Livestock Protection

[enfieldspares]

In France until as recently as the mid-2000s (when at the same time so called "arms capable of chambering military calibre ammunition" were de-restricted to a lesser category) non licence whatsoever was required to acquire nor possess a single shot .22LR rifle in France. Only a valid identity proof needed to be shown. For British residents that was simply our UK passport.

I remember sending my mother's .22 Martini over to Paris via Holland & Holland when they had a shop on Avenue Victor Hugo in the 16me and collecting it from there to take to my apartment in the 17me. In about 2002 where it stayed for certainly two years until it came back again via Holland & Holland to the UK.

For some forget that, in France, that yes, "military calibres" were de-restricted to a lesser category but an number of types of weapon (and reloading components) that were totally "vente libre" (free sale with no permit at all required...just production of a valid ID) were raised into those categories requiring a licence. So ended in France free sale and possession of single shot .22LR rifles.

 

[Smellydog]

All the time. Don't worry about it. Shoot it just how you would a deer!

 

[bumpy22]

I expect more foxes have been shot with 22 than anything else

 

[FrenchieBoy]

I expect more foxes have been shot with 22 than anything else

Too true! I doubt that there are many (If any) of "the old school type keepers or farmers" that didn't use a .22lr as their main rifle for shooting unsuspecting/opportunist foxes, so possibly a great many more foxes shot with a .22lr than one might really imagine! A very under-rated round, especially a "sub-sonic .22lr round" when used through a rifle with a sound moderator.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Too true! I doubt that there are many (If any) of "the old school type keepers or farmers" that didn't use a .22lr as their main rifle for shooting unsuspecting/opportunist foxes, so possibly a great many more foxes shot with a .22lr than one might really imagine! A very under-rated round, especially a "sub-sonic .22lr round" when used through a rifle with a sound moderator.

When I got my FAC some 25 erm or so years ago. They were only just giving centre fire rifles for foxes. To anyone other than Game keepers round us. You had to be deer stalking or a keeper. The rest were using 22lr and a few 22wmr. I seem to remember CCI Stingers were very popular a mate who had Settle arms sold a lot of them to lads Lamping for foxes.
Thankfully I had good reason for a 308 and they added fox. But strangely at renewal made it foxes whilst stalking ie no lamping. I had to get a 243 to get that back.
But I digress, yes 22lr will of been responsible for the demise of more “vermin” than all the other calibre’s put together. At sensible range with appropriate shot placement it is perfectly capable of a clean kill, and that is all we can ask for.

 

[glasshalffull]

Does anyone shoot fox with .22LR?
I have a friend in France keeping chickens, & reynard keeps dropping by & killing them despite his precautions.
He shoots pistols & can obtain a .22LR without trouble, but has concerns over a humane kill with such a small bullet.
Anyone care to comment please.
I’ve only ever shot fox with centrefire.

Head shot only at Max 30yrds.

 

[Cyres]

Its all about bullet placement and how accurate your rimmy is. I have an annie and with correct bullets it will head shoot bunnys at 100 yds, but you need to know the bullet drop. Its up to the user to determine the effective range but up to 50 yds should be simple to head shoot. Mine is actually zeroed at 50 yds .

D

 

[enfieldspares]

When I got my FAC some 25 erm or so years ago. They were only just giving centre fire rifles for foxes.

Yes. In the late 1970s it was the same in Leicestershire. Foxes? .22LR or .22WMR certainly not anything of the .243 Winchester persuasion. In fact if, as I did, you had say a .270 WCF for deer stalking they were most reluctant at all to allow that for foxes. You had to point out that if you were "on the hill" on a stalk and the stalker asked you to shoot a passing fox....if you said "No....my Constabulary won't allow me" the stalker wasn't impressed. So they relented.

 

[Smellydog]

Head shot only at Max 30yrds.

Sorry but that's just not correct.

 

[glasshalffull]

Sorry but that's just not correct.

Have done so a few times on urban Reynard when nothing else would do after trying cage trap firstly. On each occasion foxy had been taking hens or duck. Subs and mod of course open to any other means if you've any suggestions?

 

[FrenchieBoy]

Head shot only at Max 30yrds.

Head shooting can alway be a "questionable/debatable" subject. Much depends on the skill and confidence of the man behind the trigger and of course confidence that the rifle and sights are set up properly for that shooter. However I would question 30 yards being the "maximum" range for head shooting foxes with a .22lr. Others will obviously disagree with me but when I was shooting I would not have hesitated in taking a headshot on a fox out to or around 50 yards with my .22lr and sound moderator, particularly if resting on sticks or something else fairly stable.
Just my opinion but like most things related to shooting foxes nothing is ever written in stone!

 

[glasshalffull]

Head shooting can alway be a "questionable/debatable" subject. Much depends on the skill and confidence of the man behind the trigger and of course confidence that the rifle and sights are set up properly for that shooter. However I would question 30 yards being the "maximum" range for head shooting foxes with a .22lr. Others will obviously disagree with me but when I was shooting I would not have hesitated in taking a headshot on a fox out to or around 50 yards with my .22lr and sound moderator, particularly if resting on sticks or something else fairly stable.
Just my opinion but like most things related to shooting foxes nothing is ever written in stone!

Best to make sure in urbana don't want bad PR now do we?

 

[FrenchieBoy]

That's a fair comment. Like I said regarding fox shooting nothing is ever written in stone but you are quite right, we don't need to give the antis any ammunition to use against us.

 

[countrryboy]

When i got my 1st job as a YT boy, thr head keeper had 2 22s, 1 for night time with subs and 1 with HV rounds ( lasers at that time) for daytime snare checking and it would also often double as the foxing rifle when lamping.
Not that long ago but days before CF moderators where legal and 22cf were not common.

I know an other DIY shoot keeper that only had a 22 rifle for decades and still controlled foxes to a decent level.

Nowadays not the ideal choice but far more capable than u think in the right hands with a bit off fieldcraft

 

[Sonicdmb73]

When i got my 1st job as a YT boy, thr head keeper had 2 22s, 1 for night time with subs and 1 with HV rounds ( lasers at that time) for daytime snare checking and it would also often double as the foxing rifle when lamping.
Not that long ago but days before CF moderators where legal and 22cf were not common.

I know an other DIY shoot keeper that only had a 22 rifle for decades and still controlled foxes to a decent level.

Nowadays not the ideal choice but far more capable than u think in the right hands with a bit off fieldcraft

The old adage “Beware the man with one rifle”
Springs to mind, they usually know how to use them.

 

[willowbank]

At sensible ranges it is quite capable of a humane kill. It has probably been responsible for far more foxes than you would think.

Back in the 80,s .22LR was all we had, anyone with a larger calibre was normally a Deerstalker.

Willowbank

 

[Highfield]

When i got my 1st job as a YT boy, thr head keeper had 2 22s, 1 for night time with subs and 1 with HV rounds ( lasers at that time) for daytime snare checking and it would also often double as the foxing rifle when lamping.
Not that long ago but days before CF moderators where legal and 22cf were not common.

I know an other DIY shoot keeper that only had a 22 rifle for decades and still controlled foxes to a decent level.

Nowadays not the ideal choice but far more capable than u think in the right hands with a bit off fieldcraft

I remember those days. When someone stepped up to a .22 Hornet we thought it was a death ray! Did you have a lamp home made out of a car headlight and a car battery in an old army webbing pack?

 

[Sonicdmb73]

I remember those days. When someone stepped up to a .22 Hornet we thought it was a death ray! Did you have a lamp home made out of a car headlight and a car battery in an old army webbing pack?

I started with one like that. Bloody heavy, ruined your jackets and had to be used sparingly or it didn’t last the night.
No Hornet though just airgun or 22lr.

 

[Smellydog]

Talking of livestock protection.
I was shooting some rats last night and just around the back of the farm there was a fox.
Squeaked it in to 17yds and waited for it to turn side on, checked my aim and sent 3/4oz of #7&1/2 from my 410. Keeled over perfectly.

It probably was heading for the shot rats that get left out but there are running ducks and bantams about too.

 

[20-250]

Did you have a lamp home made out of a car headlight and a car battery in an old army webbing pack?

Spotlight off of a Saab 99, bit of the handle from a yard brush, motorbike battery and a wooden box with a length of seatbelt as a strap.
How times have changed. I still head shoot plenty of foxes with the 22, though.