Mr_Logic

I'd not get a Wildcat mod for it because they're too heavy, much prefer an ASE CQB. I'd not get that level of magnification either on a 223, much rather have the best glass and lower (12-16) mag. But they're good guns.

You know, you can use FMJ in a 223 on a rabbit. And you know what, it works. In fact, it makes much less of a mess than an HMR. I know, I've tried it. Your shot placement needs to be bloody good because otherwise you don't kill the rabbit, but it does work. You could also try something like a 64gr deer bullet, or similar. they don't expand much either. Personally, if you are determined, you can head shoot most of the time. You do need to be precise but if you can be bothered, it can be done. I use 22 Hornet as my mainstay bunny gun because I can't be ***** with HMR - each of my permissions also wants Charlie shot, and Hornet costs me the same as HMR as I reload it. Therefore I have an excellent crossover gun (it could also kill small deer, if legal, but hey ho...) and would recommend it. However, 223 is a good tool for rabbits in some situations. 223 gives a useful range, and on some of the land I shoot over, you simply cannot get much under 200 yards because the rabbits have been shot at for years and there is ****** all cover. Hence the additional range. 223 is also useful as a canada goose round, and on some places there's lots of both, so just take the 223, and job done.

I had a Titan6 in 243, and I regret selling it. It was a very accurate gun. Beware the aluminium receiver - easy to burr screws - I hardly gave it any pressure really but burr it did. However, that aside, it was a very good gun. I wouldn't call it well made - definitely down to a budget! No receiver to speak of due to work done in barrel, and plastic trigger. Too many cut corners for me. I do like Tikka but would level the same criticism at them. Would I buy another? Yep, despite my grumbles it shot straight and it was reliable.

Got nothing to lose by asking, so definitely worth it.

The SPS Tactical has a heavy, 20" barrel with 1:9 twist. Mine shoots pretty much any weight of bullet from 35 to 75 grains, just not the Hornady 75gr A-max. I've moved to .308 for targets and my lightweight CZ for fox, so I'm selling it, but it's a very good gun.

7.62 is a military round, which means you are talking Ball, tracer or AP. Regarding the polymer tip, it is not just the tip that counts - they have a very thin jacket near the tip so they are considerably more likely to fragment on contact with the ground than FMJ, which has quite a thick jacket and is designed not to mushroom.

7.62 round = FMJ, HMR round = plastic tip, just a BIT of difference in bullet construction there...

In a word, GMK. They are absolute ****, their service is poor and their order channel horrifically lengthy. I have a Leupold scope which needed service. leupold USA does this in about a week to 10 days. gmk - 10 weeks...

Thanks folks, I'll go have a look

How does 221FB or 17FB compare to Hornet in terms of noise? This calibre interests me...

I'm looking at getting a Browning 525 for clays, replacing my Bettinsoli. Seen one that's a good price, but has 28inch barrels. Gun is to be used for general clays. Is there any worry getting the 28-inch version? Cheers muchly :-)

It is perfectly legal to use FMJ on any animal except deer. However, I am not advocating the use of FMJ on anything. The reason I specifically named the a-max is because it is a special case. Hornady has taken their vmax and realised that it has good accuracy and BC, and re-badged it for use on targets. It expands very nicely but it is a 'target' bullet, and it is our laws that are odd. There is nothing wrong with this approach, so please don't flame me without anything solid to say!

Of course, the other way round it, depending on calibre etc, is to use Hornady's A-max throughout - AFAIK they hit like a V-max but simply are designated for target work. And you can have as many as you want...

However, it's also wrong information. 204 is fine in the wind - BC of the bullets is pretty high for a small calibre. It's higher than the 224 bullets of an equivalent weight so it is less wind affected. It also carries more grunt downrange than a 222, or 223, assuming you get away with 40gr bullets. For a successful 204 rig, you need: * Long barrel (not less than 24") * 1:11 twist (rarer than hens' teeth - you will need to take a punt on a 12 twist really, but it might not shoot the 40s) * Decent scope You will then be OK to annihilate rabbits at considerable ranges, and put nice holes in foxes too. I learned those lessons by having a Howa that shot 32gr bullets very well, but quite slowly (3750) because it had a short barrel. The performance on bunny was devastating. In terms of noise, a tiny little smidge less than my 223. Recommended, but you MUST get a long barrel to get the best out of it.

It all depends... 22 Hornet is about the quietest centrefire there is, and it's a very capable rifle for some roles. I use mine like most people use HMR, but it also gives me a good fox capability. 222 is in between but as I gather from my post the other day, noise is like a 223. So you may as well get a .223 - as a general purpose round it's about as good as it gets. It's moderately noisy, moderately powerful and moderately (250-300) ranged. Rifles are generally horrifically accurate. Must disagree with those who would say get a 12 twist - it's OK, but a 9 twist is better - can go from 40gr right to about some 75gr, not much it can't do. Personally I'd get a Tikka with a 1:8 twist, then you're on for basically anything you like. At 223 ranges, you won't have any problems with the fast twist and lighter rounds, either.

Legally that's a pile of **** - Police are supposed to make sure of firearm and shotgun storage before a grant of a ticket. If they don't bother to get their acts together, that is THEIR fault, and any '***-kicking' should be dealt with swiftly by a lawyer!

In your situation, stick with .222. There's nothing to be gained with 223, not that's worth the hassle anyway. 22-250 is a load faster and flatter, but you could (with a decent scope) run 55gr in the 243 for fox anyway, and that keeps up with 22-250 and hits a damn site harder when it gets there.

I've also had a bad time with him, was at the Phoenix and I wanted some mounts, and potentially a scope too. I wanted AFAIK about £10 off as I'd seen said scope cheaper elsewhere; he wouldn't budge, and neither would he let me buy the mounts from him (only person with them for miles) - a right *****, was very rude about it too. Never had service that bad! I would cheerfully punch the guy.

Other thing, I regularly take rabbits with the CF at 220+ yards, so HMR is a bit small for that sort of use, especially in a crosswind.

No. My rifles are conditioned for 'any other legal quarry', so rabbits count. I also had my 243 expressly conditioned for vermin. I will head shoot a rabbit if the opportunity arises, and I give rabbits to those that want them. I can't be ***** with skinning them though, since our rabbits are tough and need a knife - unlike Devon rabbits which can be pulled apart. Never did get that... Most people I know would like rabbit but would like it as rabbit meat, not as a rabbit with whiskers and what's left of its head - those that will do their own bunnies get plenty from me!

IIRC his wasn't moderated, sadly. But I've decided against anyway - didn't have necessary info hence the post. Might still change some bits though

There are other calibres, but I reload and so routinely shoot rabbits with 223 - it's good fun at the longer ranges, and it's pest control so I have no major worries if they end up in a thousand tiny pieces.

Please note past tense - I loaded 10 just to see how they got on I shoot 50gr vmax in the 223, and very well it performs too!

I've run those 35gr bullets at max load, 223 velocities, no worries with them giving way - shot quite well actually!

I'm in Reading. I also have Tikka varmint in .308, but with the short barrel it's fine as a deer tool. My 243 is already set up with 55gr Noslers at about 3900 fps, for the longer range stuff. It's bloody loud though!