Splashy Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 What is the best load for Foxes at ranges of around 30m or less. I bought some BB loads and took a shot at a fox at around 20m with the fox head on. The fox looked confused but certainly not hurt. I patterned the load and found massive holes, easily big enough for a fox to get through. I then shot a fox with no. 5 shot and it dropped on the spot. What should I be using for foxes at this range? Should I be looking for a more compatible cartridge for my gun or should I go with the greater shot density. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinF Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 What gun/choke are you shooting it through? At 20m the pattern shouldn't be big enough to have a fox sized holes in. BB's or 1's are normally perfect for foxes, SG's or larger don't usually pattern well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonicdmb Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 You've answered your question really. smallest I'd use would be 3's largest BB's if possible get one or two from as many people you can that have fox or even old goose lead loads and pattern them to see what works best. I used to have some baikal BB's that worked really well but tend to go for 1's now plenty for sensible shotgun ranges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigadam Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 BBs do trick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 (edited) Splashy, on 07 Feb 2014 - 11:32 PM, said: What is the best load for Foxes at ranges of around 30m or less. I bought some BB loads and took a shot at a fox at around 20m with the fox head on. The fox looked confused but certainly not hurt. I then shot a fox with no. 5 shot and it dropped on the spot. What should I be using for foxes at this range? Should I be looking for a more compatible cartridge for my gun or should I go with the greater shot density. BB at 20 yds >> you just missed it. >> 5 stopped it on the spot. 1-1/4 no 3. in right or open choke barrel power + penetration + pellet count. 1-1/4 bb in left or tighter choke bit more punch out further. Edited February 8, 2014 by fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEMPER Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 42g no1's for me through no more than half choke, drops em every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSS Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 I've shot them with 6's, BB's and everything in between. Put the pattern in the right place at 20-30 yards and almost anything will do the trick. 3's and 4's are my favourite. This has been done to death. Try the search function Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 This dog fox was shot with 42g 1's at about 30 yards. Goodnight Vienna. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMcC Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 BB's all the time, large shot patterns better in an open choke. but as has been said already, any size shot at 30 yards will do the job if put in the right place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbuster Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 Have always used 50g bb's if I'm out on the gingers, personally find them great, plenty of punch with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 What size chambers in your gun, what chokes (fixed or multi) and what ranges do you expect them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 I'm not following a fox size gap in a BB pattern at 20 yards! I seldom use the 12g for the fox these days, but BB has never given me a problem out to a fair bit further than that! ATB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 I used 3's in steel last time on a fox drive. It was only 15 yards but dropped on the spot . Previously I used sg at 30 yards and it took 2 shots as the group is hideous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 It didn't present that great a target head on for a DRT kill to be fair (you have only the frontal chest centre which is smaller than its looks in the fur) highly unlikely to penetrate through the nose and make the brain from the front. I should have shouted at it and hit him in the flank on the turn if I could. Its imperative to pattern your gun choke combination before you go out for fox with a shotgun, if nothing else it feeds you confidence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Field Shooter Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 3's, 1's, BB & AAA usually 42g and upwards if you have a 3.5 Inch chambered gun 2.25oz of #4 works great, all out to 40 Yards max. SG & Special SG only if your gun will pattern them well and keep range down to 20 yards max (my Mossy 835 with half choke puts all 9 pellets in a 12 inch circle at 25 yards). Above all try a few different shells and see what patterns in your gun with a particular choke the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat g Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 42g no1's for me through no more than half choke, drops em every time. +1 42gr no1's are all i use when using a shotgun on Charlie. 1/2 choke and 30-35yards drops em every time ATB, Pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 3's, 1's, BB & AAA usually 42g and upwards if you have a 3.5 Inch chambered gun 2.25oz of #4 works great, all out to 40 Yards max. SG & Special SG only if your gun will pattern them well and keep range down to 20 yards max (my Mossy 835 with half choke puts all 9 pellets in a 12 inch circle at 25 yards). Above all try a few different shells and see what patterns in your gun with a particular choke the best. You know you make a very good point about the SG and it putting all nine pellets inside a 12" circle at 25 yards there. Problem is the shot needs to be in a 3" circle. A fox is around 14" at the shoulder standing and carries a lot of fur and fresh air under it. If those 9 pellets were assumed to be totally even / 4= 2.25 thats pellets in 3" ! Best reason ever for BB towards no.4 depending what your gun will pattern, you only have to bust through the ribs of a creature of say 13-16 lb after all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry931 Posted February 9, 2014 Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 Here are some patterns with a 50g BB Load at 30 yards: (The circle is about the size of clay pigeon / 4") (The sheet is about 3 feet wide) Skeet choke: 3/8 Choke: 5/8 Choke: I get the impression that with this shot size a little bit of choke makes a huge difference and going more than about half just wrecks the pattern. Will probably just stick with the nice open skeet pattern considering on most fox drives you end up shooting them about 10 - 20 yards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dipper Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Why do most people go and buy heavy loads of big shot and pattern it at 30yds. Most of us reload so come on guys work at it.Last loads i put together for foxes were 11/4 of BB bufferd nice Tight patterns at 40 yds and they dont need pattern blowing velocity Dipper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marktattoo Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 I tend to carry a handful of bb shot carts in my pocket in case Charlie appears at close range Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Why do most people go and buy heavy loads of big shot and pattern it at 30yds. Most of us reload so come on guys work at it.Last loads i put together for foxes were 11/4 of BB bufferd nice Tight patterns at 40 yds and they dont need pattern blowing velocity Dipper. Do most users re-load shotgun? Not so confident they do. I only Load for the 10ga at present and I am unsure if I will ever load for the 12, it seems not very worthwhile and as I cant use lead BB for Geese not so sure I should want say 5kg of it sitting round unused for ages. Good to tailor your loads to the gun non the less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Why do most people go and buy heavy loads of big shot and pattern it at 30yds. Most of us reload so come on guys work at it.Last loads i put together for foxes were 11/4 of BB bufferd nice Tight patterns at 40 yds and they dont need pattern blowing velocity Dipper. All the best to you, but my understanding is MOST people do not reload shogun carts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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