Foxes. 22lr or 17HMR?

I'd go with the .17HMR using 17grain Hollowpoints or V-Maxes.Save the FMJ's for shootin pop cans and such.The first time I tryed them I shot 4 sparrows with them and they flew away.After the first shot I saw feathers flyin but the bird was flying away too.I tryed again and got the same result,I honestly figured the bullet could'nt have been hittin them very solid or they would'nt fly off like that but a friend of mine was watchin me shoot the whole time and he said that I was hittin the birds they just were'nt dyin.I only found one of the birds after I shot it with an FMJ.It flew up in a tree and about 30 seconds later it fell to the ground dead.If I had shot it with a Hollowpoint or a V-Max there would have been bird parts everywhere.They aint real good jackrabbit stoppers either.Maybe I just did'nt give them much of a chance because all I've ever bought was one box of them.I really dont think you'll have much trouble with the V-Maxes or the Hollowpoints tearin the hides up too bad just as long as you stay away from head shots if possible.I can almost guaruntee you wont have as many run off after gettin shot with them.
 
I'm sure they died.They just flew off to do it somewhere else.The one that I watched fall out of the tree had a hole under one wing and right through the other side.I dont know why it did'nt die on the spot but it did'nt.
I'm not tellin anyone not to use FMJ's but I'm just tellin ya'll the experiences I had with them.If someone calls BS on my story thats fine I really dont care because I seen it happen and I know of one other person that did too.Like I said I could'nt get them to kill critters but other people might be able to,its hard to say.Thats why I've only bought one box of them since CCI started makin them.If he chooses to shoot FMJ's at foxes and they run off......I'll suggest switching bullets and trying it again.
If he uses them and they kill foxes deader than a doornail thats great too.Either way is fine with me.
 
Originally Posted By: HunterBear71wow...hope those birds were ok with holes through their bodies.

I laughed.

You'd be hard pressed to find a bird shot with a 17hmr that didn't die. I'd have to call shinanigans on your original post. I take that back- were you shooting geese?
 
Originally Posted By: Mike Bhttp://varmintal.com/17hmr.htm

FWIW.

Point of this site is that the 20 gr. HP's tend to be a more stout bullet and penetrate MUCH better than the 17 gr. poly tip's. That is apparently a design difference to help with just the problems that we're discussing here.

Again, FWIW.
 
.22lr is ok on Red Fox, But not that great on Greys. I use a .22WMR or .17HMR. I've yet to try the 30..33gr .22 BT offerings, CCI Maxi mag HP's do go through. No FMJ's allowed here.
 
The information that Mike posted is a technical analysis of the different bullets available for the 17hmr. The fmj is not tested. Probably because it is not really designed for hunting. However, it does work very well on some of the bigger creatures you might shoot with your 17hmr.Between the VMAX and the TNT, according to the article posted, the HP is the superior round for penetration.
 
Originally Posted By: HyperwrxOriginally Posted By: HunterBear71wow...hope those birds were ok with holes through their bodies.

I laughed.

You'd be hard pressed to find a bird shot with a 17hmr that didn't die. I'd have to call shinanigans on your original post. I take that back- were you shooting geese?

Maybe you should grab a box of FMJ's for the .17HMR and go shoot sparrows you'd probably find out you are'nt as hard pressed to find a bird that will fly away after gettin shot with one as you'd think.If you kill a bunch then I guess I must have got a crappy box of ammo because I had feathers comin off of those birds and they were flyin away.Thats what happened...if I'm lyin I'm cryin and I'm here to tell you fellas I aint shed a tear.
 
Whatever you say bud.

When a living organism (like a sparrow) that weighs roughly 200 grams is shot with a projectile weighing about 1/10th its body weight traveling at 3300 fps, it is going to suffer such trauma it will most certainly die. Take it into perspective- a 160 pound human being hit with a projectile that weighs 15 pounds. Think it's going to cause serious trauma?

No offense but I know the solution to your dilemma. The reason the birds are not dying after you hit them is because you are not hitting them. You shoot, miss, and they fly off and you are perplexed as to how they get hit and survive!
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I never thought you were making it up, Rattler. I just thought the birds were flying off to die. No doubt the fmj zipped right through those little birds. You have shot sparrows with fmj and come to the conclusion they are not suitable for that purpose. Likewise, i have shot several fox and even an aggresive coon with the fmj and had good results.
 
I have shot crows and blackbirds. I have never seen one die. They all fly off, or hop off then fly. I would have to see a hmr kill a fox, or coyote. I have shot a fox with a 25-06 and had red spray all over the ground and it ran off and yall drop all you shot in the tracks with a hmr. I know I have hit what I shot with the hmr it just wont kill em. Maybe wrong bullets, I have tried FMJ and hollow points. Neither with good results. But if yall like them keep shooting them I will never own another one.
 
Originally Posted By: HyperwrxWhatever you say bud.

When a living organism (like a sparrow) that weighs roughly 200 grams is shot with a projectile weighing about 1/10th its body weight traveling at 3300 fps, it is going to suffer such trauma it will most certainly die. Take it into perspective- a 160 pound human being hit with a projectile that weighs 15 pounds. Think it's going to cause serious trauma?

No offense but I know the solution to your dilemma. The reason the birds are not dying after you hit them is because you are not hitting them. You shoot, miss, and they fly off and you are perplexed as to how they get hit and survive!
smile.gif


What? where are you getting ammo that is leaving the muzzle at 3300 fps. from a HMR? is this a 17 furball?
 
No, my mistake. 2500 fps is more like it. Now I see how the birds got shot and managed to survive. 2500 fps is not nearly lethal enough to kill a sparrow.
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Hyperwrx,

While it appears you have had good luck so far on your limited sample size of HMR'd critters, I'm afraid it's only a matter of time before you start getting runoffs.

Here's to hoping you're the lucky one...
 
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