rimmie Posted April 17, 2011 Report Share Posted April 17, 2011 (edited) hi all im thinking of chopping in my .223 for a .243,i like my .223 its accurate as hell but iv had a few runners with foxs when shot in the hart/lungs area and also i want to do a bit of stalking.my mate has a .243 and it does not mess about especily on charlie he uses 100grn soft points and it knocks em inside out but of course theres more recoil,noise etc.. ammo cost aint a problem as i reload.also on the other hand i was thinking of another type of 6mm like a 6mmppc or 6mmbr.thoughts please Edited April 17, 2011 by rimmie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Logic Posted April 17, 2011 Report Share Posted April 17, 2011 what bullet are you using on the foxes? Personally I think there is room for both, because the setup for deer on 243 is very different to the setup for foxes. Tbh I think if you use the right bullet and shoot it in the right place a fox ain't gonna get up with 223, I've not had that issue, ever... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimmie Posted April 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2011 what bullet are you using on the foxes? Personally I think there is room for both, because the setup for deer on 243 is very different to the setup for foxes. Tbh I think if you use the right bullet and shoot it in the right place a fox ain't gonna get up with 223, I've not had that issue, ever... i use a 50grn ballistic tip and 99% of the time they dont miss a beat but once or twice charlie has run 50-80 yards before droping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordieh Posted April 17, 2011 Report Share Posted April 17, 2011 hi all im thinking of chopping in my .223 for a .243,i like my .223 its accurate as hell but iv had a few runners with foxs when shot in the hart/lungs area and also i want to do a bit of stalking.my mate has a .243 and it does not mess about especily on charlie he uses 100grn soft points and it knocks em inside out but of course theres more recoil,noise etc.. ammo cost aint a problem as i reload.also on the other hand i was thinking of another type of 6mm like a 6mmppc or 6mmbr.thoughts please Hi rimmie I shot a rabbit one night at about 100m with my 243, when we walked up to it it was still alive and we had to administer the coup de grace, me and my mate were suprised but it happens if you don't hit them right. Geordie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted April 17, 2011 Report Share Posted April 17, 2011 hi ime in/was in the same boat i have a 223 but want some thing bigger and faster for longer range stuff as well as deer to save me useing the estate rifle. so ive asked for a 6mm rifle to cover me for 243 and other 6mms like the br/ppc i would ask your fao if you can do the same? i am keeping the 223 thou just because its a awsome little gun and has all the punch i need for hares and longer range crows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted April 17, 2011 Report Share Posted April 17, 2011 i use a 50grn ballistic tip and 99% of the time they dont miss a beat but once or twice charlie has run 50-80 yards before droping Shoot a fox right with a .223 and he doesn't run anywhere, using a cannon is no substitute for accuracy. You will get a runner with any calibre if you don't place it right, I don't see the argument for .243 over .223 for fox because you get occasional runners! ....and if you reload then just get it right on the .223, 1300ft lb stops foxes period, if you need more, something is wrong! ATB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted April 17, 2011 Report Share Posted April 17, 2011 Dekers is right its your shooting not the calibre etc, swap for a .243 if you want to shoot deer but you need to work out why your shots are going too far back and they will stop running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vampire Posted April 17, 2011 Report Share Posted April 17, 2011 I am looking for a decent priced .223,but i need to sell my syn blk hatsan escort first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted April 17, 2011 Report Share Posted April 17, 2011 unless of course the issue with the .223 is caused by wind in which case the .243 will be better i've had chest shot cubs run 20 odd yards and me thinking I've pulled the shot only to retrieve them and find a 50p size exit wound from a perfectly placed side on chest shot ..... it does happen some times and the fox just runs on the adrenalin and nowt else before realising it is dead :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Logic Posted April 17, 2011 Report Share Posted April 17, 2011 unless of course the issue with the .223 is caused by wind in which case the .243 will be better i've had chest shot cubs run 20 odd yards and me thinking I've pulled the shot only to retrieve them and find a 50p size exit wound from a perfectly placed side on chest shot ..... it does happen some times and the fox just runs on the adrenalin and nowt else before realising it is dead :o There's your problem, with the right bullet you leave a bloody great hole, and then they don't go anywhere. Same applies with deer tbh - never had a runner with varmint bullets on roe. Wouldn't use them on heavier species but roe are so dinky that a 243 with them works. It's very humane for deer clearance (needed down in Berkshire) but you do lose the whole front end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Mule Posted April 17, 2011 Report Share Posted April 17, 2011 When I was a squaddie (and young and a bit daft), our WO2 explained about the reason for using a 7.62 high velocity (the 'old' SLR round) was that although it did do quite a bit of damage, but it could hit you in the hip, but the amount of "system shock" that it inflicted, would kill you anyway. I'm not in any way saying that this should cover poor placement, but instead suggesting that should a shot stray (for whatever reason), the more powerfull round will ensure a more clinical / 'clean' kill. Dead is dead, but there is dead and there is DEAD. I'm all for a surgically precise extrication, but there is always the chance that some tiny factor will manifest itself and mess up the shot and given the opportunity to ensure that this will make no diference whatsoever, I'll take it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted April 17, 2011 Report Share Posted April 17, 2011 Screw it, why not go for a .270? There's no such thing as 'Overkill' when it comes to fox control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 hi all im thinking of chopping in my .223 for a .243,i like my .223 its accurate as hell but iv had a few runners with foxs when shot in the hart/lungs area and also i want to do a bit of stalking.my mate has a .243 and it does not mess about especily on charlie he uses 100grn soft points and it knocks em inside out but of course theres more recoil,noise etc.. ammo cost aint a problem as i reload.also on the other hand i was thinking of another type of 6mm like a 6mmppc or 6mmbr.thoughts please std 100 grn soft point designed for deer is the worst bullet for charlie in 6mm and yes i have shot a stack of foxes with them when staking they generally fail to expand effectively in the cavity, often they get up after going down run on then drop dead somewere a way off from were they first dropped. 95 grn Nosler BT is about the best for both deer and fox but 70-75 varmint type is the choice for fox. the issue with runners on the .223 rem is maybee related to terminal performance of your chosen bullet but far more likely shot placement, running from cavity shots will often occur as the animal needs to bleed out. changing to a .243 will alter nothing though as both .223 rem and .243 could go through multiple foxes at once with the wrong bullet, what you sound like you need is the right bullet on the subject of other 6mm cals for deer many fail to produce the energy required under deer laws so be carefull, even short barrel .243 win can be iffy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 hi all im thinking of chopping in my .223 for a .243,i like my .223 its accurate as hell but iv had a few runners with foxs when shot in the hart/lungs area and also i want to do a bit of stalking.my mate has a .243 and it does not mess about especily on charlie he uses 100grn soft points and it knocks em inside out but of course theres more recoil,noise etc.. ammo cost aint a problem as i reload.also on the other hand i was thinking of another type of 6mm like a 6mmppc or 6mmbr.thoughts please std 100 grn soft point designed for deer is the worst bullet for charlie in 6mm and yes i have shot a stack of foxes with them when staking they generally fail to expand effectively in the cavity, often they get up after going down run on then drop dead somewere a way off from were they first dropped. 95 grn Nosler BT is about the best for both deer and fox but 70-75 varmint type is the choice for fox. the issue with runners on the .223 rem is maybee related to terminal performance of your chosen bullet but far more likely shot placement, running from cavity shots will often occur as the animal needs to bleed out. changing to a .243 will alter nothing though as both .223 rem and .243 could go through multiple foxes at once with the wrong bullet, what you sound like you need is the right bullet on the subject of other 6mm cals for deer many fail to produce the energy required under deer laws so be carefull, even short barrel .243 win can be iffy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowen20 Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 Screw it, why not go for a .270? There's no such thing as 'Overkill' when it comes to fox control. And rabbits too. I use my .223 for bunnies and foxes and I've shot maybe 10 foxes with it in the 4 or 5 months I've had it and coming from shooting the odd one with the hmr I think it's a vast improvement and the stopping power is just awesome I use 55 grain privy soft point never had a runner never had one that's even shown any signs of movement after trigger pull and my furthest fox was 240 yards I always range my targets even at night if they appear to be over 150 yards or so just to be sure. I'd rather have a hit than a miss. If I were you I'd try some different bullets or get down to the range I like days just sitting out and putting several targets out at different ranges and see where I am with things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 Shoot a fox right with a .223 and he doesn't run anywhere, using a cannon is no substitute for accuracy.....and if you reload then just get it right on the .223, 1300ft lb stops foxes period, if you need more, something is wrong! ATB! Dekers is right its your shooting not the calibre etc, swap for a .243 if you want to shoot deer but you need to work out why your shots are going too far back and they will stop running. I`m with these boys, I use a triple and it`s more than enough for fox and roe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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