Wolf gun

While the 223 will get it done with perfect shot placement and a good quality heavy bullet, I would be looking more at the 6.8 as the bottom end for a WOLF SPECIFIC rifle and a little bigger will be even better. They are not bullet proof but they are heavy boned/muscled and can put some distance between you in a hurry with a poor hit. I settled on 308 and have had no issues with that choice. Wolves are very difficult to find and then get a shot at so stack the odds in YOUR favor with a little heavier rifle. Good Luck!
 
Never hunted wolves but considering what a .223 62 gr tsx does to a hog or deer I can't imagine its going to get up and walk away after being hit by one....
 
I've also heard that their fur soaks up a lot of blood before it hits the ground. So a bigger hole will will get you a blood trail to follow sooner. Nothing wrong with a 30 cal.
 
6.8 SPC probably makes the best sense. But, The 6.5 Grendel does intrigue me because I shoot a 260 Rem for deer. I probably wont be shooting 140 gamekings at Wolves though. So I would need a different bullet on the bench anyway
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I considered the larger platform AR's but I am primarily a coyote hunter. So a stanard .223 platform makes better sense. Besides,I'd rather skin him out myself!
 
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I have a .243 LBC hoping to try out on a wolf this winter if I get drawn for a tag. 6.5 Grendel case necked down to 6mm.

What is the muzzel Velocity with this rig? I have to think an 85 Nosler Partition 6mm bullet doing about 28 or 2900 fps would be smokin' wolf medicine
 
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Do yourself a favor and use something bigger for wolves, they can take a lot and put on many miles wounded. This is from a lot of experience. People on here will say with a perfect shot any wolf will die with a 223Rem, yes absolutely but perfect shots aren't the reality of most hunting.

Unless you're hunting above the treeline or hunting off a bait where a perfect shot can be made it makes no sense to chance losing one. They are tough SOB's. My joints still hurt from tracking them from non ideal hits in deep snow.
 
Consider that a wolf is about 3-4x bigger than a Coyote. Use your Deer/Big-Game rifle, not your varmint rifle. I would say 243 minimum (90gr or more, not a varmint bullet). You dont want to just barely kill it with a marginal cartridge. You want that thing DEAD
If you're set on an AR15, I would say 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 SPC. Maybe 300 blackout. Would not mess with anything smaller.
(AR10 in .260 Rem would be the shizzy)
 
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Bullet selection seems to be the trick. Coyotes drop like they were hit with lightning when hit with a 35 gr V-max out of a 22 Hornet. But I don't think I want a V-max to try and penetrate wolf bone. It seems to me the trick is picking a bullet that will reliably penetrate a wolf's bone structure. but still get enough expansion in a 140 pound animal to do some internal damage before it exits
 
you headed to Idaho? Or do you plan on doing some below the radar wolf control in wa?? If you don't already have an ar or reload I would get a .223/556. lots of ammo.options not sure what is commercially available for the 6x45
 
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Idaho for now...our turn is coming

If I didn't reload the 6X45 would not be a very realistic option. I haven't shot a factory round for anything other than to collect the brass for a number of years
 
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Originally Posted By: Stirling XDI've also heard that their fur soaks up a lot of blood before it hits the ground. So a bigger hole will will get you a blood trail to follow sooner. Nothing wrong with a 30 cal.
^^^^this^^^^
 
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