How does HMR affect fox pelts

[JohnGalway]

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Edited September 3, 2009 by JohnGalway

[Highlander]

John I don't shoot foxes with my .17HMR but it likes rabbits well enough. If the round stays inside the little beasties then the only pelt damage is gonna be the entry wound which is almost too small to see. However if there's an exit wound it's usually pretty BIG! I'd assume on a fox there wouldn't be too much of an exit wound as the bullet is likely to break up inside.

[bullet boy]

John,Iv shot a few foxes with the HMR and the pelts had no real damage to them.I did eventually sell the HMR in favour of a centrefire rifle for fox.Saying that i shot a fox a few weeks ago with my 22-250 and there was hardly any mark on it!Shot one again last week and the damage was incredible(see steve b wales post today,of the one i shot last week).

[Baldrick]

The only body-shot fox I've taken with an HMR had a 1"-wide exit wound in the chest. 17gr V-Max at approx 80 yards.

[Guest rabgoat]

John ive read on an american forum that they prefered the 17hmr for fox/bobcat/yote because of the less pelt damage,my own personal experience tells me the vmax rounds would do less damage even if a part of the round exited,I shot a fox at just 20 yds with a fed vshok and there was a very small exit,at 40 yds i shot one through both shoulders with a tnt and the exit was a couple of inches.

[casts_by_fly]

rabgoat,

 

Not in the states they don't prefer the HMR, certainly not for coyote. the debate is as big over there as it is here about whether a HMR is an appropriate for cartridge. For fox only calling guys are using them to good success, but for any multiple species sets most leave the HMR at home.

 

For fur damage, there are much better rounds, especially if you handload.

 

Thanks

Rick

[hawkeye]

John i have shot quite a few with my HMR before i got my 223 i only ever did head shots and the only damage was the entry hole i use 17gr BT's...

 

I prefer now to use the 223 but that makes quite a mess sometimes even with home loads in this i use 50gr BT's

[JohnGalway]

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Edited September 3, 2009 by JohnGalway

[Traztaz]

I am currently shooting foxes and badgers with the .308 on full metal jacket and experiencing no noticable fur damage as long as you ensure it is a boiler room shot and do not clip shoulderbalde.