Livefast123 Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 After my variation finally arrived I popped down to see Steve at Ivythorn and came back with this, my first ever centrefire and foxing rifle. Having pre agreed a budget with the Mrs I didn't dare deviate so I bought a new Howa 1500 with a 22" blued sporter barrel and a black Hogue stock. Managed to get the rifle, hard case, rail and mounts for £490 which I though was a good price. Ignore the Tasco Golden Antler.......I just put it on to try the rifle out. Things I noticed over rimfire were the weight and solidness of the rifle and the much increased BANG coming out the other end. I can't wait to get out now and try and catch myself a charlie! Uploaded with ImageShack.us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dempy Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 Now the spending starts Mod, Mag conversion, scope at least you can adjust the trigger for free on there. Very nice have fun..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird2 Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 I got the same rifle in .243 with a wildcat on the dangerous end !! Bledy ansum bit o kit for the money , foxes don't like it with 75 grn Remmy accutips spat at them ! Happy shooting buddy , put plenty on paper before the real deal , what cal is that btw ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livefast123 Posted October 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 (edited) It's a .223, I intend on putting plenty down the range before taking to the fields just to get used to the gun and how it works. Just about to buy a Lee Loader to hopefully knock up some homeloads for it. Edited October 9, 2012 by Livefast123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swiss.tony Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 nice but you need a mod on her to make it look the part and keeps your ears from ringing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet1747 Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 nice but you need a mod on her to make it look the part and keeps your ears from ringing Shot my hornet last night out of the car window no mod as yet ouch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 nice one now the learning starts, what you need to forget is all the bluff and bull on here about 300-400 yard foxes at night and learn to do it properly. Start by getting used to it on paper, then start sitting out in likely points before dusk and progress to lamping. The thing that differentiates between good lampers and bad is the ability to call, whether that is something like a fox pro or a mouth call or your hand. On fresh unshot ground most will show an interest and a lot will simply come flying in, If you start taking pot shots you end up having to shoot most of your foxes on the run or at long range. You can see it quite regularly on here and its simply the job being done incorrectly, it takes a lot of effort to catch up with them once missed under the lamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livefast123 Posted October 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 Having never been foxing before my main concern is learning to do it correctly and hopefully with some success! I quite like the idea of an MP3 player with some calls on it as a cheap way into electronic calling or I have been told that a hand held rabbit screech is effective? I need to find where the foxes are coming from first....there is a wood at the bottom of the farm, is this a likely place or do they have their dens in open fields etc? Mod is next on the list of purchases, i'll just have to convince the Mrs that the gun looked like that when I originally bought it Don't worry, you'll not see a 708 yard ninja shot from me, I'm planning on plenty of range time first before letting loose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 observation is your main starting point, at this time of year a lot depends on the land and where the prey are. We are still getting them hunting on stubble, but more and more you can set up with a good observation point near woods and calling reasonably quietly gets them interested and coming in to you. Other options are baiting for a few days with either pigeons / rabbits or dog food and seeing if it disappears then sitting overlooking the baiting point. Its good fun and the adrenalin flows when they appear and they do quite often come in so fast you will be surprised, patience is the key thing and not rushing it just depends how many you have about and whether anyone else is controlling them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 nice one now the learning starts, what you need to forget is all the bluff and bull on here about 300-400 yard foxes at night and learn to do it properly. Start by getting used to it on paper, then start sitting out in likely points before dusk and progress to lamping. The thing that differentiates between good lampers and bad is the ability to call, whether that is something like a fox pro or a mouth call or your hand. On fresh unshot ground most will show an interest and a lot will simply come flying in, If you start taking pot shots you end up having to shoot most of your foxes on the run or at long range. You can see it quite regularly on here and its simply the job being done incorrectly, it takes a lot of effort to catch up with them once missed under the lamp. Very good advice!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 (edited) Nice teddies by the way Edited October 10, 2012 by Paul223 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livefast123 Posted October 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 (edited) The permission I have is virgin territory, it's around 120 acres and has never been shot due to my uncles mistrust of guns. It's an ex dairy farm and has a few flat fields but most of it around the woods is undulating. I'm the only one who has permission so nobody else to worry about. I think i'll take a few days and sit observing the wood and maybe try a few calls and see what happens Nice teddies by the way It's the only way I can get to sleep at night Edited October 10, 2012 by Livefast123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 last thing before dark and morning at dawn are best you gain a lot just sitting out with binoculars, one slight thing is don't try calling or using the lamp to spot unless you are ready to shoot. Both activities educate foxes once they suss the source is human so once zeroed take your rifle and try a few calls and if one comes in then make the most of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 start off with a mouse squeak real low, work up in volume to rabbit squeal, think how loud a real rabbit is that should be about your max, use your hands to muffle and alter the sound (whether a electronic caller or by hand / mouth) and if using your mouth try tapping the front of the caller to give a thumping sound in the call, works very well! Take your time with the shot, better to leave than rush and create a problem fox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan68 Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 start off with a mouse squeak real low, work up in volume to rabbit squeal, think how loud a real rabbit is that should be about your max, use your hands to muffle and alter the sound (whether a electronic caller or by hand / mouth) and if using your mouth try tapping the front of the caller to give a thumping sound in the call, works very well! Take your time with the shot, better to leave than rush and create a problem fox sound advice we have a few lamp shy fox (idiots on the next door shoot) They are a complete menace! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olliesims Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 I've got the same rifle as you for my first cf also in .223 I find the 40g federal v shock a great round, I'm also a noob at fox lamping I keep it to 200 at night and wouldn't try anything above 200 as I know I don't have the experience at the long range shots and it can be dangerous for me to try something I'm not comfortable with, one think I would say is get rid of the hogue stock and stick a boyds on it it's worth the £120, I've got mine sighted in a inch high at 100 and puts me close to bang on at 200, its a great gun and I'm sure you will have plenty of fun using it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livefast123 Posted October 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 The Boyd stocks look great and I will certainly be getting one after I've equipped the rifle with the neccessities for foxing. Did you follow the Howa instructions for bedding the barrel in or did you just get on with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olliesims Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 Just got on with it didn't group well until I put about 80 in it gave it a good clean then it grouped better after that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat g Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 I also have the same rifle but in 243. I use it for foxing and also Roe stalking. Some really good advice there regards foxing, spot on , I bought my Howa as a package but added a 3-12x50 Zeiss Duralyt. Decent bit of glass for the money with a Wildcat mod. One thing i did find is that the supplied scope rail and mounts were'nt very good quality, well at least i thought they were'nt anyway . So i bought a one piece DNZ mount. Decent scope deserves decent mounts. Try and get the best scope you can afford and if that means going for a used one then thats fine. there are some great used scopes out there. Just something for you to bare in mind for the future . All in all the Howa's are not a bad rifle for the money. Tikka's and Sako's are better but its what you can afford at the end of the day. Agree with Ollie regards the Hogue stock as well. Its something i'm considering in the future. Enjoy your new purchase and good look with Charlie ATB, Pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 what he needs to do is find someone who can teach him propley. forget everything you read on here ive worked out that most members are blind/bad eyesight. practise and dont let the adrenalin get to you till after you have shot the fox. get a good hand torch to for lamping, it makes finding the dead ones easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livefast123 Posted October 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 I guess the only way i'll learn properly is to get out there and do it myself, i'm open to any advice and it's gladly received as at the end of the day most people on here have done it and I am a noob. Luckily due to my line of work I have some real good torches that just need to be mounted to the scope / gun. I'll have to sort out a green / red LED for them but that shouldn't be to hard on ebay. My heart will probably be pumping when I get my first charlie in the crosshairs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olliesims Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 (edited) Oops double post Edited October 10, 2012 by Olliesims Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olliesims Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 I did it all myself had no help at all, I lamp on my own as well so I just take things steady, the recoil is nothing on a .223 but still it took me a few days to get used to the whole cf stuff, you will start missing the rimfire tho, the days of cheap ammo have just gone out the window Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 After my variation finally arrived I popped down to see Steve at Ivythorn and came back with this, my first ever centrefire and foxing rifle. Having pre agreed a budget with the Mrs I didn't dare deviate so I bought a new Howa 1500 with a 22" blued sporter barrel and a black Hogue stock. Managed to get the rifle, hard case, rail and mounts for £490 which I though was a good price. Ignore the Tasco Golden Antler.......I just put it on to try the rifle out. Things I noticed over rimfire were the weight and solidness of the rifle and the much increased BANG coming out the other end. I can't wait to get out now and try and catch myself a charlie! Uploaded with ImageShack.us i have just brought a .222 of the same guy he seemed a nice bloke he sent it rfd and didnt want paying till i have looked it over and liked it colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olliesims Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 All you need now is a thumbhole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.