the .204 was pretty marginal as it required a follow up shot. I hit the shoulder and broke it with the first shot. Second one behind the shoulder. How was your experience?