making the case for the best fox/small game cartridge

[foxhunter]

keep in mind a bullet leaving the barrel at 3400-3600 fps has no clue what case it came from. as some of you may remember when I lived in new mexico I shot fox like some people shoot quail. killing 15 a day was fairly common, with 6-12 the norm.

let me also be clear I did not collect the hides on advice from my doctor,has to do with metal implants and infections. that fact still didn't keep me from having a collect the fur attitude from my days coyote hunting in Colorado.

after taking fox with the 17 Remington, 17 Ackley hornet (17 hornet) they all needed to be loaded down to the 3400-3600 fps of the 17 v=-raptor (later called 17vha) a full bore loaded 17 Remington, 17 mach4 and even the 17 ah/17hornet with a bad shot can lay a hide wide open. can the 17 v-raptor/17vha lay one open on a raking shot, you bet.

I have found on a day in day out bases 3400 to 3600 fps with a 20 grain vmax is the ideal speed to anchor a fox with a frontal soft spot or a side to side shot.
I tried the 17hmr and had a bunch of run offs, especially with the large male fox. once they made it into the bunch grass aka rattle snake grass, they were lost forever.

I for one like to shoot gray fox, jacks and cottontails as cheaply as possible. considering the 17v-raptor/17vha only uses 10 gr of powder to achieve it's goal ,3400-3600 fps , it wins the cheap skate award hands down. only the 17 ah/17 hornet can match it with reduced loads but pretty mediocre brass.

I have also switched from the 4.4x28 brass to the better (higher pressure) 4.6x30 cases. the 4.6 seems to have a tougher rim, the 4.4x28 rims rip off pretty easy if the case gets stuck at all.


sorry I've been gone so long, my attention has been else where.

[Stevo]

I really need to invest in a Chrony.

[Bill K]

Originally Posted by Stevo

I really need to invest in a Chrony.

I agree with and do use the 17 VHA on small critters. Works great and is very reasonable to reload and shoot.

Steve I have a good used Chrony for sale around 80.00 shipped. If interested.
Could email photo's. Bill K

[Harmon]

My new 17 squirrel, with those speeds sounds perfect with only 7gr. of powder. It's a match made in Heaven!

[GLWenzl]

I remember though fox slaying days!

[Stevo]

Originally Posted by Bill K

I agree with and do use the 17 VHA on small critters. Works great and is very reasonable to reload and shoot.

Steve I have a good used Chrony for sale around 80.00 shipped. If interested.
Could email photo's. Bill K

Bill I'll take it. Will take a couple weeks to get money together as the hospital bills keep pouring in. Plus Christmas. Send me your info maybe Santa will get it for me.

My hunting has been limited to some Geese Hunting and Fox Calling. My 17 blows up 2 out of 3 Fox. I have tried different bullets but the 17/223 just has too much zip. Great info Foxhunter. Thanks for posting this up.

[Bill K]

Steve. PM sent too you. re. the Chrony. The small 17VHA is ideal for shots on fox, etc. up too about 200 yards. Bill K

[georgeld]

Steveo:
Pm sent, not sure it went thru or not, LMK, ok?

[Stevo]

Got the PM's. Thank you to both of you.