Fur Friendly Caliber/Bullet on Bobcat & Fox

TheWolf57

TheWolf57

New member
I've been looking at the .17 Hornet as it is available in a good rifle. Looking for a caliber/bullet combo that won't destroy a bobcat/fox pelt. Also curious how they perform on Coyote. I'm also thinking about a .204 Ruger with a minimum powder load for low velocity shooting 35 Gr Berger Hollowpoints. I figure longer range & more killing power for coyotes.
 
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Do you know how the hornet is on coyotes? Right nor I'm thinking of getting the .17 and carrying it alongside my .243, using the .17 on cats & fox
 
Former member Chili Rojo used a 17 Ackley Hornet (almost the same cartridge) for a while, and killed a whole bunch in AZ, but I believe he uses a 17 Mach IV now. I prefer the 17 FB or larger for coyotes myself. Fox and bobcat are pretty small, different story there. Shot placement will be more critical with the 17.
 
i have killed several called coyotes with my 17 hornet. the only one not recovered was one i hit in the guts as it was running. it was a bad shot choice. probably lost it with a bigger round also.

put it in the right place at reasonable distance and they die real fast.
 
12g 3" Hornady Nickel coated BB.

super fur friendly to within 10 yrds. Outside of 50-60yrds a 223 is just fine, as is most of the typical predator calibers.
 
Depends on the ranges you want to cover. I use something most people would never consider for a predator round and have great results with it in the timber of WV. Contender carbine in 357 mag. I've shot coyote, fox, and bobcat with it. Has plenty of knockdown power and fur damage is almost nil. Exit hole is nearly equal to entry hole in size. Only negative is range, it's a 100yd rifle. The 223 has destroyed fur for me at close ranges. I went to the 357 and haven't looked back. It's just not a good choice for open country.
 
Originally Posted By: Tbone-AZ12g 3" Hornady Nickel coated BB.

super fur friendly to within 10 yrds. It's not fur friendly with a tight choke! Last fox I shot that close was busted up so bad I didn't bother skinning. The shot raked the fur pretty bad, there was bones poking thru fur, end every bone in it's body was shattered making skinning a real chore. Copper coated BB. Maybe nickle coated BB does less damage at 10 yards?
 
The 17 Mach IV and the 17 Fireball are the exact same rounds, same chambering reamer, same headspace, etc....Remington couldn't call it the Mach IV because the inventor already used that name {legal thing.} Any of the centerfire 17's are enough gun. As far as fur friendly, that is usually more a matter of the bullet you use...I would suggest the 223 with full metal jacket non expanding bullets. Reaches out there, drills a clean hole.
 
I had been searching for years to find a fur friendly round and even had a member of this web site make the best I'd found, unfortunately he has since passed away. I went back to using factory loads. Recently I approached a local gun shop and explained my needs for a round that I can use AND save the furs. He has made the best round I have ever used!! In the last couple of predator competitions I have taken several yote and fox and a very small entry and NO or very little exit. LOL....in fact this past weekend we shot both grey and reds and the 22mag did more damage than the 223. Unfortunately, he won't tell me the specs on the load....but of course he'll sell me all I want.....go figure
 
Run one over the chrony and get the velocity and pull one bullet and weigh it. Should give you most of the info you need.
 
FWIW, I have killed a couple of foxes while deer hunting using a 243w the 85gr TSX. Small entry, small exit on those I have killed with it.

I wonder how the 55gr TSX would do out of a 5.56/223r?

JPK
 
the best choice for fox and bobcats will never be the ideal choice for coyotes.
17 hornet works well on the smaller guys, but is light for coyotes especially at any greater distance.

i have used the 223 with various bullets on a few fox and bobcats, most times it is ok, sometimes it nearly cuts them in half.
 
Originally Posted By: seajI had been searching for years to find a fur friendly round and even had a member of this web site make the best I'd found, unfortunately he has since passed away. I went back to using factory loads. Recently I approached a local gun shop and explained my needs for a round that I can use AND save the furs. He has made the best round I have ever used!! In the last couple of predator competitions I have taken several yote and fox and a very small entry and NO or very little exit. LOL....in fact this past weekend we shot both grey and reds and the 22mag did more damage than the 223. Unfortunately, he won't tell me the specs on the load....but of course he'll sell me all I want.....go figure
Must be cloaked in magical secrecy. There no way anybody could ever figure out what the bullet/load is unless the gun shop owner lifts the magic cloak of secrecy. /sarcasm

C'mon man. You saying you can't visually compare the bullet to what's commercially available (online pics) and have it figured out in a few minutes? Maybe a few extra minutes if you pull a bullet with a pair of pliers and weigh it to narrow down the options? C'mon, it's not that hard.
 
maybe I misrepresented myself....I don't reload or have the equip or know how to. It is something I would love to get into just to keep everything a constant. I appreciate the info on the bullet weight and the chrono....that does sound simple enough....thank you. Wish me luck!!
 
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