Fox / Coyote Cartridge Advice?

[JB10]

Would the 6mm Creedmore work with heavy bullets intended for deer size game?

I have shot several coyotes with 108 eld-m. None were drt. They all had large holes in exit side and a few with intestines dragging the ground as they ran away. I will never use that round again for a coyote or smaller for that matter. Maybe a light bullet would to better but i think a smaller cartridge is best. For a fox a very small bullet is best for pelts

 

[wildcatter]

Of all listed I would use a 204 with a lighter VMax for no bullet exit, to try and Save the pelts on the very fragile fox. Still plenty of damage on yotes.

Personally the 17 Mach IV, same as 17 Fierball is what I would and do use. 20 grain VMax flat flat flat @ 4100 fps. And when they hit they explode the insides but minimal pelt damage. I would expect close to those results with the 204.

 

[Gary in MD]

I wouldn’t advise the 22-250 and the 77 grain Sierra TMK if you’re saving pelts. This mangey one just made a mistake this afternoon.

 

[Doug Casner]

Ya talk about the eldm. I learned about those the hard way to. Coons were in my trash every night. Caught one in a trap. Shot him 4 times with a 6.5 creed. before he gave up. I knew they were target bullets but I didnt think they were FMJs . Doug

 

[Carl S]

I've shot a few thousand foxes over the years.shot them with quite a few different calibers.most of them at night with .223.ive got mine set up with thermal now we don't use spot light's now days.52grn benchrest bergers is what I use with not to much pelt damage.long shots are quite achievable with the right set up and conditions.everyone has different preferences on calibers..223 is a great cartridge. very capable,accurate,little recoil,cheap to run and i haven't come across a fox yet it won't kill.

 

[wyelknman]

You want to save fur and assume most shots will be 50-200 yards. A 223 can really blast a hole in the far side of a fox. There's not much width there if broadside. I have a Sako 17 rem that'll keep the damage inside MOST of the time. I've also carry a 221 FB sometimes. It's better on the yotes than the 17 and not quite as violent as the 223 on fox. Shoot em up the butt after they spook and you'll just have an entrance hole.

 

[SD guy]

With saving pelts in mind my 1st choice would be 17 Fireball followed by 17 hornet with bullets no longer on the market.

 

[searcher]

One thing I'm a little confused by is how does a shotgun not destroy a pelt even worse than a rifle? I'd imagine a hundred holes riddled throughout the animal. Mind you I never use my shotgun for anything outside of turkey and I don't bird hunt.

I think you may have gotten some skewed results on your "vote" for cartridges, as you didn't say whether you intended to keep the hides - or I didn't see it. When you mentioned foxes, a lot of guys keep the hides. They might be inclined to the smaller calibers and bullets - like the WSM or Hornet. Where I live, nobody keeps hides (especially coyotes) and mostly just blast the coyotes with whatever blows them up best at hand - with .223's being the "all around" gun.

 

[Onebad06VTX]

I tried 17rem on grey foxes and it was 50/50 blowing holes and ripping fur. 25gr HP. It's too much.

I have mine shooting at 3800 fps.
Sounds like your shooting faster or maybe the wrong bullet.
Im using the berger 25gr match bullets,i think they stopped making them.

 

[DiRTY DOG]

I have mine shooting at 3800 fps.
Sounds like your shooting faster or maybe the wrong bullet.
Im using the berger 25gr match bullets,i think they stopped making them.

25gr HP @ about 4000fps is kinda standard.