Will 5.56 damage fox?

[backcountry_brad]

I just got a new m&p 15 in 5.56 and want to try it out on some grey fox. do you think it will cause significant pelt damage?

[backcountry_brad]

ok, thanks!

[twowindy]

FMJ bullits are not legal to take wildlife in this state.Read the game and fish regs R12-4-303.I would agree with patrickjr .The 17hmr is a good choice if your saving the fur.I use a shotgun for taking 90% of the fur bearers I take.

[firstcoueswas80]

Shotgun.

[PatrickJr]

FMJ bullits are not legal to take wildlife in this state.Read the game and fish regs R12-4-303.I would agree with patrickjr .The 17hmr is a good choice if your saving the fur.I use a shotgun for taking 90% of the fur bearers I take.

i pulled down that post so that i wasnt suggesting anything illegal. but what ive read is that i may not take wildlife with "full-jacketed ammo designed for military use".... is all FMJ ammo considered "designed for military use"? what if it was reloaded at my house with the intention of target shooting? please help as it seems that they have created a gray area...

[firstcoueswas80]

Fmj= not legal, period.

[kidso]

I suck at all things ballistic, but am now a bit curious regarding the non-use of fmj bullets to take game in AZ. Do fmj bullets wield too much power, giving hunters an unfair advantage over our game, or are they too weak, which would result in lots of wounded and missing animals?

[AZbowhntr]

It has nothing to do with power or lack of power. It has to do with the performance of the bullet once it hits the animal. They do not expand and leave the same size entry and exit hole. It would be the equivalent of shooting a bow with field points instead of broadheads.

[backcountry_brad]

So are you saying all 5.56 ammo is fmj?

[muledeerarea33?]

Some FMJ is legal to hunt with. I always thought it wasn't until a guy I know (new to hunting) asked if he could hunt with it and I said no. He showed me a box of FMJ ammo that said "for light thin skinned game" so we took it to the G&F and they said yes it was legal. With that being said I would not recommend killing an animal with an FMJ.

[rcdinaz]

I believe most varmint loads are designed exactly the opposite way. One hole and dump all the energy so there is no exit hole. Is there a reason to punch a hole through them? Just smaller holes left in the pelt?

[muledeerarea33?]

"I would highly doubt ANY manufacturer of ammunition for the specific purpose of taking game would load an FMJ bullet. If it says "for light thin-skinned game", I would bet it was either a small hole hollow point bullet or a lead nosed bullet."
Winchester white box 45 acp. and not a hollow point of lead point

[mmtx10]

"Winchester white box 45 acp. and not a hollow point of lead point"

That's a pistol. Like apples and oranges there.

 

If your trying to save hides, there are much better calibers. If you reload you can cook up some good pelt savers no problem.

 

A thin skinned fox is hard not to blow to pieces. I shoot BB at em and the 204 does the job as well but just plan on throwing a few stitches in em with whatever you shoot em with. No head shots!

[muledeerarea33?]

I'm not saying to use the load I'm just saying its legal.

[billrquimby]

You might want to consider using light loads in a larger caliber with heavier bullets designed for penetration (and not expansion). I shot a few foxes and lots of coyotes with a .303 Savage lever rifle with light loads and 180-grain .30 caliber bullets from the old Arizona Bullet Company in Tucson during the 1950s. As I remember, there usually was minimum damage.

 

Bill Quimby