Looking for a rifle?

[Dumpling 23]

Hello chaps.

Need some advice, Been shooting now with shotguns for 25yrs and decided for a change,, Now looking to buy a rifle for fox control got a FAC and would very much to get back in to it as ive not done it for a long time, Would be gratefull for some advice on whats the best rifle to buy, I have got a budget but cant say as the wife is sat next to me Would be gratefull for all your fedback.

Steve.

[nessie122 0]

Hi Mate,

 

I've a Blaser R93 Professional in .22/250 calibre. It a great tool for fox control, I've a Zeiss Victory Diavari 2.5-10*50 illuminated reticule scope on it that I got as an ex demo, this is mounted using Blasers own excellent quick release mounts. I have a PES sound moderator on it. I bought all the reloading equipment & a good manual, with a little advise I have been able to get it to shoot 1/2" groups at 100yds, my best recipe is;

 

Remington Brass

CCI Primers

Hornady V-Max 55 grain bullets

39.9 grains Hodgdon H380 Powder

 

I get a lot of enjoyment from loading my own rounds, the furthest fox that I have shot so far is 250yds. I believe I could easily kill a fox humanely at even greater distances but this is about the limits of what I feel comfortable with at night time in the area I shoot over.

 

This is an expensive set-up mate but it works for me, depending on your budget and also on how much you want to stay married :-) I would highly recommend the Blaser in .22/250.

 

Cheers

Nessie

[jamie g 17]

if we new how much you had to spend it would be more easyt. mind any factory rifle is more then accurate.

[murphymax 9]

Hello chaps.

Need some advice, Been shooting now with shotguns for 25yrs and decided for a change,, Now looking to buy a rifle for fox control got a FAC and would very much to get back in to it as ive not done it for a long time, Would be gratefull for some advice on whats the best rifle to buy, I have got a budget but cant say as the wife is sat next to me Would be gratefull for all your fedback.

Steve.

 

222 very light and easy for walking, ammo is cheap, you will pick up a good 2nd hand brno cz for around £250, you can tell how old they are as all cz rifles have year of manufacture stamped on barrel.

[Colster 1]

The most popular calibres for fox seem to be .222,.22-250 & .223 but you can go lower - HMR (in some areas), WMR, .22Hornet etc but I'd stick with the first three as then you have something you can use on Muntjac and CWD too.

 

Probably find you'll spend more than half your budget on a scope as you're likely to be shooting at large distances in failing light, second hand 8x56 S&B would do you proud there but the other top makes will do the job too (Zeiss, Swaro etc), although if your budget won't stretch to those there are cheaper makes that will do the job.

[clint 45]

I have many calibre, 22 rim also big 338. Best all day rifle rabbit ,fox,etc etc,etc i use 22 Hornet , is only 9gr of powder to reload, 45gr head £9 for 100,or 100 bullet £45, it shoot 150metre easy. No escape from this Rifle cz527 ebony . 1 calibre many use.

[Dumpling 23]

I have many calibre, 22 rim also big 338. Best all day rifle rabbit ,fox,etc etc,etc i use 22 Hornet , is only 9gr of powder to reload, 45gr head £9 for 100,or 100 bullet £45, it shoot 150metre easy. No escape from this Rifle cz527 ebony . 1 calibre many use.

Thanks for that guys,, Sorry i did not put down a budget its about £1000 max. Just sold all of my shotguns apart from one which i will keep for pigeons etc, So will start shopping about.

Steve.

[matt_hooks 188]

For foxes, forget the .17 calibres, HMR and Hornet. IMHO (and that of quite a few people I know who are vastly more experienced than I) it's just not got the downrange energy delivery you need to reliably dispatch foxes at reasonable ranges. For sure if you're close up it's fine, but then so is a .22LR, with few of the drawbacks (such as an almighty sonic crack from the muzzle for starters, and more expensive ammunition too!)

 

I would personally go for the .243, a very capable foxing round, and if you fancy a go at deer you're covered, .240 being the minimum calibre for deer in England.

 

A lot depends on what you have on your ticket. The 22/250, .222, .223 and the 6mm and 6.5mm calibres will all do the job admirably on foxes, but if you might want deer at some point then the .243 (or the 6.5mm) are as small as you can go. Also the .243 ammunition prices seem pretty competitive, far cheaper than the .22cf cartridges, I think it's down to volume of manufacture.

 

You pays your money and you takes your choice! Best bet is to have a play with as many different calibres as you can and decide which suits.

 

As for specific makes, they'll all shoot far better than you or I is capable, so it mainly comes down to weight, if you're lugging a rifle around all day you don't want a massive lump barrel and huge stock, whereas a heavier barrel and stock might decrease felt recoil and slightly improve accuracy if you're shooting from a vehicle or from a high seat or other fixed position.

 

A good guide is to spend at least as much on the optics as on the rifle. A cheap scope can really destroy your enjoyment of a rifle combo. Your zero can slip with the big kick from a full bore calibre, resulting in missed animals, or worst case an injured animal. A good slope will reliably hold zero, and might give you an extra 5 minutes of shooting at either end of the day, or allow you to more reliably identify lamped quarry.

 

Don't forget to allow a certain amount for fitting a moderator, and possibly slings and/or tripods etc.

 

Hope some of that rambling is helpful. I've not named any rifles deliberately, as I think that any modern rifle will be more than adequate.

[Colster 1]

.240 being the minimum calibre for deer in England.

 

 

Minimum for Roe, Sika and Red, CWD and Muntjac can be taken legally with .222,.223 or .22-250

[FightTheBan 1,147]

I have many calibre, 22 rim also big 338. Best all day rifle rabbit ,fox,etc etc,etc i use 22 Hornet , is only 9gr of powder to reload, 45gr head £9 for 100,or 100 bullet £45, it shoot 150metre easy. No escape from this Rifle cz527 ebony . 1 calibre many use.

Thanks for that guys,, Sorry i did not put down a budget its about £1000 max. Just sold all of my shotguns apart from one which i will keep for pigeons etc, So will start shopping about.

Steve.

 

 

.223/22.250/ 222 / 243 and any in between.

The list is endless, personally you will do well with any of the above for foxes.

 

One word of advice is buy as good a second hand scope as possible.

 

 

You may pick up a secondhans swarovski/schmit/pecar scope for £800 or so. Get a cheap rifle and I guarantee you wont regret it.

 

Shop around and go private if you can to get a better deal.

 

Beauty of a good scope is it lasts you for life and is interchangeable betwwen rifles when you fall into some money and decide for an upgrade.

Cheers.

FTB