I'm new to this predator hunting and have no idea what bullet(s) to use for these preds. Just bought a 22-250 Savage specifically for killing these dogs. The barrel has a 1-12 twist. The gun hasn't had a bullet through it yet. The wolves weigh upwards of 150 lbs here in Saskatchewan with most around 100. The shots will be not be close. I will probably end up reloading for this as I do it now for my other rifles. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Any good 55gr sp well do the job. Stay away from the fast expanding varmint bullets.

But for wolves I would perfer a bigger caliber and tougher bullet.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
Any good 55gr sp well do the job. Stay away from the fast expanding varmint bullets.

.

Coyote-- 22-250 55gr speer or sierra no hollowpoints.
Wolves -- 243 or bigger

quote:

Any good 55gr sp well do the job. Stay away from the fast expanding varmint bullets.

+4 I use the Sierra #1365 55 gr. SBT for the 22-250(.223 too).

If I were targeting just wolves, I would take my 7mm-08 or another larger caliber.

Good Hunting,

Bob

Thanks for the replies guys. I do have a 270 and thought it was overkill but maybe not. Shot a wolf with it 2yrs ago and it totally flattened it. The exit hole was bigger than I liked but maybe that's being a little picky. And as far as bullets for this 22-250 I'm leaning towards some Sierra SBT in 55 gr. Are they made a little stouter than all the plastic tipped bullets out there? I'd rather shoot those than a Nosler partition.

Do you feel comfortable shooting deer with your 22-250 wolves run almost the same size as most deer.

Speer's 70 gr. Semi-Spitzer gives about 1 MOA accuracy in my 1:12 twist 22-250. I took one deer with it with one shot at 360 yards. I use the same bullet in a 222 with which I've also taken a deer (one shot) as well as numerous smaller nuisances. I have little doubt the bullet would work well on wolves.

I've used the same bullet for coyotes that I use for Pdogs. That is to say, a sp bulk bullet like the 55gr Rem/Horn. Coyotes are just not as big and tough as some would have you think.

pdog, not sure how big your deer are, but our deer here are quite a bit larger than wolves. Mature bucks run from 250 to 350 lbs. Though I have no experience with the 22-250, my gut tells me that with the right bullet, which I'm asking for guidance on, this cartridge will flatten a coyote or wolf. I think Bob in Tx is onto something with that Sierra 55gr. Oh yeah, got to the range today with the rifle. With cheap Winchester 40 cnt/box 45gr ammo it shot .325 of an in. group at 100yds. Nice.

I can't speak for others, but I've never had a bit of trouble killing deer in the 100lbs range with a 22-250. The vast majority of which were shot with the Remington 55gr PSP. Shot a few with the Winchester 55gr PSP, but the Remington seems to be a little tougher bullet.

I've also used the 63gr Sierra in a .223, but those two were inside 60yrds and did not provide exit wounds. Might be something to consider if you are trying to save pelts.

I think the .22-250 will do it.

I would have to recommend a 60 grain Nosler partition for the wolves, assuming you plan to find them and keep the hides. The coyotes will die from anything you put into the rifle. Base your choice on the wolf!

The Sierra 55gr.1365 is IMHO a strongly constructed bullet which holds together well.

Very good value also and capable of producing excellent accuracy with that well tried use of 38grns of H380.

quote:

pdog, not sure how big your deer are, but our deer here are quite a bit larger than wolves. Mature bucks run from 250 to 350 lbs

Big bucks here go over two hundred lbs add in the does and fawns the avg is 120 or so.

Big wolves run upwards of 200 lbs also but that is not the avg.

I have killed deer with 224 cal rifles but they are not my normal choice for game over 100lbs.

Personally if I were targeting wolves a target one dosen't get a lot of changes on. I would go with something bigger. But if I had a 224 cal in my hands and had a good shot at a wolf I would take it.

Thanks for all your replies. Looks like I will be trying the Sierra 55gr. Seems to hold high praise amongst you all. Have all summer to get familiar with the gun and load now. If I took a 100 shots at preds 95 will be coyotes and I would be lucky to get 5 off at wolves. Their just plain elusive. Thanks again.

The game wardens and government trappers/hunters in Northern Minnesota and Montana that I know maintain that wolfs are not that hard to kill. Many grouse hunters in the north woods carry S&W 2" J frames with 38spl +p HP's and they have no trouble with the occasional wolf that needs to be shot based on field reports.

Any fast 55gr non-super expanding bullet will do just fine on either. The guys I know in Alaska that shoot them from airplanes have no trouble killing them with AR15's and 55gr SP's.

55 grs it will be. Fall can't come soon enough.

I just gave a dozen or so of the 63gr sierra SMP (semi point) bullets to a buddy who wanted to try them out in his 22-250 and he said that they were very accurate out of his rifle. They are extremely accurate out of both of my ARs.
It's hard to go wrong with Sierra bullets. They have been accurate in every rifle I have ever shot them out of.

I don't consider the 22-250 marginal for deer but a perfectly adequate big game rifle. The first deer I got with one was a large Ohio deer taken with a Remington 55 gr. pointed soft point load.

Then the coyotes...

I went out last evening to glass the "back 50" and saw a coyote by a fence line. I had my Kel-Tec P3AT with me but didn't consider it adequate for a 200+ yard shot so quickly went back to the house and got the nearest rifle which happened to be a Thompson/Center Encore chambered in 22-250 Remington.



I went outside and peeked around the corner of the barn and noted that the coyote had moved a little. Having shot some deer in the same general area before I knew the range was probably in the 225 to 250 yard range. My Encore wasn't fitted with a bipod at the time so rather than taking my preferred neck shot I got in the prone position and shot at the chest.



The coyote took off and man was it FAST. Its gait wasn't quite normal though so I thought I had hit it. It went tearing down the fence line, then out in the soybean field, angled back toward me and disappeared. I carefully glassed the area and saw no movement.



I walked back and there was a dead coyote. By the bullet wound on the shoulder one can tell I made a lung shot and may even have gotten the heart. Anyway, it took probably 150 yards for the coyote to figure out it was dead.

It was a redemption of sorts. Several years ago I saw a coyote in the same area, shot twice with a 22-250 and missed both times. It turned out my Tasco scope I had zeroed just a few days before was shooting about a foot high. I got rid of all my Tasco scopes except one that seldom get used and have gone to mostly Leupold Mark 4 scopes.

Anything from 55 grains to 70 grains would get the job done.
Just try various types in your rifle and let it decide for you.

If wolves were also on the table I'd consider the 60gr Partition.

If you can get em up there try the 53 Barnes TSX - very accurate and if you shoot em up the ars he'll see it come out his forehead.

Quintus, these Barnes you speak of, are they essentially the same bullet as say a 270 or 308 constructed Barnes? Like plainsman mentioned, I would like to try a few different well constructed bullets to see what the rifle likes. Had to laugh at your on game performance desciption. Cheers.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:

quote:

pdog, not sure how big your deer are, but our deer here are quite a bit larger than wolves. Mature bucks run from 250 to 350 lbs

Big bucks here go over two hundred lbs add in the does and fawns the avg is 120 or so.

Big wolves run upwards of 200 lbs also but that is not the avg.

Last time I checked the world record was 174lbs.
Most of the Wolves I have seen here in WI have been only slightly larger than my 95lb weimaraner. I would say in the 120-140lb range.

tc, the one I shot in 09 was 120lbs. She was headed staight for the spike buck feeding on the bait pile when I pulled the trigger. It was his lucky day. The wolves are the same up here as yours in terms of weight by the sounds of it. But when the wolves move come through else leaves. Coyotes, deer, elk and moose. Can't blame them.

I forgot that Swift just came out with a new 62gr Scirocco II that might work out of the 22-250. Barnes does make the TSX and TTSX in 53, 55, and 62 that might also work really well. I have shot them in 25-06 through 300WM and they have been very accurate not to mention they expand well and penetrate deep.

I load the 53 grains for my brother-in-law who has shot alot of deer with them with excellent preformance. I have been working with the 62 grain and they work great fro an 8 or 9 twist, but I doubt they will stabilize in the 12. They open nicely and outweigh most 95 grain 6mm partitions when recovered from like media.

I did find some 55gr Sierra SBT and some 53gr TSX. Now it's just a matter of finding some time to get out to the range. That's always the hardest part here with wife and kids tugging at me from different directions. Cheers.

Might I suggest the Barnes 55 gr Triple shock.

Why use a 22-250 when there are better choices for the same cost?

Frankly I like the choice of the .22-250 and would say that I'd have faith in the Barnes TSX in any weight. I'm using up some 45gr now as they were sold out of 53's. The Win 64gr is a great .224 bullet. In truth though The Seirra bullet you mentioned already should work fine if it shoots well.

I haven't even had a chance at a wolf yet but I will try harder this year.

I don't like a 1-12 twist in 22 cal centerfires. Whatever shoots good in your rifle will kill coyotes. Never shot a wolf.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:

Big wolves run upwards of 200 lbs also but that is not the avg.

200 lbs? Please show or tell me where you got this information.


As to the OP, I have seen too many coyotes run off after being hit with a 223 and 22-250 to consider them a good choice for wolves. From what I've heard from the wolf hunters in Alaska and Canada the 243 is considered by most to be the minimum.

First thing I want to do with the Barnes and Sierra bullets is fire them into water filled milk jugs to see how they hold up. Very curious.

I will have to also go with the Barnes 55GR. TSX

Excellent medicine on Coyotes as well it should be on the Big Dogs. Won't tear up the hide as bad as the exploders and usually leaves two holes which makes tracking really easy.


It will give you the accuracy you are looking for as well. Just don't try to push them to the max.

For weirwolves you'll need silver bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
For weirwolves you'll need silver bullets.

Do ballistic silvertips count?

quote:

For weirwolves you'll need silver bullets.

Oh well, guess my wooden bullets are all for naught...

Scott from BigD--Do ballistic silver tips count? Depends on what is depicted on the box. Picture on the box is THE GUIDE for selecting bullets.

Swifter220--Weirwolves shot with wooden bullets do die eventually. Not actually the bullet that kills them, but termites will set in and cause their death.