Wolf Rifle, or Wild "Hairs"

[HARPERC]

If you were to assemble a rifle for hunting just wolves what would it be?
I'm going to British Columbia in 2014 to hunt just wolves. Combination of traps, bait sets and calling.
My thoughts are: I need a rifle that's fairly handy, that I'm able to carry on my back snowmobiling all day so a weight of about 8lbs. Capable of multiple shots (**** things are always moving) either at a single animal, or single shots at multiple animals. Semi-auto seems the best choice. Chambered in something with moderate recoil, but capable of thumping a critter that's usually tops out 125 lbs plus or minus. I'm going with the 6.5-284. I'm not super long range capable, but say 500-600 yards maximum. I'm down to 2 scope choices. It's either the the Leupold 2.5x8 36mm MR/T M2 with illuminated mil-dot reticle, or the Nightforce compact 2.5x10 32mm with the Velocity 600 reticle.
I dropped at the gunsmith, a Winchester model 100 in .284 Winchester, The plan so far is to restock with an MPI synthetic, barrel is looking like a Krieger at this point 1 in 9 twist, chambered in 6.5-284, throated for the short magazine, 22 inch barrel. Not a lot of room but use what's there for a little heavier taper towards the front. He'll also machine a bit longer handle for cycling with gloves or cold hands, a muzzle break to help minimize flip, and hopefully be able to spot for myself.
I'll keep posted as it progresses, what would you build? Anybody have thoughts on the scope choice, as these are fairly new and I've not bought it yet

 

[Damol]

Heavy by your standards but how about a Springfield M1-A in .243 or .308?

 

[HARPERC]

Good choices, just a bit heavy for me physically.

 

[Outlaw6.0]

While I was reading your post I was thinking to myself that a semi-auto would be sweet, then "bang" you said it... great minds right?

I was thinking about my DMPS LR-243, 20" free floated bbl so very compact, quite accurate... how could you lose? Oh yeah, I forgot, darn thing is heavy for as small as it is (of course the 6-24x Burris XTR sitting on top probably doesn't help!).


I kind of like the idea of the M1-A

 

[fj40mojo]

I'd go with an AR10 platform chambered for .260 Rem.

 

[comfisherman]

Personally I'm making a bolt gun 7 wsm for the wolves, the interiour guys seem to like semi auto 308s but they don't ususally worry about weight, having it strapped to a snowmobile and all.

Hopefully I can get one down this fall and figure out what bullet worked best, they are a fairly big critter. Just trying to wrap my head around a 125 lbd animal thats tougher than a coyote. It takes a fair bit to level a big western coyote, can't imagine what it takes to flatten a wolf.

Until the 7 wsm is done the 7 ultra will be the standin, but due to the country ill be hunting I doubt it will be hauled much in from the beach. My wife doesnt like scopes but is interested in gettting a wolf, so I'm seriously considering a 270 wsm with irons launching the 110 accubonds as fast as possible.

dunno what the weight but the 7 wsm will be a savage 116 with dbm, hs precision stock, 19 inch mcgowen, egw base with xtr rings (maybe a dnz for less to catch on alders) and a 2.5-10 nikon monarch with add on turrets.

I like the sound of the OP's rifle, sadly a kriger with a lonewolf are a ways out of what my wife will allow for a rifle budget

 

[FEENIX]

I'd go with an AR10 platform chambered for .260 Rem.

+1! ... or Remington R25 in 7MM-08 (avg wt of 20" is 7.75 lbs).

 

[HARPERC]

I'm not well versed in the newer Ar type rifles-How "light" do you suppose a person could get one? .308 class cartridge, without magazine or scope. Has anyone crossed borders with them, and do they scare the locals? Lot of good choices here, with wolves usually being targets of opportunity they get shot with about everything. Hopefully, we'll get some separate season and liberal quotas, and try all these out!

 

[FEENIX]

I'm not well versed in the newer Ar type rifles-How "light" do you suppose a person could get one? .308 class cartridge, without magazine or scope. Has anyone crossed borders with them, and do they scare the locals? Lot of good choices here, with wolves usually being targets of opportunity they get shot with about everything. Hopefully, we'll get some separate season and liberal quotas, and try all these out!

Depends on manufacturer, barrel, stock configuration, etc, i.e., DPMS Panther ...

LR-308 24" bull barrel, empty wt: 11.2 lbs
LR-308B 18" bull barrel, empty wt: 9.65 lbs
LR-308L 18" slight contour barrel, empty wt: 7.9 lbs

Good luck!

Ed