Outdoorsman Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 Given the various calibers what would you choose as a fox gun, that was inexpensive to buy shop bought ammo and home load, that would also allow for the odd long range target shot, for arguments sake 400yard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 .223 Great round & even the more traditional 1:12 twist are good to 400-500m Use 40-50gr bullets & drive them fast. Easy round to reload for & lots of factory offerings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiep Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 .223 Great round & even the more traditional 1:12 twist are good to 400-500m Use 40-50gr bullets & drive them fast. Easy round to reload for & lots of factory offerings +1. Plenty of cheap factory ammo for practice / range work, and it's devastating on charlie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savhmr Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 Agree with the above, but if you ever also want to take the odd Roe deer, .243 might be the better long term option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 .243 if you are allowed this calibre. You can buy reasonably priced ammunition (PRVI Partisan) and when reloading, will have a variety of bullet weights to choose from. My reloads are costing me 38p per round (approx) and that's using 100grn bullets. Using lighter bullets, 70grn for example, will give you a very fast and flat shooting bullet, which is ideal for Foxes. I have also shot targets at ranges up to 450+ yards (no comment on whether I hit them or not though) This calibre can also be used for Deer, should you ever decide to do stalking, which gives you a perfect all round calibre. I'm not knocking the .223, as this is brilliant, and I had one for a year, moving up to a .22-250. But I now use my .243 for 'everything'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 Agree with the above, but if you ever also want to take the odd Roe deer, .243 might be the better long term option. .223 is roe legal here in Scotland & in the rest of UK it's legal for the smaller deer species too. IF I was to go down the roe route with one of my .223's, I personally would only do so using very specialist bullets - such as the Barnes TSX or TTSX - as they act in a predictable manner & give 100% weight retention. For deer like roe my go to would be my 6.8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 223 for fox,cheap ammo plenty to choose from on the market. Choose the twist right and you can use 40g-80g bullets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 223 with a fast twist (9") if you mean only the very occasional long range. A 223 with 40/50 gr bullets isn't going to be great at 400 yards. The 40's in particular start losing a lot of velocity past 200 or so. With the fast twist you have the option to bump up to 69's which will be a much better option to to 400. If you're reloading, then I'd probably bump to the 243 from the start. rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 223 with a fast twist (9") if you mean only the very occasional long range. A 223 with 40/50 gr bullets isn't going to be great at 400 yards. The 40's in particular start losing a lot of velocity past 200 or so. With the fast twist you have the option to bump up to 69's which will be a much better option to to 400. If you're reloading, then I'd probably bump to the 243 from the start. rick With 52gr SMK's it'd be quite a nice round still, even at 400 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outdoorsman Posted August 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 Any thoughts on the 22.250 or .222 also if anyone has any more price per bullet home loading any cal would be great cheers 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiep Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 (edited) .223 loaded with A-max or Hornady Match costs me about 37-38p per round reloading, not including anything for brass, which I get for free. Do note that this isn't hugely cheaper than you can buy cheap target ammo for. But PPU my rifle won't group tighter than 4-5 inches at 100 metres. Homeloads, however, the only weak link is me. Edited August 14, 2015 by robbiep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 Homeloads are of double benefit compared to even low priced factory loads; 1. cheaper 2. more accurate Plus a third benefit is an extra aspect to the hobby. ....and you're not tied to shop opening hours or the brands they do/don't stock...etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted August 15, 2015 Report Share Posted August 15, 2015 In reply to the original q, 223. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Given the various calibers what would you choose as a fox gun, that was inexpensive to buy shop bought ammo and home load, that would also allow for the odd long range target shot, for arguments sake 400yard .223 unless it was just very infrequent target shooting when it's a straight 22-250 or. 243 choice. Std 223 with factory ammo is on its last legs competently at 400 but non the less fun and economical to shoot in terms of barrel life and ammo cost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordieh Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Kent it will still be doing about 400 ft lbs at 400 mtrs I wouldn't like to be in the way of one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Fox 223 or 22-250 whichever had the best ammo supply in my area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Kent it will still be doing about 400 ft lbs at 400 mtrs I wouldn't like to be in the way of one And some. get what you want and enjoy. If you were to go on what peoples opinions tell you, you will need some size cabinet. You would end up with all the 22cf, then all the 6mm too. Oh and then I forgot the 22rf and the 17 hmr,Oh! and the 17cf cartridges. If you are contemplating a bit of target then you need to look at bullet suitability ie; twist rates for certain weight/length bullets, you may find that a little harder if your looking at 22.250 as they nearly all come with a 1-14 twist, 223 vary slightly more. Then looking at 243 and you would possibly have it all even on a basic rifle. Then of course there is the semi custom, have a 22.250 in a 1-9 twist and shoot some 77 SMK out to 500 plus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Kent it will still be doing about 400 ft lbs at 400 mtrs I wouldn't like to be in the way of one Spelling error from spell correction on my phone. Should read competitively which it is on its last legs at 400 using factory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 .223, .22-250, .220 swift, 6.5 x 55, 6.5 x 47, 6mm ppc...the list goes on I have 2 x .243 rifles and think it is a great calibre but as previously mentioned centerfire .22 and above will do the job. Allow for the correct bullet drop and the result will be the same...dead foxes. Good luck with your choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savhmr Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 Sub 100 yds, .22WMR seems more than enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 +1 for the .223 If the 400yd shots are just at targets, then without a match rifle, I doubt you'll get stunning results, but you can target shoot with a .22LR at that range (look on YouTube!). Amost every RFD will stock .223 and they're very versatile to load, just look at the data available Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ears Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 .223 rem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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