Back up at the shoot

[Baldcoot 2,352]

Window licking is the preferred lick hereabouts

[shovel leaner 7,648]

I spend my evenings going around the pens checking that there are no problems and that all the fencers are working. I’ve always got a rifle with me and these days it’s my Tikka .243 loaded with Sierra Blitzkings 70grn . I’m really enjoying shooting this rifle and pop of crows and jackdaws (Meece don’t even go there ) as I practice at different ranges . 
      This evening I finished my rounds and was sat looking up a large bank/ valley . I was loading a joke onto the general section as it happens and I looked up from my iPhone and spotted Charlie trotting from left to right at about 150 meters , I whistled and it obligingly stopped to look at me , boom . It was a dog fox and he had a chewed up poult in his gob , judging from its clipped wing I’d say it was from the second lot of birds , so a good one to flatten out . 

[Stavross 13,767]

Cracking job, he’s a good looking fella, a job well done  getting him early before he makes the most of the poult buffet

Edited July 21, 2020 by Stavross

[Sausagedog 7,381]

Cheeky blighter! Good shot that man.

[David.evans 5,323]

Off the sticks SL ..?

or truck just wondering mate as there no pod on the rifle 

atb 

[shovel leaner 7,648]

1 hour ago, David.evans said:

Off the sticks SL ..?

or truck just wondering mate as there no pod on the rifle 

atb 

I just shoot resting  on the dash of the ATV . I can brace my elbow on my knee and it’s incredibly stable . I’ve got a bipod on my .223 With the NV . But I’m resisting the urge to put a bipod on the .243 because it gets in the way when I shoot off sticks or fence posts . I forgot to mention that this is the first fox I’ve shot with this rifle . I’ve got it with me all the time but I’ve not seen a fox in enough light before . I do most of my fox shooting with the .223 at night.  I had wanted to see how  my home loads killed and all I can say is it dropped on the spot and there was no exit wound , I lifted it up and shook him and it was like a bag of marbles . So far so good . 

[FOXHUNTER 5,020]

Great result , bet you're chuffed to bring that one to book , no more pheasant dinners for him.

[shovel leaner 7,648]

1 minute ago, FOXHUNTER said:

Great result , bet you're chuffed to bring that one to book , no more pheasant dinners for him.

The shoot is about 1500 acres and I would say I’ve done a good job of keeping their numbers down but you know the old saying ( kill one fox and two come to the funeral) is fairly true . You just create a vacuum and nature soon fills it . You just have to keep vigilant and keep a rifle with you and put the hours in at night .There will soon be another one to take his place at the table .

[David.evans 5,323]

SL 

what’s your home load for the 223 , I use 24g v133 with 55g v max and get sub 1/4 moa ar 100 yards 

no fox has got up from that mate 

atb 

[shovel leaner 7,648]

1 hour ago, David.evans said:

SL 

what’s your home load for the 223 , I use 24g v133 with 55g v max and get sub 1/4 moa ar 100 yards 

no fox has got up from that mate 

atb 

Hi David, I use 25.7g of Vihtavuori 135 with 50 g vmax . Although it doesn’t say it on the data , that’s close to a compressed load , I couldn’t get another grain in the case . I’ve not got it on a chronograph, but I would think It’s around 3500 FPS . I got it cloverleafing at 100meters with a flyer that was down to me . I’ve had a fox at 251 meters with my NV and just aimed straight at it . It’s difficult to say what they are doing in my Tikka but I’ve got a Brno in .223 with a day scope on it and they are shoot flat to about 300 meters. I haven’t bothered testing any further. 
         The .243 is 42 g of N140 . My Sierra book gives data a lot less than that but then Vihtavuori is very conservative with its data . I haven’t noticed any signs of pressure problems at that load . But don’t take my word for it , do your own testing. The rifle is shooting well at that and I’m knocking pigeon and crows ( jackdaws ) over at 300 meters , and I reckon I could shoot a fox out to 350 , if my marksmanship was ok . 

[David.evans 5,323]

I’ve a chrono if you want a lend no bother 

Same load as you in the 243 but v 160 95g Sst 

[shovel leaner 7,648]

2 minutes ago, David.evans said:

I’ve a chrono if you want a lend no bother 

Same load as you in the 243 but v 160 95g Sst 

I might get my own soon , I always thought it was a bit “anorakish” and I suppose it is a bit . But I have really taken an interest in getting the most out of my guns and a chronograph is something I can see me getting soon . Thanks for the offer .

[David.evans 5,323]

Any time save you buying one

[Dervburner 2,548]

3 hours ago, shovel leaner said:

I just shoot resting  on the dash of the ATV . I can brace my elbow on my knee and it’s incredibly stable . I’ve got a bipod on my .223 With the NV . But I’m resisting the urge to put a bipod on the .243 because it gets in the way when I shoot off sticks or fence posts . I forgot to mention that this is the first fox I’ve shot with this rifle . I’ve got it with me all the time but I’ve not seen a fox in enough light before . I do most of my fox shooting with the .223 at night.  I had wanted to see how  my home loads killed and all I can say is it dropped on the spot and there was no exit wound , I lifted it up and shook him and it was like a bag of marbles . So far so good . 

Seems like the blizkings are quite frangible then SL. I think I might try the 40 grain blitzkings in .22 now I’ve read your findings . If anybody’s got and favourite.22 hornet recipes I’d be interested. Thanks

[David.evans 5,323]

Walshie 

will be along soon DER