30-378 Load for a wolf? 208 gr A-Max.. Am I crazy?

[TX mountain hunter]

I will be going on a wolf hunt up in Canada this fall and even though the odds of seeing one are slim, I want the best possible odds of taking the animal at any range (800 or 900 yard limit for shooting & rangefinding ability). Am I crazy to consider taking my 30-378? What load should I work up? I'm leaning towards the 208 AMax for the long range trajectory. I'm afraid my 210 berger will blow through the animal before it expands. I'm hoping to use the same load for whitetails & sheep / goats later on. I want to be sure that if I'm within 30 yards on my ranging ability that the bullet is on the mark. My other calibers to load up are a 30-06 or a 240 weatherby.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

It is a great choice to kill any wolf. Don't plan on using the pelt for anything. There will be a softball size hole on the exit side. I have shot quite a few animals with the 208 amax out of a 300 RUM and they are devastaing on exit.

 

[Broz]

98 gr. of H-1000 , a Fed 215 GM and a 210 Berger has been my go to load for 30-378 Accumarks. This load has taken much much game from axis, whitetail, mulies, elk, aoudad, black buck, antelope, coyotes to prairie dogs 80 yards to 800 plus. Never tracked a one.

I know the A-max is a good bullet but I have never loaded any. Guess I never felt the need.

Jeff gun)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[royinidaho]

Yeah, use it for all your stuff on that trip. You sure won't be under gunned

 

[TX mountain hunter]

Jeff, what is your best trim length and OAL with that load (for a starting point)? Is there a bulltet out there for this gun that would do the job out to 1000 without a massive hole? How does the 210 berger do on thin skinned / small animals with various hits?

Thanks all for your responses

 

[huntinco]

Trim case .010 to .015 I'n a factory chamber. Measure this with Sinclair chamber plug. Both bullets will blow a big hole I'n the wolf. The Amax is a great bullet but I like the SMKs or Bergers because I can take a light trim with the meplat tool.

 

[Sully2]

You have got to be kidding? A fully mature wolf ( LARGE DOG) certainly doesnt need a LONG RANGE elk cartridge to kill it.

A flat shooter such as 264 Mag..or 7mm Rem mag...or even a 270-280 will kill one at any distance you can hit it at ( capability-wise)

Why not use a .458 and just lob them in like artillery does???

 

[Sully2]

What would you guys use on Kodiaks....600 Nitro Express???

 

[jmden]

What would you guys use on Kodiaks....600 Nitro Express???

Are you a long range hunter?

 

[highridge1]

Anything less than overkill is not enough gun........ 30-378 is a awesome choice..

 

[Sully2]

Anything less than overkill is not enough gun........ 30-378 is a awesome choice..

I can see from that statement Im in the wrong place

 

[Sully2]

Are you a long range hunter?

I attempt to balance the caliber with the game pursued. I dont use a 22 Hornet on elk...nor do I use a 7MM Rem mag on ground squirrels. Besides...99.9% of shooters have no business try to make a clean kill at 800-900 yards to begin with.

 

[Pdvdh]

I can see from that statement I'm in the wrong place

10-4
Roger that
Over and out!

 

[new shooter]

I can see from that statement Im in the wrong place

Your right 10-4 roger that.