.303 for Wolf/Coyote: Help.

milspek

milspek

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My father gave me his .303 enfield sporter a while back when I got my PAL.
I'd like to use this rifle (depending on opinions/suggestions) for hunting wolf and coyote, but mainly wolf. My first concern is that I'm afraid of blowing to big of an exit wound, I don't want to damage the pelt for the taxidermist. So, could someone suggest a bullet and grain that would minimize pelt damage? If not, what calibre rifle should I keep an eye out for? I'm really hoping to stick with the .303 due to funds, but if it's too much and risky for pelt damage I'll consider getting another rifle.

Thanks guys.
 
I would look at handloading or making friend with someone that handloads.

I think you can go to fairly light bullets and lower velocities than anything you can buy off the shelf.

Good luck with you search
 
The lightest bullet I've loaded for my .303 rifles is a 150g spitzer. I think you can find some lighter but I'm not absolutely sure of that. Look at the websites of bullet makers to see what bullets they have with .311 - .314" diameter.

The 150 killed deer just as it should, no exit wound.
 
This is one instance where a full metal jacket might be appropriate. If you must use soft nose, you should look at heavier, not lighter bullets. The lighter, higher velocity loads will expand more rapidly and leave a larger exit.
 
When I was a youngster, I shot a fox broadside with a Remington factory .303 180 gr RNCL; it looked like I fired a football through him. I would look for some FMJs for your pelt hunting exploits. In some provinces the grey wolf is considered a game animal, so you would be restricted to a soft point, but from what I read in another thread concerning the use of FMJs for hunting, it sounds like you're okay in Ontario.
 
If useing surplus ammo for FMJ hunting the MK VII bullet is designed to yaw on inpact creating a large wound channel.....this may mean that it comes out the backside of your animal sideways, but it should not just poke a little hole and pass through creating a wounded animal.

Muskyhunter1 , wouldn't a headshot destroy the skull for a taxidermist?
 
In Lee Enfields, which usually have "over-sized" bores, you usually either need to use a flat-based bullet of at least 0.311", or a boat-tail that "fits" the bore, often meaning that it's as large as 0.316".
 
I wonder if there was any of those accelerators in 303 in someones store. Ive heard the accuracy is less then perfect but the other characteristics make it sound appealing for that caliber. If you not familiar they are something like a long .22 or .243 caliber bullet inside a plastic sabot with high velocity characteristics.

I believe they were available for reloading, but this may be a better topic for a thread to itself.
 
"...due to funds..." Lot of that going on these days. You reloading? There are 125 and 123 grain .311" bullets made for the 7.62 x 39around. Slug the barrel first though. Lee-Enfield barrels vary in diameter. A .311" bullet may be too small.
"...keep an eye out for..." Any .22 or 6mm calibre cf. No varmint bullets out of either though.
"...MK VII bullet is designed to yaw..." They used to say that about the 5.56 too. It's nonsense.
 
The other option not mentioned yet is heavy, hard cast bullets. They can be very accurate, pushed past 2000 fps if gas checked, and will produce small wound channels if hardened.
 
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