fox control with a .17hmr

[victor 10]

you guys must have very strict laws. a good mfox is a dead one, we shoot them with .22LR's and it's like big woop.. so I'D say that a 17hmr is a good round if it's droping them at 150 yards id be happy

[SportingShooter 0]

Its about the margin for error more than anything Vic, we know if you put any bullet in the right place it will kill it, but the smaller the bullet and the less power in the round means less margin for error and very likely a wounded Fox, if the range isn't kept sensible.

[Deker 3,491]

iv got the same rifle mate yes they are a good hard hitting round but the law states that the 17hrm shoud not be used for fox because it is not a bigger enough bullet!! but if you hit them in the right place they will go down!!!

 

 

Chap...the LAW does NOT state that, the guidelines may suggest it is not suitable, and many regions will not consider it for fox, but seeing as mine and a lot of other peoples FAC is specifically conditioned with the word FOX next to .17HMR then a lot of us would be breaking the law!

Edited March 28, 2009 by Deker

[jamie g 17]

At that distance ( 150 yards ) id opt for a centerfire for fox. Sooner or later a bullet will stray slightly for whatever reason and there is only a small amount of room for error in shot placement which will produce an injured fox not a dead one.

 

For the occasional fox if your constabulary allows, then yes, But as a purpose bought foxing rifle at that distance then no.

i have cz varmint with 16in barrel and whildcat whisperer mtc viper 6x24x56

i have vermin and fox down on my ticket. there is no way i would try and take a fox out at 150 yards.

150 yards is to far, 50 to 70 yes as you will get a good head shot but with 150 if you miss and wound the fox it will then

die a nasty death and im not into that

 

Spud as far as I am concerned a head shot is a big no no regardless of range - the engine room is the only place to hit in my opinion with your target broadside. What do others think?

 

im the other way on this mate a head shot is the only way for a hmr imo. yes the body is a much bigger area then the head. but with such a little bullet from the hmr it hasnt got the hitting force for a body shot imo. yes alot of people have shot them in the body and they have gone down.

 

but it wont expand no where nr as well as a centrefire so its risky i think. some say a head shot isnt right on fox with hmr as you could hit the jaw which is true. but you keep the range down and a side on head shot is easy i think.

 

after all if you can hit rabbits in the head at over 100 yards then a head shot on a fox at anything up to yards is alot bigger target to aim for.

 

the different police forces in our country have different rules to shooting. its weird i think. i was speaking to a flo the other day in my local gunshop we where talking about shooting deer with 22 centrefires. of course only cwd and munjac

deer.

 

most forces want you to take a dcs1 course before they grant you deer on ticket. even tho its not in the guide lines to take it. i asked him if i could get munjac on my 22/250 and he said yes no problem and i wouldnt have to take the course !

 

i think the law should be cleared up abit. if the different police forces make different rules it isnt fair. but when you have different flo from the same police force making them up to it makes it 10 times worse

Edited March 28, 2009 by jamie g

[Deker 3,491]

This goes round and round and will not be resolved until there is a SPECIFIC law, at the moment the Home Office issues guidelines and the police interpret them the way they want.

 

Now...to really stir it up...I don't rate the HMR very good at all for fox, my .22LR with a 40g HP Subs is a much better and a brilliant fox stopper, good penetration, massive expansion, big hole, usually delivers most of its energy (bullet stays in) dead fox.....

 

....for longer range the .22WMR and for even longer range the centrefires....

 

.....and interestingly, after many years of saying the .308 was overkill, mine is now conditioned for fox...down to the ACPO suggestions last year!!

 

AND before anyone raises it, all mine are specifically conditioned for FOX and vermin control etc etc

[jamie g 17]

This goes round and round and will not be resolved until there is a SPECIFIC law, at the moment the Home Office issues guidelines and the police interpret them the way they want.

 

Now...to really stir it up...I don't rate the HMR very good at all for fox, my .22LR with a 40g HP Subs is a much better and a brilliant fox stopper, good penetration, massive expansion, big hole, usually delivers most of its energy (bullet stays in) dead fox.....

 

....for longer range the .22WMR and for even longer range the centrefires....

 

.....and interestingly, after many years of saying the .308 was overkill, mine is now conditioned for fox...down to the ACPO suggestions last year!!

 

AND before anyone raises it, all mine are specifically conditioned for FOX and vermin control etc etc

 

i have vermin and fox for both hmr and 22/250 on mine deker. and soon as i can be bothered to send it back in they will add cwd and munjac to it. even tho we dont get cwd in my parts. lots of munjac tho and roe.

 

shame the law here wasnt the same as scotland where roe are down for 22 centrefire as well

[bignoel 14]

on my cert it states 17hmr for fox and i have a 222 .

[Mr_Logic 5]

HMR works on fox, but at 150 yards, you want a centrefire.

 

I really can't be arsed with the legalities of foxes and HMR any more, save to say that legally, the Police do NOT decide what is vermin and what isn't. They simply make a decision on that distinction from a LICENSING point of view.

 

I.e. Irrespective of the Police, if you JUST have a vermin ticket and no mention of fox for anything at all, then I do not believe you could be successfully prosecuted for shooting fox with it. If you have fox for some rifles but not rimfire, then you're screwed - the implication is that by its specific mention for one calibre and absence for a rimfire, you cannot use the rimfire for fox.

 

However, easy solution - 22 Hornet. Just like HMR for noise and trajectory but 2 and a bit times the power and granted by everyone for both vermin and fox.