Is 223 rem enough for wolf? If so, do I need a premium bullet?

I would say it's enough but I would use premium bullets just to be on the safe side.I have no experience with wolves but from what I hear they're hard to come by.

Yes it's enough... Just stay away from bullets made to blow up easily and you will be fine.

DM

Use what you use for deer.

The .223 should work out just fine. Many lads are using them on deer with great results and their usage on a wolf would do just fine.

Some of those dogs do get large especially the ones that we have here in Idaho but I wouldn't think that they are that hardy. I've seen some in the back of pickups that were shot with .223's and they are large.

On May 11, 2011 wolf management in Idaho reverted to state management and the wolves in Idaho are no longer under the protection of the federal endangered species act. In fact if a wolf is molesting or attacking livestock or domestic animals it may be shot by the owner, owner's employees and agents without a permit. It is to be reported to F&G however. So if one is molesting your dog, you may shoot it.

Season run from Aug 30 - Mar 31 with some areas open until June 30. Later in the year when the deer and elk migrate down to the lower elevations is when most of the locals go after them. November and December are popular times and the fur is prime then; with a tanned wolf hide going for $600-$800 it might just pay to hunt 'em.

Nonresident wolf tags are $31.75 statewide while residents pay only $11.50 (that $11.50 tag fee should tell you something) so hurry on up here and bag one.

The initial agreed upon limits on the wolf population have been exceeded many time and currently almost all areas north of the Snake River and in some portions of the eastern and southeastern parts of the state have thriving packs in them. Knowledgeable estimates of some 1,700 wolves currently in the state are well above the initial agreed upon amount of 300.

Thank You for the information. I'll be in Idaho in Jan for a mountain lion hunt. The reason for the question is that I may consider a wolf tag also while I'm there. I was going to bring Great-Gran-dad's 38-55 win. But my 223 might be a better choice it I'm looking at wolves.

The 223 is perfect for wolf

quote:

Originally posted by Gojoe:
Thank You for the information. I'll be in Idaho in Jan for a mountain lion hunt. The reason for the question is that I may consider a wolf tag also while I'm there. I was going to bring Great-Gran-dad's 38-55 win. But my 223 might be a better choice it I'm looking at wolves.

The 38-55 would be nostalgic for the lion hunt as the ranges are usually relatively close but the guys that I know that have taken wolves have done so at long range. They are smart and getting smarter as the season goes on which tends towards that shots where the flat trajectory of the .223 is critical.

Best of luck and shot one for me.

Knock down power of the .223 is limited beyond 200 yds, especially in windy conditions.

The chances of a miss, or wounded animal will increas exponentially, beyond 200 yds.

quote:

Originally posted by Gojoe:
Thank You for the information. I'll be in Idaho in Jan for a mountain lion hunt. The reason for the question is that I may consider a wolf tag also while I'm there. I was going to bring Great-Gran-dad's 38-55 win. But my 223 might be a better choice it I'm looking at wolves.

Please do get a wolf tag and please try to fill it!!!
The 38-55 would certainly work within your ability range, but you may want a little more range. Nate

I'll have make a choice, the 38-55 is a model 94 rifle made in 1904. It's fine out to 50 yrds or so. I just can't fly across country with a bunch of rifles.
Thanks for the advice.

223 and a 60 gr. Hornady HP or SP will make you a wolf gun deluxe.

Check your reg's. and make sure it is legal to use 223 on wolf.

quote:

Originally posted by Clem:
Check your reg's. and make sure it is legal to use 223 on wolf.

No sweat, in Idaho it's legal to use a centerfire of any caliber on any big game. You could use a.223, if you chose, on moose or elk.

Please come to the Madison's and fill as many tags as you can purchase. Since being transplanted, the elk and moose heards are really declining, and the bow hunting has probably suffered a 50% decrease in harvest.

I have to ask a couple questions. How big are these wolves you will be hunting and at what range do you expect to be shooting. I lived in northern Manitoba for 30 + years and happened to shoot a few wolves. There are some smallish brush wolves that weigh about 100 lbs. If the range isn't too great a 223 will work fine. There are also much larger timber wolves that will weigh close to 150 lbs. Timber wolves are big tough animals and unless you are pretty close the 223 is a little light. A less than perfect shot and they were off into thick bush never to be seen again. a 243,6mm rem 25-06 or 6.5x55 class of rifle was much more effective.

quote:

Originally posted by DM:
Yes it's enough... Just stay away from bullets made to blow up easily and you will be fine.

DM

+1

Gojoe,

I have shot alot of domestic ferral dogs with the 223 and other calibers and have not been impressed with the 223 with exception of 55 grain trophy bonded.

I have had to kill something like 60 head of cattle killing dogs and all of them were smaller than a wolf which will be close to 100 pounds.

It takes several shots with conventional ammo to anchor a dog that is worked up. (Chasing cattle at night in a feed lot).

The TBBC which will penetrate up to 17 inches is OK but Id rather have something in the 270 class.

For what its worth the 25-06 shooting 117-120 grain conventional sp was minimum caliber to kill humanely with one shot (though 100 grain partition would also kill them with one shot).

Other bullets Id try would be the 62 grain Barnes and 60 grain partition. Also, the bonded winchester, remington or electroplated fusion. (The electro plated 55 grain remington power lokt was best of old 223 ammo I tried back in the 1980's).

If you have access to the federal tactical trophy bonded it is probably best 223 ammo availablefor the hunter.

Be sure to come back and show us a picture of your wolf. Have a great hunt.

Andy

quote:

Originally posted by Andy:
Gojoe,

I have shot alot of domestic ferral dogs with the 223 and other calibers and have not been impressed with the 223 with exception of 55 grain trophy bonded.

I have had to kill something like 60 head of cattle killing dogs and all of them were smaller than a wolf which will be close to 100 pounds.

It takes several shots with conventional ammo to anchor a dog that is worked up. (Chasing cattle at night in a feed lot).

The TBBC which will penetrate up to 17 inches is OK but Id rather have something in the 270 class.

For what its worth the 25-06 shooting 117-120 grain conventional sp was minimum caliber to kill humanely with one shot (though 100 grain partition would also kill them with one shot).

Other bullets Id try would be the 62 grain Barnes and 60 grain partition. Also, the bonded winchester, remington or electroplated fusion. (The electro plated 55 grain remington power lokt was best of old 223 ammo I tried back in the 1980's).

If you have access to the federal tactical trophy bonded it is probably best 223 ammo availablefor the hunter.

Be sure to come back and show us a picture of your wolf. Have a great hunt.

Andy

I don't doubt your experience but I'm curious as to why dogs are hard to kill with a 223 when it drops coyotes like stones? How long were your general ranges?

quote:

Originally posted by rolltop:
Use what you use for deer.

This is the one post here which makes sense . Got 4 under my belt, 3 with a 7mm Rem. mag and one with a .270 WSM. The only one I felt over gunned with was a pup, I shot at close range. A mature wolf weighs a hundred pounds plus, not talking 30 lb. coyote here. You work long and hard to get a shot and then want to take a chance on a Mouse gun ? Not me.

Grizz

Tigerta,

Ive always liked your avatar of the P38. Got to fly in rear seat of trainer once when I was a kid. LOUD!

Cant say why 223 and 243 were marginal on cattle killing dogs, just were. They were all larger than coyotes with possible exception of the occasional dingo cross.

Most were german shepard mix, pit bull mix, even normally good natured dogs like a lab or retriever that packed up with bad company.

Probably seldom over 60 pounds. Hit one once with 87 grain 25-06 three tinmes, knocking it down each time. Despite alot of tissue destroyed, not enough penetration and frontal area probably.

A shoot through was needed for quick kill. This equaled about 1 1/2 five gallon buckets of water in my ballistic tests. heavies in 25-06 or 130 grain 270 worked great.

In buck shot 000 was best and would make explosive head wounds as soft 36 caliber pellets expanded.

I shot with tribal police and county police near my feedlot. They often showed up with 12 ga which I was not fond of due to ricochets.

I have been shooting coyotes with variety of ammo in 223 and does not seem to matter alot what you use. SP, BT or HP all work.

Andy

Will a .223 work on wolves? Depends on what is pictured on the ammo box. If not a wolf picture wont work. There is a wolf brand chili that I think has a wolf picture. If so you might be able to modify the ammo box and make them work on wolves. The .223 will work on a deer so I'd suspect it would work on a wolf--never shot a wolf.

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
Will a .223 work on wolves? Depends on what is pictured on the ammo box. If not a wolf picture wont work. There is a wolf brand chili that I think has a wolf picture. If so you might be able to modify the ammo box and make them work on wolves. The .223 will work on a deer so I'd suspect it would work on a wolf--never sot a wolf.

Use that Wolf ammo that Scott posted the picture of the box. You wont even need a rifle--just point one of the bullets at them. This is regular wolves. Now weirwolves are different--gotta have a silver bullet. With the bad economy lot of weirwolf hunters are trying to skate and use aluminum bullets--doesn't work.

quote:

Originally posted by Andy:
Tigerta,

Ive always liked your avatar of the P38. Got to fly in rear seat of trainer once when I was a kid. LOUD!

Cant say why 223 and 243 were marginal on cattle killing dogs, just were. They were all larger than coyotes with possible exception of the occasional dingo cross.

Most were german shepard mix, pit bull mix, even normally good natured dogs like a lab or retriever that packed up with bad company.

Probably seldom over 60 pounds. Hit one once with 87 grain 25-06 three tinmes, knocking it down each time. Despite alot of tissue destroyed, not enough penetration and frontal area probably.

A shoot through was needed for quick kill. This equaled about 1 1/2 five gallon buckets of water in my ballistic tests. heavies in 25-06 or 130 grain 270 worked great.

In buck shot 000 was best and would make explosive head wounds as soft 36 caliber pellets expanded.

I shot with tribal police and county police near my feedlot. They often showed up with 12 ga which I was not fond of due to ricochets.

I have been shooting coyotes with variety of ammo in 223 and does not seem to matter alot what you use. SP, BT or HP all work.

Andy

Regarding buckshot, it was my favorite for hog culls but there isn't much meat left that isn't too blood shot to eat. Drops them like stones, though.

Ferral dogs may be more durable than coyotes. I can see pits absorbing a lot of damage.

Andy[/QUOTE]

Regarding buckshot, it was my favorite for hog culls but there isn't much meat left that isn't too blood shot to eat. Drops them like stones, though.

Ferral dogs may be more durable than coyotes. I can see pits absorbing a lot of damage.[/QUOTE]

Copper plated (12 pellet) 00 Buckshot worked on dogs too, just an issue with alot of lead flying around the feedlot. Also had some range limitations obvioulsy.

Curious, what weight range were the hogs you shot with 12 ga? Were they thicker in chest than a medium sized dog?

Andy