As usual the question was what "rifle" and almost no one mentions a "rifle" in their answer. Lots of suggestions for "cartridges".

I was carrying my Sav. model 99 leveraction with a 3 to 9 scope on it when I had a chance to shoot some wolves. I saw them chasing white-tails in a cutblock and so I got set up and called with a fawn distress call. It was like ringing the dinner bell. Two of them came running at me an so I shot the farthest one (~90 yards) and then swung on the closer one and shot it. It fell on its nose dead 40 steps away and I got back on the farther one who was up and trying to get into the forest. Running through thin bush and planted spruce saplings. I emptied my rifle at it killing it with the last shot (the rifle holds 6 shells in total). My rifle is chambered in .300 sav. but a Lever gun, a pump or a semi-auto in .243, 250/3000 or any deer type cartridge would be good.

If you are a person who thinks bolt actions "are more accurate" than other actions you may or may not get a chance to take more than one or two shots at a close encountered pack.



Robin in Rocky