al4x Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Well had my new .223 for a fortnight or so now and been trying hard for a fox, we've a few about but not much stubble three times I saw it last week just at last light and each time well out of my range with a new gun wouldn't squeak or pay any attention at all. But sunday afternoon was out checking zero and had parked up just watching a muntjack and pigeons on the first bit of rape stubble and low and behold saw in the truck mirror a fox walk out. Hastily uncased the rifle and chambered a round and thought great day a massive cross wind and a fox getting increasingly close to the remaining standing rape. Finally got a rest and in the most uncomfortable position possible on the handbrake and gear lever I'd got a bead on it. Squeaked and didn't stop it but an oi did just long enough and allowing a bit for wind it was straight down at 150 yards and just before the cover. Not the ideal shot as it was taken from above so it was through the back and into the chest but good enough and with the birds being put in pens on Saturday any fox has to get it pronto. Apparently there were another 2 we don't think were the same that came out of the rape when it was being cut. Seems the same every year round us the rape is a safe haven for them and you don't see foxes till its cut. Would have got a pic but it wasn't pretty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Well done mate 1st of many I'm sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 congrats mate, what's the new rifle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Well done alex, .223 is gods own calibre I am looking to give mine a bit more use in the coming months... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 congrats mate, what's the new rifle? its a remington 700 SPS with hogue stock, timney trigger and DM80 Mod touch wood so far it shoots better than I do, just need it to stop raining enough for some more combining and it'll get plenty more exercise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyCM Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 its a remington 700 SPS with hogue stock, timney trigger and DM80 Mod touch wood so far it shoots better than I do, just need it to stop raining enough for some more combining and it'll get plenty more exercise. Good choice al4x, the best thing I like about my (recently acquired) .223 is seeing the hit in the scope + the low noise in comparison to my .243 Cheers AndyCM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Good choice al4x, the best thing I like about my (recently acquired) .223 is seeing the hit in the scope + the low noise in comparison to my .243 Cheers AndyCM Is it that much smaller than a 243 ? I always liked the look of one but got a 243 cos it can be used on Deer aswell lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyCM Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Is it that much smaller than a 243 ? I always liked the look of one but got a 243 cos it can be used on Deer aswell lol .223 / .243 Powder in my cases 24g / 42g Bullet weight 55g / 95g Recoil modest / modest see what happens in the 8x scope ? almost 100% / sometimes put a .223 cartridge next to a .243 & it shows up the difference. - I foxed almost exclusively with my .243 for some 4 years and it's great for the job, just now enjoying seeing all the action in the scope & a little less noise. Cheers AndyCM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Well Done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 well seems ok so far a nice sized vixen last night at 150 yards these 55 g Vmax rounds certainly work well. Watched her for an age as she came out of a field of rape and proceeded to roll in something unsavoury waited for her to finish and move slightly for the best shot and straight down. Had thought she'd been peppered before as her tail was vertical and she was walking badly. Got to pick her up and found the reason for the funny walk, my mate had cut the rape rather high so it must have been really uncomfortable to walk on. We need more harvesting done now the birds are in pens I've got 2 out of the 3 foxes that came out of this rape field when the first part was cut but no doubt theres more about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 Nice one. Sounds like you're getting the hang of the new rifle pretty quickly. Do you load your own ammo or buy factory? If you reload try the 52grn A-Max (you can mail order the bullets). Thug, the .223 is miles smaller that a .243. the .243 is a necked down .308. Compare 5.56mm and 7.62mm mil spec rounds on google. .243 isn't small! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 so far I'm just using factory 55 grain bullets but will probably get into reloading, its a catch 22 as I can't see myself using bucket loads of ammunition as it will mostly be a fox gun and reallistically if I shot 20 on our ground in a year I'd be doing well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 The .223 is a fantastic round for Fox work - I'd consider a bigger calibre for Deer, but would still happily use the 223 exclusively for Foxing. Alex.. What factorys are you shooting? - I reload now, but when I was shooting factory - my Titan loved a diet of Norma 55grn Softpoints, they are cheap too at £16 a box, Stutley, Broomhills and the likes have 'em GB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 (edited) Sounds like your new rifle has been well christened now and will see much more use, well done Alex, I'm chuffed for you! I have had my 22-250 (A second hand BSA with a VERY heavy barrel) for a week now and it's been almost constant rain since I got it. I am on a "mentoring conditions" as well which means I can't just go and get out when there is a break in the rain. I did manage to get out on Monday evening with my mentor to check and zero the scopes and "warm the barrel. After a little adjustments I am now able to shoot a 2 to 3 inch group at 150 yards, which is quite good for my old eyes! Can't wait for the weather to clear so my mentor and I can get out together after a few foxes on the lamp and then get the "mentoring condition" taken off my certificate! Edited July 29, 2009 by Frenchieboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 (edited) The .223 is a fantastic round for Fox work - I'd consider a bigger calibre for Deer, but would still happily use the 223 exclusively for Foxing. Alex.. What factorys are you shooting? - I reload now, but when I was shooting factory - my Titan loved a diet of Norma 55grn Softpoints, they are cheap too at £16 a box, Stutley, Broomhills and the likes have 'em GB funnily enough I cleared stuteley's shelf of the normas and it does seem to rather like them, are broomhills a similar price? I'm actually quite surprised at the clout of the .223 its certainly got all the punch you need for foxes just need to build up the confidence a bit as have left a few so far while i'm getting used to it and haven't really wanted my first few to be 250 yards plus at last light Though having gone back the following day and shot the same range on targets it builds up confidence frenchieboy I was lucky to not get a mentoring condition but I had been using my HMR a fair bit so managed to talk that one round pretty easily. Sounds like your one will go well and have to say its the right time to be looking to get off the mark as there are lots of cubs about and the stubbles make for easier fox shooting than usual. Edited July 29, 2009 by al4x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 (edited) Yep... I think they are about £17 in Broomhills - how are they grouping ? I've shot all my Fox's sub 200 yards with mine, most within 100-150... a quick look at the figures shows a 8-9 inch drop out to 250, from a 100yd zero Mines doing this with homeloads... http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/ind...showtopic=90675 Ok... It's not as good as some on here, but will Foxy mind - and can I be ***** to play with it anymore? I dont think Edited July 29, 2009 by garyb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 its grouping under an inch at 150 yards if I do my part trying it at 250 was interesting as I'm zeroing an inch high at 100 so you did get the drop and I have to say I'd actually have estimated it right had I taken the late shots but thats the perk with shooting straight across tramlines and knowing the distance between them Those homeloads look very useful to me guess you can improve on that maybe but foxy won't know the difference I'll give you a buzz when I've enough empties and see if you can give me a lesson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Shooting that many rounds I'd say if you get good accuracy with factory then there's little point reloading unless you want to do it for the experience. Even the most basic kit would cost you more to set up than you'd ever save! Try the Wolf and PPU ammo before you settle on a factory load. Both cost about £8/20 and if either of them shoot well then you've saved yourself a few quid. If you fancy a go at reloading you could always buy a Lee loader for a laugh. They're only £30 or so and look quite fun to use if you don't mind sitting in the living room with a board and hammer for an hour or so? Take a look.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 I'll have a look for the other ammo, the lee gear looks fun but is it really that accurate or just a way of making cheap rounds? Have to say though I'll probably be lucky to shoot 20 foxes it seems like ammo does just seem to disapear as I've gone through twice that so far for 2 foxes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth Stalker Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Carefull Alex! Gary's on a mission to get everyone in to reloading, I've got 200 quids worth of reloading gear sat in my front room waiting for him to come round & show me what to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 (edited) ammo does just seem to disapear as I've gone through twice that so far for 2 foxes Hence why I now reload... I got fed up with buying up 60-80 odd rounds from the RFD - shooting them all, then when I went back for more - to be told "ohhhh we won't have any more until we do an order for 10,000 rounds, but we have these federals, winchester, remingtons instead" Meaning zeroing again... and again! Edited July 29, 2009 by garyb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 thats the downside of the idea, suppose if it gets too expensive I could nip round to Garys and nip in through the new dog flap and borrow his gear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 thats the downside of the idea, suppose if it gets too expensive I could nip round to Garys and nip in through the new dog flap and borrow his gear As I said before... keep your brass and the rest won't cost you a penny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 cheers the first lot won't but I can see the bug developing hows that betinsolli going has he mullered many pigeons with it yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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