Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Varminting and vertebrate pest control. Small game, hunting feral goats, foxes, dogs, cats, rabbits etc.

Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Ariat » 07 Feb 2017, 12:45 pm

At the moment I have a 22mag for a bit of bunny busting, but while in the VIC country I come across wild dogs every so often and want to get something with more bang to take them when I see them.

What are people's recommendations?

Just for wild dogs and foxes, nothing bigger. Don't want to go overboard., keeping ammo cost down where possible would be good too.
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Mick280 » 07 Feb 2017, 1:30 pm

I've found the good old .243 Win to be the ducks guts on the dogs!!
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Barnard » 07 Feb 2017, 3:52 pm

under 200yds and a 223 is ideal.
from 200 to 300yds a 22-250 better.
from 300 to 400+ yds and the 243 has the ideal 'oomph' to do the job humanely.

so it sort of comes down to the most often encountered ( or expected) distance you plan on shooting them at the most.
as always,......use a good projectile and you can get good results in most cartridges though.
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Gun-nut » 07 Feb 2017, 4:26 pm

.223 if your going to be after foxes as well, and they're priced reasonably as well.
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Oldbloke » 07 Feb 2017, 5:07 pm

That is great info Barnard. What weight projectiles would you suggest. I use 55g in my 223?

Great write up BFS. Thanks.
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Barnard » 07 Feb 2017, 5:35 pm

Oldbloke wrote:What weight projectiles would you suggest......


ok so i'll asume for now we're considering the 223.
why not,......it's ideal.

hornady = 55gr vmax
sierra = 55gr blitzkings or 55gr gamekings
nosler = 50 gr ballistic tips

the reason i suggest a 50gr in nosler is that noslers have a thicker base, giving them great penetration 'as well as' great expansion, meaning you don't necessarily have to go 55gr,.....thus in return can be slightly faster than the 55gr offerings.

i've tried them all, and now only use 50gr Nosler b-tips as they kill better than 55gr vmas's etc. mostly due to them having a thicker jacket 'base'.
(in my own findings of course).

below is a nosler
Nosler_ballistic_tip_varmintsplit.jpg
Nosler_ballistic_tip_varmintsplit.jpg (11.87 KiB) Viewed 18937 times


below is a vmax
images (1).jpg
images (1).jpg (4.59 KiB) Viewed 18937 times


note the difference in base thicknesses.
hence why i've found the 50gr b-tip, punches through bone etc, better than the 55gr vmaxs.

But,....at the end of the day it also comes down to how the rifle shoots them, and the prices.
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by bigfellascott » 07 Feb 2017, 6:38 pm

My vote would be a 243 for dogs and great medicine for foxes way out yonder too. :thumbsup:
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by albat » 07 Feb 2017, 7:42 pm

+1 243 hornady sst, dogs start nappin
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Oldbloke » 07 Feb 2017, 8:59 pm

I reckon a load of SGs from a 12 gauge would also do the trick.
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by bigfellascott » 07 Feb 2017, 9:12 pm

Doable but too range limiting I reckon, dogs can be cagey buggers.
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Gamerancher » 08 Feb 2017, 12:26 pm

I used to get good results with the 55gr Nosler Balistic Tips in a .222 on everything from rabbits to pigs, re-chambered to 5.6 x 50 Mag and kill results were the same but with extended range. .223 lies between those two. Point being that .224 calbre 55grainers are pretty good hunting projectiles on thin skinned game.
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by RoginaJack » 08 Feb 2017, 12:51 pm

I found the 243w with 70gr Sierra HP to be the ducks nuts for dogs. Remember, these are BIG n tough, not friendly lap yaps. Should you come across pigs or Fallow the 243w will also fit the bill. My mate won't use anything other than 270W on dogs!
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Oldbloke » 08 Feb 2017, 1:40 pm

Seems to me the OP wants a rifle for rabbits, foxes and an occasional dog. That being the case a 243 seems over the top. 223 or perhaps 204 might be better.
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Lorgar » 10 Feb 2017, 9:47 am

I'll add another vote for .243.

A .243 with 80gr is a favourite sweet spot of mine.

Fast, flat, hits hard, easy recoil.

Will drop a dog in it's tracks, no doubt.

And if a little piggie, goat or Chital/Fallow crossed your path you're in good shape to take advantage of it too ;)
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by RoginaJack » 10 Feb 2017, 3:28 pm

I just read the headlines - "Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?", so maybe a 22/250 then?
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Chris » 07 May 2017, 5:38 pm

The 25-06 pull them up REAL QUICK Out as far as you can hit them
No joke guys One of the very best guns for this kind of work
It real opens them up
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Oldbloke » 07 May 2017, 10:21 pm

So, I think to sum up.
222, 223, 243, 6 or 7mm up to 270. All suitable.
Just aside, Tom Varney used a 223
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Chris » 08 May 2017, 10:07 am

Yer Oldboy
The 50 and 55 gr do the job ok
But a fast stepping varmint pill out of 25-06 will do it beter at the longest rang
With a nice 6 to 24 scope The wind can realy blow the littles pill around at 300 or more
I dont know Tom who is he thanks
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by RoginaJack » 08 May 2017, 1:01 pm

Nah, I'll still stay with the 243w and 70gr Speer HP....Been using a 22LR with HV,HP over the traps but, Cut the cost and noise down a bit..
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Oldbloke » 08 May 2017, 3:53 pm

Tom passed away in 2014. He was a pro who specialised in wild dogs. Did a few dvds. Suposidly knew his stuff.

Here is a preview. There are a few more if you search. https://youtu.be/6oQbKqH62vs

I intend to load up some 130 gainers in my spare 3006 for if I specifically go after dogs. It will duplicate 270. Otherwise use the 223 most of the time.
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Chris » 08 May 2017, 5:22 pm

Thanks oldboy the 30-06 is all ways a good stand by for sure
If you are going use the 130 gr s you may like to try the speer hp Will pull them up fast to It can cut them in two
I do like making the long shots nothing under 300 meters and I have found my HB 25-06 is the best for me on small game
I had a 270-308 ackly imp made up for me a few years back a grate medium game gun
not quit as accurate pass the 300 meters as the 25-06
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Bang-sticks » 14 May 2017, 10:51 am

I've shot dogs using both 243 and 30-06. No dog has argued. Loads were 80gr nosler BT in 243 and 150gr hornady interlocks in 30-06.
But if I had to choose one it would be the 243. lower recoil and I can shoot it more accurately out past 250-300m for the older cagey buggers
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Dazzthebrickie » 15 May 2017, 12:44 pm

My young fella uses a 257 roberts .
Bit of a dead calibre but it gets the job done
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by WayneO » 16 May 2017, 4:07 pm

.243 with Barnes X grenades. They turn rabbits inside out and I dont think there is a dog out there that can stand up to them.
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Die Judicii » 18 May 2017, 6:06 pm

I think the perfect answer to this question is simply,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Whatever calibre you happen to have in your hands at the time you see one.... :thumbsup:
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Member-Deleted » 18 May 2017, 7:29 pm

I have been shooting wild dogs for many years used several calibers such as 222,22 mag, 303-25,303,30-30 and so on but for me
I have found that the 243 was good but a little over guned, 223 that my son uses,some times if the shot was not good at distance you never
found the dog ,the 22-250 which I have used for the past 10 years to be the best for me todate.

I use 55 gr amax which I found stops them in their tracks out to my capable distances providing wind is not a problem

For windy days I use a 25-06 with 100 gr accubonds this works well for me
I have not lost a dog since using these two calibers providing they were hit
I hope this bit of info can help you but at the end of the day it's what suits you
other people use different calibers and it suits them fine

best of luck
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Oldbloke » 18 May 2017, 8:39 pm

Soo, grandadbushy. 223 using 55g projectiles out to what? 200 yards?
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Member-Deleted » 19 May 2017, 2:36 pm

Oldbloke
I forgot to mention projectile weight for the 223 my apologies .So it was a 50gr hornady sp flat base and shots were between 100 and 250 yards thereabouts
not sure of the reason the dogs didn't stop but they were definatly hit , dropped then got up and ran, most likely died elsewhere but thats no good when
you need to collect scalps

It may have been bullet type or not hit in a vital spot i'm not sure because I didn't look into it too much because I had the 22-250 at that time
So the 22-250 with 55gr amax does it for me it knocks them pretty much wherever their hit (but within reason)
And it is nothing new that the 223 is quiet a capable caliber with good bullet selection as a few roo shooters I know use them

Sorry I put you on a bum stear Ihope this clarifies things
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Oldbloke » 19 May 2017, 2:51 pm

grandadbushy, that's great that u took the trouble to clarify. I use 223 with 55g. It's starting to sound like about 100 yards is about the reliable limit. I've heard that the 223 is good out to 200 but was suspicious as dogs can be a lot heavier than foxes. Head shots sure but I generally stick to chest shots. Mainly because in field conditions it's simply more difficult to shoot very accurately unless spotlighting.
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Re: Which calibre for hunting wild dogs?

Post by Member-Deleted » 19 May 2017, 4:03 pm

Yeh oldbloke
Sorry about the confusion I'm only a new member and at 63 yrs old computers are a bit out of my comfort zone
I shoot wild dogs for the farmers in my area which covers aprox 50klm each way
The average count is about 38-50 dogs for 4 months of the cane crush season
The local council used to test the gut contents and scats i collected for them to see how if any were pure breed ,
but no pure ones as yet over 10 or so years

Your not wrong about field shots so thats where i found the 22-250 come into play with its knock down power
I don't know much about the 223 i have never owned one i only know of my sons
Could i ask you what breed of bullet you use it may help my son with his search for a good bullet without spending too much on unneeded bullets
you know what forums are like everybody has a favorite and rightly so it works for them

You say you prefer chest shots and yes i prefer them to it seems the best area to stop them quick ( heart-lung area)
Yes wild dogs are tough,real tough a lot of shooters under estimate them and sometimes use too smaller caliber
Only wounding the animal ,i have actually shot dogs that have been shot before and found 22 cal projectiles under their hide

How do you find the 223 as far as knockdown power with 55gr bullets?

Any good to have a talk mate.
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