Evil Elvis Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Im thinking about getting a dedicated fox gun, and its going to be a .223 or a 22 hornet, if im granted a variation, the .hornet has the range and is quiet, the .223 has the range and has a lot of ammo off the shelf. To start with id use shop loads, are they expensive to use? The advantage of being easier to moderate is a big consideration as I shoot near houses and dont want to scare the local inhabitatnts!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 If you're close to houses the hornet may be better, I've a .223 and though quiet for a centrefire its not that quiet in reality, however it does the job a treat, currently running it on 55g Norma Vmax rounds at £16 a box I think so 20, if its mostly foxes you won't get through that much ammo so its not a huge cost. Plus point is its got plenty of thump and you will be surprised what one of the tame centrefires will do to a fox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyboots Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 ive just put in for a .22 hornet and the gun dealer im buying it off said the shop loads he has are £11 for 20 rounds although i never asked what make, weight of bullet etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted October 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Thanks guys. what did you mean by tame centre fires alex? Ive seen the damage a hmr does so the heavier bullet would obviously do a lot more. I was slightly worried about range, Im capable of shooting stuff out to 250 yards....is the round good for that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Hornets good for 180 - 200 max on charlie , so your looking at 222 or 223 I can feed the 223 for about the same price as the 17 HMR with homeloads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbivvy Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Im capable of shooting stuff out to 250 yards....is the round good for that Its starting to run out of steam at that but will still do a fox.( home loaded) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted October 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 (edited) I can feed the 223 for about the same price as the 17 HMR with homeloads Thats interesting, but the .223 is too loud for where im shooting. and truthfully most foxes I shoot are within the 50-175yards range, i have taken them out at well over 200 but its not essential, just means Ill stalk for longer or squeek longer........... Its starting to run out of steam at that but will still do a fox.( home loaded) What about factory loads, i wont load to start with? Edited October 9, 2009 by Evil Elvis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Thats interesting, but the .223 is too loud for where im shooting. and truthfully most foxes I shoot are within the 50-175yards range, i have taken them out at well over 200 but its not essential, just means Ill stalk for longer or squeek longer........... What about factory loads, i wont load to start with? Bet its not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Thats interesting, but the .223 is too loud for where im shooting. and truthfully most foxes I shoot are within the 50-175yards range, i have taken them out at well over 200 but its not essential, just means Ill stalk for longer or squeek longer........... What about factory loads, i wont load to start with? Whats wrong with a moderator? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbivvy Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Thats interesting, but the .223 is too loud for where im shooting. and truthfully most foxes I shoot are within the 50-175yards range, i have taken them out at well over 200 but its not essential, just means Ill stalk for longer or squeek longer........... What about factory loads, i wont load to start with? mines not bad with ppu, but my mates is spot on with it, £33 per 100.approx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight32 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 If noise and range is an issue in a difficult plot, go for a .17 Fireball.. Basically a .17 centerfire and pretty awesome too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 actually thats made me think what you really really want if you get on well with the HMR is the .204 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Bet its not My 223 is nearly as quiet as my HMR :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derek.snr Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 ppu off the shelf is £38 /100 for both hornet and 223 ,which is not too bad ,cheap enough to run depends how many you go through in an average year ,considering swapping the hmr for a hornet myself . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted October 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 I know they can be, mungler has one AS quiet as my hmr!!! I thought the feo might be more inclined towards the hornet over the .223? Whats a .204 and yes i love my hmr!!! heard some bad things about the hmr fireball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRDS Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 Get a 223 and a decent Mod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bionicle Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 a big consideration as I shoot near houses and dont want to scare the local inhabitatnts!!! :unsure: Baz, i'm taking the .243 over mate can't get any louder then that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 Whats a .204 and yes i love my hmr!!! heard some bad things about the hmr fireball. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.204_Ruger Basically its a .20 centrefire firing a light bullet very fast, Is a fairly new round that if you don't want to shoot muntjacks would make an ideal small caliber for fox, very flat shooting and pretty hard hitting from reports I've heard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted October 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 (edited) :unsure: Hmmmm, there are muntys on several of my permissions........................ Baz, i'm taking the .243 over mate yes but I dont have a badge to wave to make the old bill go away............... Edited October 10, 2009 by Evil Elvis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted October 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 (edited) I read up on the fireball too......sounds interesting. :unsure: Edited October 10, 2009 by Evil Elvis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mft135 Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 Evil Elvis I have used various rifles over the years from .22rf , 22m 22h, 243 and now 308, but i always go back to the hornet i have been using for the last twenty five years, there is not much i cannot do with home loaded 45 grain hornaday sp heads, I make up 100 round for about 20 pounds a little more now since heads and powder have gone up through the roof. I have found the hornet great to use low noise levels, mmuch cheaper to operate than the larger 22 center fires, but to make this rifle worth while you have to home load or it will get expensive, eg run of the mill ammo winchester super x 45 g sp 39 pounds for 50. Hope this helps. mft135. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Logic Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 I shoot a Hornet, 223 and 243 in the field. All at fox - each has their place. Regarding the noise, the Hornet is definitely quieter than the 223. It also lacks capability on the 223. Personally, I find the Hornet a really useful tool at several of my permissions. The cost of loading Hornet is comparable to the cost of HMR ammo. Hornet is also comparable in terms of ballistics, but it hits a lot harder when it gets there. Since it's also about the same for noise, you won't use the HMR a whole lot! Since you like the HMR, it would be better to get a 223 I think. With the right moderator they are not especially loud, and it gives you capability that the Hornet simply cannot match. Regarding the 204, I had one, they're great on bunnies, they'll stop a fox with a 40gr bullet, but you can't guarantee it'll shoot a 40. Personally, I'd stick with the 223 anyway. But like I said, I have a use for both 223 and Hornet, so why not apply for both?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rem223 Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 .223 with a moderator wont be much louder than your HMR. Nothing wrong with a .20 Ruger or a .17 Fireball but .223 ammo is more readily available if you don't reload and is generally cheaper. Personally I wouldn't bother with a Hornet. Moderate accuracy at best and not really a lot cheaper than a .223 to shoot. Now if you were considering a 17 Ackley Hornet.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 There's not a lot in it between a Hornet and .223. The .223 burns more powder but shoots longer ranges. The Hornet can be modded down very easily and sounds to be just what you want. I love my Hornet ( although I'm selling it to fund a .17 Hornet if you're interested?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Logic Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 .223 with a moderator wont be much louder than your HMR. Nothing wrong with a .20 Ruger or a .17 Fireball but .223 ammo is more readily available if you don't reload and is generally cheaper. Personally I wouldn't bother with a Hornet. Moderate accuracy at best and not really a lot cheaper than a .223 to shoot. Now if you were considering a 17 Ackley Hornet.... Please tell my CZ527 that it is only capable of moderate accuracy as it must have missed that day at school. Bugholes at 100 yards, and a 1/2inch group the only time I tried it at 225 yards. Unless we're talking benchrest, that's a lot better than moderate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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