.17HM2 = Dead Fox?

rcpilotjae

rcpilotjae

New member
Well here's a question that I hopefully will get some good answers from.

Has anyone out there in Predator Land ever taken or tried taking a Red or Grey FOX with a .17HM2?

Now I know one needs good shot placement with this caliber, but I'm wondering if a good shot through the lungs/heart area will do it. Head shot maybe too much on the exiting hole for taxidermy, not to mention another good shot placement for head. I also wonder if shot with this caliber in the lungs/heart area how far the fox will get before he/she drops?

Or should I stick to the good old shotgun with #4 buck shot (or maybe for backup)?
 
OK, Since you opened yourself up for it,,,I'll start,,,,

Caliber too small, bullet to flangible, you will have a lot of run aways, stick with the shotgun or go with something bigger, like a .223.

Did I miss anything guys? I'm sure I missed something, so let the .17 bashing begin /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif


No seriously, the 17 grain V-Max is too explosive for ANY animal bigger than a squirrel, and you'd better not want to eat a squirrel that you shot with it cuz there'll be nothing left of it.
 
Actually I believe the .17HM2 is too small for foxes. But,I also believe that the .17HMR is about perfect! The HMR also needs good placement to be effective but if you are careful and have shots under 100 yards, you'll be fine. You might also try the 20gr bullets to get more penetration.

As for moving up the the .223 as suggested above, I guess he missed your point about the taxidermy issue. Shooting a fox with a .223 is just plain nasty 9 out of 10 times.
 
If you keep your shots to under 75 yards I think that the 17HM2 is plenty of gun. Shot placement is utterly important but it will take a fox sized animal. I would be a little more comfortable with the HMR and use the 20 grain pills but the HM2 will get the job done.
 
If you decide to use the 223 of fox with the intent of getting something mountable, stick with chest shots. Damage to this area on a long haired specimen like a fox, is usually fairly easy to repair for a competant taxidermist.Head shots, while stitchable in many cases,may leave extensive damage in the detailed or shorter hair areas,that make it difficult if not impossible to repair satisfactorily.
 
You won't have to worry about exit wounds with the 17. If you shoot it in the head, or anywhere else for that matter, there will almost certainly be no exit wound. Head, neck, or chest would be the ticket.
 
So far some good answers to think about. Remember guys/gals this is a .17 Mach II we're talking about. There are some nice game bullets available for the Mach II now that are much better on a squirrel, but we're talking Fox. Wonder how these new rounds would be on a Fox? I'm also wondering now if the Mach II round will stay in a chest shot or pass right through (let's say 75-100 yards, using a regular Mach II round, Hornady or CCI).

I do understand a .17HMR would be the ticket, but I'm not in the market for another gun (right now any ways...). Or does anyone think I should give up on the .17Mach II idea and just stick to #4 Buckshot in the old shotgun stand-by? I just can't get it out of my head that a well placed shot with the Mach II at 75-100 yards will do the trick.

Any more ideas or suggestions are certainly welcome and I thank you for the suggestions so far.
 
I'd give up on the idea and stick to the shotgun with 4buck.

Shooting a fox with a machII is like shooting a coyote with an HMR. Sure it can be done but not reliably so. You'll wound a lot of critters and they'll run off and die a death they don't deserve. Shooting at live critters that move when you don't want them to is different than shooting at targets. Shot placement is important but you can't control that animal.

With all that being said, the above is only my opinion and it really doesn't matter two hoots! Do as you please. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
i agree, the HMR doesnt even effectively drop fox on consistent basis. I would not attempt it with the machII.
the #4 buck is the ticket however, and hide damage is minimal.
 
Now I know you "experienced" guys are going to think that I'm a rookie, idiot, jackass, or any number of other things, but here are my 17 HMR results on COYOTES!

I've killed eight coyotes with my 17 HMR at ranges between 20 and 70 yards. Of the eight I've had one runner...... He made it MAYBE 10 yards, but probably not that far. The rest where all Bang flops. I did lose one that I hit with the HMR. He was hit in the rear knee, and no bazooka sized gun would have had any better results with crappy shooting like that.

I skinned one of the dogs that was shot quartering towards me at about 60 yards. I found a few VERY small exit wounds and some bullet fragments against the hide behind the last rib on the off side. The fragments that exited and stopped on the hide had penetrated through at least 10-14 inches of coyote vitals before coming to rest.

I've used Vmax, TNT, and XTP ammo, all with about equal results I guess. They all died, and did it in a hurry.

Anyway, I can't speak for anyone else, but from the results
I've had, I'll go to the field with an HMR for coyotes any day, not to mention a much smaller, lighter, fox.

As for the HM2, I have no experience, but the HMR will definately do it, escpecially if your looking to save fur. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I agree. I know more than a few people that shoot things that aren't "supposed" to be shot with an HMR. I think that a mach II should take out a fox quite handily. There is no telling how many have been killed with a 22lr. My first fox fell to a 22lr.
 
As a side note, most of the guys that claim an HMR won't kill a coyote or fox have never actually tried it. They just heard from their friends, Mom's, Brother-in-laws collegue at work that he shot one, hit it perfect and it just ran off.

Not exactly concrete evidence if you ask me. Which is why I can't give you any info on the HM2......I've never tried it personally.
 
I have killed foxs with the 22 lr , 20 ga shotgun with number 8 shot and the 410 with number 6 shot. I believe the 17 M2 will kill foxs if you don't try shooting them past 50 yards and place the bullet in the neck or lungs. My personal opinion is the 22 hornet is the best fox cal you can use in a rifle. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Quote:
I'd give up on the idea and stick to the shotgun with 4buck.

Shooting a fox with a machII is like shooting a coyote with an HMR. Sure it can be done but not reliably so. You'll wound a lot of critters and they'll run off and die a death they don't deserve. Shooting at live critters that move when you don't want them to is different than shooting at targets. Shot placement is important but you can't control that animal.

With all that being said, the above is only my opinion and it really doesn't matter two hoots! Do as you please. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif



Actually your opinion does matter very much to me. I've read a lot of your posts and your web site and you've got a lot of knowledge to offer. In fact I like to hear everyone's opinion.

That said, I would like to point out that a Fox is a much smaller animal compared to a coyote. I would never attempt shooting a coyote with a .17HM2. Only a .223 or shotgun. Any way, I'm still thinking a well placed shot with the Mach II on a Fox will do it, but I am a humane hunter and I do not wish to wound an animal, nor do I want to track one half a day or more if the shot is a bit off. So, for now I will stick with the #4 buckshot and will research this a ton more before I actually try it. I would be very upset if I miss-placed the shot and couldn't find the prey in a hurry to finish it. I believe in a quick, clean kill. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

I will however keep researching this. Seems a lot of Fox get taken with a .22LR and with that a .17HM2 is twice as powerful, only a smaller bullet. It leaves me.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
I second your opinion. The 22 Hornet has been near perfect for fox for me and the 22 mag with 50 grain Federal HP's isn't far behind.
 
I use the HMR for fox and bobcat when calling in areas that are really thick and I know I wont be shooting over 100 yards. I know for a fact that a HMR will blow up and exit the other side on broadside shots under 50 yards. I have disected some and there is substantial damage (lungs destroyed). However the HMR is at 65 yards what the Mach 2 is at the muzzle so you are seriously limited. Justin
 


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