malkiserow Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 Being new to the rifle shooting scene (but far too many years with a shotgun) I am thinking of putting in for a FAC for foxes (I had a thread the other week on this and some good replies ) but I do also want to shoot rabbits, Munties+CWD. Cash is not growing on my allotment so I don't want to get a rifle for each and every creature! but keep the number to a minimum. What should I get? And what is realistic to put on my FAC application? Is there a good website/guide for rifle/ammo for vermin and ground game? If things go well, in a year or 2, I want to see where I might go next in gun/ammo selection for larger deer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSS Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 .22lr (rimfire) for the rabbits and .223 for the munties and CWD, or go for .243 instead of .223 for deer, save you some money in the long run. All the best, SSS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 as SSS said, if money is the object, better to get an all rounder for larger mammals such as a 243. It's not just the gun thats expensive, good glass is too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abiteachuck Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 You will kill all these with a.17hmr but if you put on the form shooting fox`s with it you wont get one as they are`nt classified as foxing guns, if I were getting 2 rifles I would go for .17 & .223 the main problem with the .17 is bullet prices I think the .17 is a great bit if kit not many people get rid of them, as for the bullets you will have to pick them up anyway so you will have to find a shop locally or travel. Your going to have to break the bank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abiteachuck Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 Them 243s make a mess of them bunnies I HOPE YA DONT WANT TO EAT THEM LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted February 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 Them 243s make a mess of them bunnies I HOPE YA DONT WANT TO EAT THEM LOL I do! Mess is not an option unless it is fox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 I do! Mess is not an option unless it is fox i don't think anyone was insinuating that you shoot rabbits with a 243, as SSS stated, 22lr for bunnies! you did mention "deer" and if you dont want to spend out on another caliber in a couple of years, then 243 is probably the most cost effective way to go, just my 2p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 You will kill all these with a.17hmr you can't shoot CWD or muntjac with one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted February 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 Am I likely to get a .243 on my first FAC? How much land do you need to get an open ticket on a first application? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 Am I likely to get a .243 on my first FAC? How much land do you need to get an open ticket on a first application? It's not unheard of to get 243 on first application, although you might not get an open ticket to start with. As far as how much land is needed is up to the FLO, it mainly depends on how many permissions you have and are likely to get, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colster Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 Bear in mind your land might not get cleared up to .243. FEO's do consider more carefully before passing land for .243 and upwards. Unless you want to go for Red, Roe and Sika I'd go .22LR and .223. No centrefire will really work on bunnies, they'll blow them to pieces and rather expensive for a night's lamping. But a .22LR is cheap to run so may give you some leeway for a second rifle. It's probably the next step for me (223 I mean, that or .22-250). I'd like to take a few deer on one of my permissions but it's only cleared for .22CF and I'd be quite happy with CWD and Muntjac. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 Just my pennys worth mate but I personally would go for a .22LR with moderator for rabbits and maybe a 22-250 for the "larger species". The 22-250 will cover Fox and Munties (And CWD I think) but will not cover other species of deer (Except Roe in Scotland I believe) but you wouldn't want to shoot a rabbit for the pot with a 22-250 I can assure you cos there aint going to be much left to pick up! With your first FAC you might get a "Mentoring Condition" for a C/F regardless of what caliber it is and, as has already been stated, the land has to be approaved for whatever caliber(s) you ask for! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Logic Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 Hornet does everything well except deer, which it can do fine if the law allows it. Not too bad on rabbits and plenty for fox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 .22LR all the way. It's my favourite calibre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted February 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 Hornet does everything well except deer, which it can do fine if the law allows it. Not too bad on rabbits and plenty for fox. OK, I've just worked out what a Hornet is............... a 22 centre fire So the .22 lr is good up to about 100 yds but what range is the Hornet good for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Logic Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 If you're talking rabbits, 225 yards at a push. it's very loopy that far out, but it can be done. On fox, about 150-175 yards, and remember that a 22LR isn't much use beyond about 75-80 yards on a fox, IF you can get it conditioned on your ticket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 You want either a 22lr or 17 HMR for rabbits, for the deer you've mentioned you want a 243. A 223 or 22.250 Will handle the smaller species but If you then want to go after Reds and so on you would need to get another rifle. Get a 243 and it can do the lot, also its brilliant on fox I dont see how land can be cleared for a 223 but not a 243! Surely if you can take a safe shot with a 223 you can with a 243 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinny Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 what would you recomend putting on your fac for a variation to get a .243 would fox's and munties suffice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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