Kes Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 I am hoping to join a target club in the next few weeks and, whilst I have .223 and an open FAC, I am wondering what might get for general foxing, stalking and target shooting - does such a rifle exist? I have a yen for lee Enfield (.303) but anyone any thoughts or advice ? It must be a rifle I can use other than on the range so what is best to ensure the fac conditions allow me to use it elsewhere? Thanks for any help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remy 700 Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 308 is the calibre or some on here like 6.5. 55 which sounds a fab calibre from others advice , 243 is legal and usefull for an all rounder but not quite as flat for fox and some say its under power for say red stag( never had a 243) , but to compliment 223 , 308 is also a military round i.e 5.56 is 223 ,7.62 is 308 , this says an awfull lot really , cheers happy stalking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remy 700 Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 (edited) P.S any advice on the 6.5 55 as it sounds a good compromise calibre , some forestry stalkers use it and I have seen it used foxing , very nice to use I think , but I have only had 22 250 and 308 , cheers Edited September 24, 2011 by remy 700 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 It depends what the main use of the gun is planned to be? .308 sounds good for range and Deer but before asking for that I'd check with your force about the Fox side of things. They may feel it's too big. 6.5 is pretty good for most things. An old .303 Enfield, well that would be cool. Not sure what the ploice would make of it for Fox and without a scope use will be limited. One thing's for sure though it will do Deer nicely and will be great at the range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 (edited) I am hoping to join a target club in the next few weeks and, whilst I have .223 and an open FAC, I am wondering what might get for general foxing, stalking and target shooting - does such a rifle exist? I have a yen for lee Enfield (.303) but anyone any thoughts or advice ? It must be a rifle I can use other than on the range so what is best to ensure the fac conditions allow me to use it elsewhere? Thanks for any help. I doubt it! What sort of distances do you want target shooting, the .223 will take you out to 600 yards no problem! It is also a good foxing round, it will also drop ANY Deer you want, but there are certain legal implications!! From the way you are putting things I get the impression you are looking for reasonable/adequate/mainstream! .243 comes readily to mind but it is certainly not a mainstream target tool, although it can deal with 1000 yard if you like no problem! Good for Deer and Fox. .308 works well generally on Deer and Boar, but I have just never seen it as a fox calibre, although I am sure many have fallen to a .308, used a lot for target and capable of 1000, but an arc like falling off a cliff at LONG distance! Edited September 24, 2011 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 It depends what the main use of the gun is planned to be? .308 sounds good for range and Deer but before asking for that I'd check with your force about the Fox side of things. They may feel it's too big. 6.5 is pretty good for most things. An old .303 Enfield, well that would be cool. Not sure what the ploice would make of it for Fox and without a scope use will be limited. One thing's for sure though it will do Deer nicely and will be great at the range. Help me out here, I've never owned a .303 although my club used to have one, my .303 knowledge is certainly limited, but isn't expanding ammo a tad hard to find for the .303? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 260 Rem would be a good one. Enough target ammo to get you to 600 yards easily. Plenty enough for all but the biggest reds with factory ammo. Plenty for fox. A 308 would be the other. Presuming you aren't reloading, the target rounds will be the biggest limitation as far as accuracy is concerned. You'll find ammo for 223, 260, and 308 fairly easily. 223 isn't deer legal for the most part. A 308 is more than some like for fox, but it gets the job done. Thanks Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 Help me out here, I've never owned a .303 although my club used to have one, my .303 knowledge is certainly limited, but isn't expanding ammo a tad hard to find for the .303? The .303 British is one of the all time great all round calibers ever produced . A very good deer caliber but like many things in life it was out dated by the more potent wild cats and was relegated to the historical side of shooting . The .303 British has killed more game in Africa than any other caliber . It has also wounded more game in Africa than any other caliber . I used to load .303 British and was able to buy expanding bullets from America and Canada long before the silly rule of having to have expanding bullets on your ticket . I dont know if expanding .303 bullets are still available in this country or from abroad . I have shot many deer with the venerable .303 British and I am sure there are many out there who have shot all of Africa's big dangerous game with the .303 , proberbly using ex military ball ammunition . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 An old .303 Enfield, well that would be cool. Not sure what the ploice would make of it for Fox and without a scope use will be limited. One thing's for sure though it will do Deer nicely and will be great at the range. I know of people who use WW2 K98 Mauser (7.92) and a Mosin Nagant (7.62) rifles for deer stalking as well as targets. When i stuck a variation in at start of year for a 303 the first thing my FEO said was "lovley rifle and a damn good calibre for deer". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deerstalkerlunt Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 What about a .25-06 nice flat round and can use different grain of bullet for deer and fox or find one for both. I use a .243 for fox and deer, 87gr Vmax pretty accurate out to 300 yards, but who wants to shoot a fox at that range or beyond! I used to use 56gr Vmax which has a flatter trajectory than a .223 but its a pretty hot round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deerstalkerlunt Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 What about a .25-06 nice flat round and can use different grain of bullet for deer and fox or find one for both. I use a .243 for fox and deer, 87gr Vmax pretty accurate out to 300 yards, but who wants to shoot a fox at that range or beyond! I used to use 56gr Vmax which has a flatter trajectory than a .223 but its a pretty hot round. If I had 1500 quid I would buy that .25-06 sauer in the private sales in a heartbeat!! Check out a ballistics calculator on the net for a .25-06, a lot of my stalker friends use them on the hill at long range so if their using .25-06 it must be good for range,power and velocity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynamic85 Posted September 25, 2011 Report Share Posted September 25, 2011 I am hoping to join a target club in the next few weeks and, whilst I have .223 and an open FAC, I am wondering what might get for general foxing, stalking and target shooting - does such a rifle exist? I have a yen for lee Enfield (.303) but anyone any thoughts or advice ? It must be a rifle I can use other than on the range so what is best to ensure the fac conditions allow me to use it elsewhere? Thanks for any help. What club are you looking at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted September 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2011 Its close to Chester - I only have a web address. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
provarmint Posted September 25, 2011 Report Share Posted September 25, 2011 (edited) 6mm br, one of the best target rounds ever, easily loaded for fox, get the right twist for heavier bullets perfect for smaller species of deer, 87g vmax does the business on both, 1-8 twist will let you use bullets up to 107g for target, probably have to go semi custom or custom, choice limited from factory. Failing that .308...But I think with Cheshire it will be fox whilst stalking with a .30 cal. Edited September 25, 2011 by provarmint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted September 25, 2011 Report Share Posted September 25, 2011 (edited) If you're concerned about your FEO approving a .308 for fox, don't mention fox specifically. Just put deer stalking, target shooting and vermin control. Most FEOs will accept opportunistic fox shots taken from high seats etc. I find .308 fine for fox control, though its an expensive and noisy way of doing it compared to a .223. Around 100 grn ballistic tips make good fox rounds in .308. They make a mess but they're fast, flat enough to shoot further than you're ever likely to need, and they all but eliminate the worry of ricochet and through-travel when lamping. One point: if you're going to have one 30 cal rifle to shoot targets, foxes and deer, make sure its got a heavy enough barrel to cope with the rigours of target shooting and a long enough barrel with a fast enough twist to stabilise a light 3500 fps+ head for foxing (if that's the route you choose for foxes). In reality that's going to mean a heavy barrel of at least 24" and preferably 26" and probably fluted. A brilliant 1000 yd range piece, deadly for foxing from a vehicle, but a very lumpy stalking rifle. The trouble with all-rounders is something is always compromised. Edited September 25, 2011 by Gimlet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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