dadioles

Keep life simple. Just ask for .17HMR for rabbit control and ask for the AOLQ condition (which tends to be normal now anyway). That keeps the police happy and covers you for what you need. Frankly, I would not even raise the subject of foxes - why complicate things. At some time in the future, if you have the inclination and the bank balance and have seen enough foxes to warrant it, buy a second rifle suitable for foxes and possibly deer. If you want quiet shooting and can accept a shorter range, consider .22lr. Personally though, in your circumstances, I would start with .17hmr.

Why?? The Chrony works "out of the box". Don't make life more complicated than it already is.

I use a nice bit of software called "On Target Precision Calculator" written by a really nice chap called Jeffrey Block in USA. There is a freeware version as well as a paid for version (only £10). If you have reasonable ability with a computer and enjoy playing with software you will love this. Input is from a camera or (better) a scanner. It is very accurate.

My advice is to re-claim the wood from the pallets, just knock out the nails which can be straightened for use again later. Add a few fence posts and a bit of straw and you can knock up something quite comfortable.

It works by the shadow of the bullet or pellet passing over the light sensitive sensors. Pretty obvious I would have thought! The diffuser screens need to be in place for best reliability. A brightly overcast day also helps. I fit mine to a photographic tripod so it is easy to adjust for height and position then bench shoot through it with the rifle on a bipod. Typically my Chrony will be about 18 inches in front of the muzzle with the bullet passing centrally about 2 inches above the sensors. It works with air rifle pellets just as well as rimfire and centrefire and even paint balls.

Stop worrying about accuracy, assuming you are not heading for the Olympics. Pretty much any rifle that you purchase in .22lr or hmr will have the potential to me more accurate than your ability. They do, however, vary in quality of manufacture. My Anschutz is better built than my CZ. But it is of little consequence in terms of practical shooting. You do need to think about barrel length, short is more convenient and no less accurate. Is the bolt smooth? Trigger pull? (trigger kit for CZ is cheap simple and good) What about scope choice and fitting? Moderator? Balance? Bipod / Sling mounts? Weight is a consideration and most significantly how the gun feels to you, is it comfortable? and there is also that subtle thing called 'ego' or 'pride' in how the gun looks. Particularly if new, be really anal about cleaning, rod and patches, maintain that perfect barrel. Find which ammunition suits it best (particularly if .22lr). They will all perform well, look around, make your choice and enjoy shooting.

Slightly off topic but never accept a police caution on the assumption that it is just a telling off with no future consequences. By accepting it you are admitting guilt and it does go on your record in the same way as a conviction. The consequences can be far more serious than you might imagine.

Yes, I forgot to mention that getting one that works at reasonably close distances is important. Knowing that something is 800 yards away is just novelty value for most of us. The drop from 20 yards to 30 yards may be significant.

To evaluate the moderator on your HMR, just fire it into some soft earth or sand a couple of feet in front of the barrel. The supersonic pressure wave will not develop and you will be surprised how quiet it is. Eye protection is a good idea! Some countries (or states) do not allow the use of a moderator. They certainly need ear protection!

That first really thorough clean is quite significant. It will have been test shot at the factory but the amount of gunk in there could be considerable. The bolt may take a fair bit of wearing in until it is really smooth, just keep working it. When I clean my guns (always rod and patch - and not just a quick pull through either) I put a drop of oil on the final patch if they are to be stored for more than a few days. If they are going to be used sooner, I put some meths on the next to last patch to remove any traces of oil and leave the barrel dry, finally a plain dry patch. That way I find only one shot is needed before full accuracy returns. Even that first shot is generally pretty close.

I assume you are talking about the normal laser type range finders, often based on "golf" equipment. I have two, a Nikon and a Bushnel. They all work at night, the problem is reading the display which is not backlit. Keeping the button pressed to 'lock' the reading and then pointing to a bright night sky or whatever works quite well. I use the Nikon mostly and at night every week. Would not be without it. I have had mine for a few years and at the time nothing was available with a backlight. If you find one that is any good, please post your conclusion here. There may be several models now.

This has been dealt with before.. and before... and yes, it is a bit silly. There are two main issues. When justifying to the police the "good reason" for requiring a rifle, most forces will not accept that shooting foxes is an acceptable "good reason" for granting a .22 rimfire. What is acceptable, for initial grant is, for example, rabbit control. When you actually own a .22 rimfire, the law allows you to shoot (ALQ) Any Lawful Quarry. Shooting foxes with .22 rimfire is entirely lawful - but as with everything firearms, subject to your certificate conditions, and that is where the Chief Constables powers come to bear - it is a local decision and that decision carries the weight of the law. Foxes have not been defined in law as vermin and there has never been a test case. The new 2015 Home Office Guidelines do, however, help us by declaring that: ......The term “vermin” is not defined in law, but it may include species that cause damage to crops, game, livestock or property such as fox, rabbit, mink, stoat, weasel, brown rat, and grey squirrel; as well as some birds, such as wood pigeon and corvids such as rook and crow. ...... All subject to the Wildlife and Countryside Act of course. If your rifle is conditioned ALQ then there is no problem and no grey area. If it simply says 'vermin' then it is still open to interpretation in law so get it changed to ALQ. If you have, say, a .223 which specifically says fox on your certificate while your .22lr says vermin, that may suggest that your police force sees fox and vermin as different things. It is down to the interpretation of the law by the Chief Constable and until tested in court it remains a grey area, no matter what the Home Office Guidance may say. Guidance is not law. The 2015 Home Office Guidance also states: ".22 Rimfires are generally considered as having insufficient muzzle energy to be used against foxes in most circumstances. However, these could be suitable for use at short range by experienced persons, and may be permitted in certain situations such as around farm buildings or paddocks. It is for the operator to ensure that the quarry species are shot at the appropriate range with the appropriate ammunition to achieve a humane kill." So make life easy for yourselves. Always get the landowners permission in writing and make sure that your firearms certificate states any lawful quarry for every rifle that you own. If you want a .22 rimfire for fox you probably will not get it if that is your "good reason". If you have a .22 rimfire and want to use it appropriately as a short range weapon against fox then make sure that your certificate is appropriately worded, just cover your back. Rightly or wrongly, it is at the discretion of your Chief Constable. The law is not clear and guidlines are not law. If you are prosecuted and become the test case and win the decision that foxes are vermin it will have taken a year or more out of your life, the confiscation of your guns for that period, and possibly many thousands of pounds with no legal aid and only the vague hope that costs would be awarded in your favour. RSPCA and Animal Liberationists have deep pockets and illogical thought processes. It might be them that bring an unreasonable and malicious publicity seeking case against you, not the police who want a quiet life!

Get the biggest you can manage. The tend to be described in shotgun terms "5 guns" but when you fit in a couple of rifles with scopes or night vision attached it all gets very squashed and things can easily get bashed about a bit. The depth (front to back) also matters a lot when a scope is attached. I bought a 5 gun cabinet, it was only really suitable for a couple of rifles, then bought a 10 gun cabinet which sits alongside it. One big gun safe is a lot more spacious than a couple of smaller gun safes as hinges and door opening all eat into the useful area.

As Chris said in his original post which started this thread: "It just goes to show how you should always check your gun for the best pellet and not just assume that one pellet is good for all!" "Asking what pellet is best for your gun is not a question anyone else can answer!" A better title for the thread would have been: "Air Arms Diabolo Field do not suit my rifle" There is no substitute for obtaining a number of different pellets and spending time shooting paper to find which best suits your gun. At 35 yards I would expect every shot to easily fit in the area covered by a 1p coin or something is not quite right.

In practical terms it is best to have an open licence with the AOLQ condition. My force, Cambridgeshire, seem more sensible than many (thanks). The law (or should I say the interpretation by police forces) over fox, vermin and shooting with .22 rimfire is too messy and no-one want to be a test case. .22 rimfire is excellent for close range fox, especially where discretion is required (gardens).