Hi. Does anyone shoot a .243 for fox control with a small grain v max head if so how do you get on with that combo and what ammunition are you using .The reason I ask is I have an old Ruger 77 in .222-50 which I use for my foxing at present but it’s getting a bit tired .I also have a Sako .243 which is a much nicer gun imo.I had thought of going over to the .243 for my fox shooting but wanted some advice . Thank you .
.243 calibre for fox control
- Thread starter Fishdoc49
- Start date
Scapegoat
Well-Known Member
Great calibre for foxes. I used to load 58gr V-max which did something like 3750 fps, so shot very flat and fast. The results were impressive, but the rifle, a varmint-barrelled Rem 700 with a 1:9.25” twist, didn’t like anything bigger than 85 grain. Didn’t do much for barrel life in the end either.
You would probably benefit from comparing some 58gr vs 75gr to get an idea of which suits the Sako best.
You would probably benefit from comparing some 58gr vs 75gr to get an idea of which suits the Sako best.
Rhodesianjess
Well-Known Member
A friend of mine uses 55grain in his 243. Foxes really, really don't like them 
It's the best foxing calibre. Push 70 grains fast enough good for deer too then. Shot plenty of foxes with a 243
Thanks for the feedback . I may look at changing over to the .243 for my fox control then . Just need to experiment with the ammo but 58g - 70 g sounds about right . It’s a much nicer rifle the Sako .243 to use as well , always struggled with the sprung magazine on the ruger where as the 5 shot metal mag on the Sako is more convenient and seems to load smoother ?
243 is the smallest cartridge that I use for fox control and find that the 85 grain Sierra BTHP (1530) will do both foxes and deer up to fallow size.
If you load your own I can let you have a small sample of 68 and 75 Vmax also 70gr Nosler to try, for just the postage cost (£5 note in a SAE).
Bo Diddley
Well-Known Member
Just get yourself a .22 hornet... you know it makes sense 
I use a 243 with 75gr VMax Norma Factory ammo......Its good out to 300m which is plenty for my night shooting.
Msdt601119
Active Member
I use 70gr sako in my 243. My rifle is set to 200m and never had a fox complain. I shot over 160 foxes last year. The only problem is getting hold of them at the moment.
This is what I use for fox and roe. Seems to be a great combination which I have finally settled in.
Like trying to find hens teeth though. Everywhere seems to be waiting for Sierra delivery
Is that all
The 243 is an excellent fox calibre in my experience, have used it in the U.K. for 30 years with great effect. Also taken a lot of predators the other side of the pond up to and including Wolf, absolutely flattens coyotes.
Many years ago a beater on one of my shoots was into his rifles and home loading. All season he gave a comprehensive blow by blow account of developing a 243 round to match 22-250 ballistics.
Every lunchtime he bored the arse off everyone for weeks, this culminated on the Keepers day when an old retired keeper who had remained silent all year gave him the benefit of his opinion.
Basically he got told to buy a 22-250 and shut the #### up.
Many years ago a beater on one of my shoots was into his rifles and home loading. All season he gave a comprehensive blow by blow account of developing a 243 round to match 22-250 ballistics.
Every lunchtime he bored the arse off everyone for weeks, this culminated on the Keepers day when an old retired keeper who had remained silent all year gave him the benefit of his opinion.
Basically he got told to buy a 22-250 and shut the #### up.
I tried lighter bullets in my Sako 243,and the lightest I could get to group was Nosler 70gr BT . I used them for foxes but found that they were quite a "hard" bullet and didn't do much damage. My go to bullet is Sierra Gameking HP 85gr for Deer and the odd fox. I now use a Sako Varmint 22-250 and 50 gr Sierra Blitz kings for all my
jimmy milnes
Well-Known Member
A keeper i used to help out shot a standard t3 varmint with 58 grain factory "Estate bought the ammo" vmax with great effect on fox.
Shot as flat as a witches boob so nothing to think about when one appeared in the lamp, simply point an let it fly.
Shot as flat as a witches boob so nothing to think about when one appeared in the lamp, simply point an let it fly.
foxdropper
Well-Known Member
I wonder if 100 foxes were surveyed whether they’d actually give a feck what killed them .
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