What is the bullet weight for those VMax bullets? Rifling twist
requirements? I think my Savage .223 bolt action has a 1:9. I
can put 10 55 gr FMJ through one ragged hole at 100 yds with
that rifle. Had planned to go with 100 gr 30-06 for wolves.
55gr V-max is available and is what I like.
Your 1-in-9 is PERFECT for the 55gr weight.
Your Savage is one of the more accurate factory rifles out there in .223. I’ve shot two of them (other guy’s guns) and was impressed as all get out with both of them in terms of “bang for the buck” if you pardon the pun. For the purist in rifle appearance, the barrel nut is a big turn-off, but for price-effective accuracy, the Savage rifle delivers excellent value. I think their triggers can be improved greatly tho. Don’t like their factory trigger feel. Very “crunchy.” But that does not alter their fundamental accuracy.
100gr out of a -06 will result in big holes in the other side, if you’re using a 100gr varmint pill. If that’s what you want, and you’re not shooting in an area where you need to worry about over-penetration, hey, whatever works for you. I’ve shot coyotes with a .17HMR as well, and there is no over-penetration there. Go for a lung shot, with the coyote quartering away from you and they’ll drop quickly. Hit him when he’s nice and still, and if you hit him about 1/2” behind the ear, about 1” lower than the middle of the ear, when he’s quartering away from you... they go down like a sack of bricks - again, with zero over-penetration. I’ve also shot ‘yotes with a .338WM - because it was what I had on me at the time. I’ve shot them with a .250-3000, a .223, a .308, .270... .45-70, .357, .45ACP, 9mm, .22LR, 12ga, 20ga, ..... dead is dead.
I’ve run down coyotes with a F-350, a Toyota, a Honda four-wheeler and I’ve dropped rocks on them off a cliff.
As you can tell, I’m not Mr. Coyote’s buddy.
Wolves, being about 2X the mass of coyotes... I’d probably go for the .223 or a .270/.280/7mm/.30xx round with a light varmint pill.
I’d go with a pill that “explodes and dumps” in the OP’s situation, or a shotgun, because a high powered, heavily jacketed round will go through and through — and might endanger other livestock in neighboring pastures.