Thanks to all for your suggestions. I just went and looked at a .17 Remington at the local box store. I also looked at the brass for it. Don't know if it was mis-marked on the package, but it was over $55 per 100 for Remington brass. A little spendy.
I also had a great conversation with one of our finest and seasoned trapper's here in town. He loves the .17 hmr....has several of them. He also loves the .22 Hornet.....has several of those too. I'm not sure of a gun he doesn't personally have duplicates or triplicates of. Every time I mentioned a caliber, he said "Yep, I've got one of those too. His main rifle he carries on his sled (snow machine for everyone in the Lower 48.....snowmobile for everyone in Minnesota, chuckling and no offense intended) is a .243.
He shoots fox with the .243 using a Nosler partitions. He said "Yea it blows a hole in them, but that is what thread is for. He traps more than he shoots. He reminded me that you never know what you'll run into. Could be a 8-10 lb fox. Could be a lynx, could be a wolverine...says they aren't "that" big here in the Interior, but they get bigger further South where they have access to a greater food base. Then they have the body size to match their attitude! If you're really lucky, you might, and he said I might, run into a wolf. Anyways, he says its not a sin to love all sorts of guns and calibers, but remember what State I live in. If something is hungry, it'll be cautious, but it might not be the smallest critter running around out there."
The furbuyer I talked to the other day here in town doesn't like to buy anything that has a hole in it. Period. He says he hates to sew! He just chuckled and said "You wouldn't believe the condition of some of the animals that guys try and bring in here to sell. Said he just has to tell then "no".
So, I guess I'm back to where I was the other day. I got almost the identical advice on Nosler Partitions from a couple of guys when I posted the original question under the reloading portion of the forum. You were hitting the nail on the head, I just wasn't hearing you. My apologies. I was more concerned with "justifying" another rifle.....that .17 Remington was pretty nice. So was the .22 Hornet. The problem is that I can't carry 3 rifles, a shotgun, a pistol, and a partridge in a pair tree when I'm out and about. I don't do that when I'm big-game or small-game hunting, but this predator sport is new to me, so bear with me....no pun intended.
Thanks again for all of the information