njc110381 Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 Hey guys. I'm thinking when my .17 Hornet arrives and gets settled in I'm probably going to sell my A-Bolt. I'd like a .308 to shoot targets with and the number of guns I hold is about as high as I'd like to go. I keep the .223 for longer range foxes so if that's all it gets used for I'm thinking a heavy barrelled .308 target rifle wouldn't be the end of the world to lug around in a vehicle or lie prone with on the odd occasion I'd want to use it? Once that's settled there's the question of bullet choice. How light could I go and still expect sensible target performance in this calibre? They range from about 125 to 200gr don't they? I'd want it to be mainly a target rifle so that needs to be the first consideration. I'd have thought most .308 bullets will make a mess of a fox?! I like the look of the heavy barrelled Howa with the optional magazine. Does anyone here have one and if so, what do you think of it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 minced a rabbit once...found it in pieces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 If you wanted a target rifle come fox gun there are better choices (unless your talking FTR) like the 260 rem 95 grn v-max or 125 grn target bullets. I don't rate bigger Deer calibres for foxing they tend to not perform at their best with light frangible bullets in practice. My own 7-08 deer / fox gun didn't. Shooting 6.5mm over a ,308 competitively is a big advantage. Of course you know what I am going to say about the best deer /fox calibre.................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 Get a Sako TRG22 then when you get bored of it in 6 months you can sell it to me cheap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 The main reason for wanting a .308 is because there is club ammo available for less than I can home load it for at the range. I never really seriously target shoot but it's something I would like to have a go at - not at competition level, rather at informal targets in field conditions (apples, eggs etc). I've got the land to do it on. A TRG would be nice but they're seriously expensive rifles to go and buy on a whim. I know myself pretty well - I'll be selling it in a year. Don't even mention that deer/fox calibre. As much as I don't like it I can't argue with the facts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 you know the one you don't need is the new hornet The .223 will do everything you need it to do and more with a .22lr etc for bunnies. Then you can have whatever 308 you like, its a lot of energy and heavy bullets to be bunging about at night foxing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 I have a box of Hornady 100gr soft point bullets in 308 knocking around if you want ta load some up ta try. Bought em cos they had been reduced to clear, seem like a good idea at the time but have a cracking 100gr load in 243 and in 150gr in 308 so never bothered developing a 100gr load in 308. The bullets are so darn short so couldnt seat them were I wanted and why waste more powder, especially varget at the price it is. The bullets are free to a good home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 I have NEVER taken my .308 out specifically searching for fox, and actually only ever shot a very small number with it. Of course it is capable in many situations, but I hardly ever bother with it even on the deer, it's primary purpose is Boar for me, so it doesn't come out that often for field work, gets used more on the range! Close range fox get a rimfire and those further get my .223, or just sometimes the .243! .308 is a well used Target round, plenty of ammo choice and usable to a good distance, FMJ ammo on fox would not be my choice so you would ideally need a minimum of 2 types of ammo for target and field. I would favour a lighter expanding .308 bullet for fox, not likely to be cheap, but weight range and twist rates may well determine which ammo works best, rather than personal preference. ATB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 I have NEVER taken my .308 out specifically searching for fox, and actually only ever shot a very small number with it. Of course it is capable in many situations, but I hardly ever bother with it even on the deer, it's primary purpose is Boar for me, so it doesn't come out that often for field work, gets used more on the range! Close range fox get a rimfire and those further get my .223, or just sometimes the .243! .308 is a well used Target round, plenty of ammo choice and usable to a good distance, FMJ ammo on fox would not be my choice so you would ideally need a minimum of 2 types of ammo for target and field. I would favour a lighter expanding .308 bullet for fox, not likely to be cheap, but weight range and twist rates may well determine which ammo works best, rather than personal preference. ATB! Surprised you don't use your 308 for deer, I have shot Munties and Roe with mine with no more meat damage than 243 but always take it out for fallow. Most of my fallow is in quite dense woodland and find the 308 will always leave a decent exit hole making deer easy to find if they don't drop on the spot, the 243 however doesnt always exit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breastman Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 I couldn't get fox put on my .308 condition, despite me having the same land listed for fox with .223 and deer with .308?! Maybe the FLD like people walking about with more than one rifle video game style!? Anyway, i had some 123gr Sako soft point that was identical POI to the 155gr stuff i usually use in the gun out to 250m. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 Surprised you don't use your 308 for deer, I have shot Munties and Roe with mine with no more meat damage than 243 but always take it out for fallow. Most of my fallow is in quite dense woodland and find the 308 will always leave a decent exit hole making deer easy to find if they don't drop on the spot, the 243 however doesnt always exit. Whatever works for you! I don't do much deer work in dense woodland, plenty of Fallow round here but only small numbers of Sika and Reds, they all fall down without the .308! I don't have any land where I'd even consider the .308 for Roe or smaller deer as first choice rifle. I have my .223 conditioned for Roe in Scotland and it works just fine! I don't go looking for world records, the longest I have taken with it is 229 yards (range finder checked) and it was one of a pair standing next to each other shot about 10 secs after my partners was shot at 227 yards, we both used .223 and both Roe fell down! Circumstances and situations differ for everyone, I don't need the .308 for deer very often and I'm not mad keen on bullets that routinely pass clean though. But like I say, whatever works for you! And I've shot a pigeon and a couple of rabbits with my .308 but it isn't my first choice! ATB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 Now Dekers, your not mad keen on bullets that routinely pass clean through but it has to be pointed out that a pigeon makes a very poor back stop for a 308. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 Now Dekers, your not mad keen on bullets that routinely pass clean through but it has to be pointed out that a pigeon makes a very poor back stop for a 308. Yeah, I could see that coming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beretta28g Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 Hey guys. I'm thinking when my .17 Hornet arrives and gets settled in I'm probably going to sell my A-Bolt. I'd like a .308 to shoot targets with and the number of guns I hold is about as high as I'd like to go. I keep the .223 for longer range foxes so if that's all it gets used for I'm thinking a heavy barrelled .308 target rifle wouldn't be the end of the world to lug around in a vehicle or lie prone with on the odd occasion I'd want to use it? Once that's settled there's the question of bullet choice. How light could I go and still expect sensible target performance in this calibre? They range from about 125 to 200gr don't they? I'd want it to be mainly a target rifle so that needs to be the first consideration. I'd have thought most .308 bullets will make a mess of a fox?! I like the look of the heavy barrelled Howa with the optional magazine. Does anyone here have one and if so, what do you think of it? I know someone who has, and its a nice mess. Norfolk police have so far refused me anything execpt targets on my .308, but i will say a heavier bullet is far more accurate through mine, im currently using privi 175gn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 I think I may take you up on that offer sometime Redgum. Can I buy you a drink in exchange perhaps? Of course I need the new Hornet Al4x - I get nearly as excited over that little round as you do over your HMR! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 I used to use my .308 for fox before I got the .222. Don't get the safety issue. A back stop is a back stop day or night and if you can't see one don't shoot, doesn't matter what the calibre. Even a .308 won't exit the ground. Its not an ideal fox round though it certainly works. I think you're better off with a lighter point and shoot round in the dark when range estimation is trickier and one that will fragment a BT reliably on a small soft target like a fox. You can make a.308 pretty pacey of course but you'll be hand loading to do it and if you can find a long barrelled rifle with a fast twist that likes light weight screamers it may not be so suited to the stable lazy lobbers you'll be using on the targets. If you want a .308 range rifle better to get one for the job. Or get a .22-250 or a 6mm that will shoot 400 yds on the range and foxes on the night shift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 I think I may take you up on that offer sometime Redgum. Can I buy you a drink in exchange perhaps? Of course I need the new Hornet Al4x - I get nearly as excited over that little round as you do over your HMR! 100g is very much at the light end of .308, but if you can come up with a load for this SP and your twist rate likes it, then there is every chance this may be a usable round! I have never bothered with anything this light in my .308 as I have the .243 for that malarkey, so I'd be very interested to hear how they perform! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 Shot a cub this year with my 6.5, using 140gn sp, at a pretty close range and it died instantly and with little mess. Why not just use the heavier target rounds, with suitable backstops natch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowdy Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 I use my 2x .308w for fox control as it is the smallest caliber other than my .22rf that i own. I also have my .303 and .444 marlin for foxes on my fac. Nothing is deader than dead Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bornfree Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 I would like to try one with a heavy subsonic load to see if it would kill through long grass and vegetation.at ranges upto 100 yards what do you think. bornfree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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