New Foxing Rifle (Dedicated Thermal) - Looking for Input

Braces Airgun Masters
It’s got to be a Tikka! If you’ve got some spare £££ consider adding a PSE carbon stock.

… or actually how about a Blaser? I’m very fond of my R93, they’re lightweight (3kg - very similar to a T3 in a plastic stock), and quite a compact design due the combined ‘action & bolt’. The R8 is a heavier and much more expensive proposition.
 
Mungo said:
.22 ARC?

Seems like a fun new one. If Hornady’s marketing is to be believed, it’s explicitly designed for exactly what you want and behaves more or less like a .22-250 but in an AR compatible cartridge.
Click to expand...

I would avoid any of the cartridges designed for the AR15 have you heard of the 22 Valkyrie? That was the last super fast boomer AR15 cartridge to be released and has swiftly been forgotten with limited to no brass supplies be found.

If you want the fast .22 stick with a 22-250 or a 22 creedmoor so at least brass can be formed from a popular parent cartridge.
 
scotch_egg said:
I would avoid any of the cartridges designed for the AR15 have you heard of the 22 Valkyrie? That was the last super fast boomer AR15 cartridge to be released and has swiftly been forgotten with limited to no brass supplies be found.

If you want the fast .22 stick with a 22-250 or a 22 creedmoor so at least brass can be formed from a popular parent cartridge.
Click to expand...
Did the Valkyrie have the full might of the Hornady marketing machine behind it?

But I do get your point. I’m not at all an early adopter. Best to wait for others to solve all the problems…
 
UpNorthMI said:
It's been a while since I've been in the market for a foxing rifle, my trusty Ruger M77 MK II Stainless in .243 doubled as a smaller deer and fox gun since 1987! My needs have changed and so have a lot of other things over the last few decades. Most of my shooting is shorter ranges, I don't need the big bang of a .243 or .22-250. I'm not prepared to go down to a .17HMR.

I've been thinking about what I consider to be important in my next rifle:

  • Caliber - .223 - shooting 50-55gn bullets
  • Synthetic Stock - It will get some abuse
  • Barrel Length - 20 inch or shorter
  • Threaded Barrel - short mod to be used
  • Weight - Lighter 6lb or under
  • Accuracy - 200M and under
  • Picatinny Rail - Dedicated Pulsar Talion (not ring mount)

Budget is not a key factor in the decision.

One of my concerns in .223 is that the twists on newer rifles seems to be in the 1 in 8 or 7 inches and are designed for heavier bullet use. Should I be looking at heavier bullets for fox?

Ideally I will be able to find a rifle off the shelf that meets my needs, I guess if I have to I may look to have a barrel cut down and re threated I may consider that. I currently have a very nice CZ527 in .223 but it has a very nice wood stock, long barrel and I added a one piece picatinny rail which has certainly stacked some height onto the scope position. The pulsar Talion has quite a chunky base mount too, not sure if I would have been better off with a regular tube and rings mount setup. Anyway looking, lighter, shorter, compact etc.

I liked the look of the CZ 600 Alpha but their barrel length is a little long, Tikka lite is an option but barrel is too long and no thread, Ruger American Gen II Ranch may fit the bill, 16.5" threaded barrel, I'm out of touch with what else is out there.

Any input on my next rifle?
Click to expand...
1:9 is a nice compromise, but to be honest I’m running a 1:14 .223 ackley with 50 grain bullets and don’t feel I’m lacking unless it’s particularly windy.
 
Thanks for all the input, I looked hard at a Tikka but ideally I need a combined Blaser & Picatinny scope rail. I finally made a decision on my "new rifle" it is going to be a .243 barrel to fit my existing Blaser R8. It will allow me to use it for fox with an existing thermal scope I have in a Blaser QD mount and can also be used for all deer. Trying to keep it simple.
 
I been busy with work and forgot how much I love foxing , been back at it with my fav rifle Never missed with it yet it is a little heavy but best calibre and rifle sight combo .. for me !!!! but highly recommended . .204 Sako varmint stainless fluted / set trigger. 20 inch / wildcat evo / sako mounts/ pulsar axion 22 / c50 / sirus lamp / 40 g vmax .. 30 - 300m at night .. foxing heaven .. got others but this combo just perfect .. I’d like idea of thermal but like c50 for pure id of quart …can get Sako mount for your nv .. bought few tikas .. still got em at time couldn’t justify price difference .. I now get it !!!! Happy foxing !!!
 
I get this dilemma every night I go foxing. Do I take the my T3x .223 with 53g V-Max or my T3x .243 with 58g V-Max, both fitted with a Pard DS35-70RF/Dark Engine Blade. Decisions, decisions...., no problem taking foxes out to 300y and beyond with both. Whatever the Tikka T3x Super Varmint is an excellent rifle.
 
I really do like the Tikka Tx3 and a rail mount for combined Blaser / Picatinny mounts is available from Innogun (Expensive - Nearly £200). It just makes more sense at the moment to just buy another Blaser barrel rather than try to squeeze another rifle into the safe!

I shot .243 for several decades for foxing and also feel good about .243 for use on smaller deer. I appreciate that we all have our favorites but there are lots of ways to achieve the same goal. Maybe it's time for a bigger safe!

Good luck to all.

Mount Rail.webp
 
I started with a 223 Tikka 1 in 12 and its brilliant. Have put it in a ORYX Chassis for no other reason than to save the laminate stock. You dont need a varmint barrel, but i would get a tripod. Thermal TH50 v1. I use 53 gr vmax and in the words of corporal jones, they dont like em up em!

So that said I have just got a 22-250. This is now my goto rifle of choice.
 
UpNorthMI said:
I really do like the Tikka Tx3 and a rail mount for combined Blaser / Picatinny mounts is available from Innogun (Expensive - Nearly £200). It just makes more sense at the moment to just buy another Blaser barrel rather than try to squeeze another rifle into the safe!

I shot .243 for several decades for foxing and also feel good about .243 for use on smaller deer. I appreciate that we all have our favorites but there are lots of ways to achieve the same goal. Maybe it's time for a bigger safe!

Good luck to all.

View attachment 357777
Click to expand...
Thanks UNMI, I shoot an R8 on a GRS Bifrost, did not know about this mount but it will save some issues I have with wanting to use my blaser mounts and be able to put something with pic on, genius!
 
UpNorthMI said:
It's been a while since I've been in the market for a foxing rifle, my trusty Ruger M77 MK II Stainless in .243 doubled as a smaller deer and fox gun since 1987! My needs have changed and so have a lot of other things over the last few decades. Most of my shooting is shorter ranges, I don't need the big bang of a .243 or .22-250. I'm not prepared to go down to a .17HMR.

I've been thinking about what I consider to be important in my next rifle:

  • Caliber - .223 - shooting 50-55gn bullets
  • Synthetic Stock - It will get some abuse
  • Barrel Length - 20 inch or shorter
  • Threaded Barrel - short mod to be used
  • Weight - Lighter 6lb or under
  • Accuracy - 200M and under
  • Picatinny Rail - Dedicated Pulsar Talion (not ring mount)

Budget is not a key factor in the decision.

One of my concerns in .223 is that the twists on newer rifles seems to be in the 1 in 8 or 7 inches and are designed for heavier bullet use. Should I be looking at heavier bullets for fox?

Ideally I will be able to find a rifle off the shelf that meets my needs, I guess if I have to I may look to have a barrel cut down and re threated I may consider that. I currently have a very nice CZ527 in .223 but it has a very nice wood stock, long barrel and I added a one piece picatinny rail which has certainly stacked some height onto the scope position. The pulsar Talion has quite a chunky base mount too, not sure if I would have been better off with a regular tube and rings mount setup. Anyway looking, lighter, shorter, compact etc.

I liked the look of the CZ 600 Alpha but their barrel length is a little long, Tikka lite is an option but barrel is too long and no thread, Ruger American Gen II Ranch may fit the bill, 16.5" threaded barrel, I'm out of touch with what else is out there.

Any input on my next rifle?
Click to expand...
I'm in a similar boat and have my eye on a Ruger American ranch in 5.56 (this is 1:8 twist vs 1:12 for .223)
Barrel length at just over 16in
Snyth stock
Threaded barrel
 
To be honest, I have a 22.250, 223 and 243.
Out to two hundred yards they all drop foxs.

Arguably the 243 is probably the best of the group especially with a 75gr Vmax.

But I have been impressed with the 22-250. Its like a laser.

But, if I had to choose one, it would be the 223.

Mine is a Tikka 3x in an Oryx Chassis.

In reality the fox don't care.
 
UpNorthMI said:
It's been a while since I've been in the market for a foxing rifle, my trusty Ruger M77 MK II Stainless in .243 doubled as a smaller deer and fox gun since 1987! My needs have changed and so have a lot of other things over the last few decades. Most of my shooting is shorter ranges, I don't need the big bang of a .243 or .22-250. I'm not prepared to go down to a .17HMR.

I've been thinking about what I consider to be important in my next rifle:

  • Caliber - .223 - shooting 50-55gn bullets
  • Synthetic Stock - It will get some abuse
  • Barrel Length - 20 inch or shorter
  • Threaded Barrel - short mod to be used
  • Weight - Lighter 6lb or under
  • Accuracy - 200M and under
  • Picatinny Rail - Dedicated Pulsar Talion (not ring mount)

Budget is not a key factor in the decision.

One of my concerns in .223 is that the twists on newer rifles seems to be in the 1 in 8 or 7 inches and are designed for heavier bullet use. Should I be looking at heavier bullets for fox?

Ideally I will be able to find a rifle off the shelf that meets my needs, I guess if I have to I may look to have a barrel cut down and re threated I may consider that. I currently have a very nice CZ527 in .223 but it has a very nice wood stock, long barrel and I added a one piece picatinny rail which has certainly stacked some height onto the scope position. The pulsar Talion has quite a chunky base mount too, not sure if I would have been better off with a regular tube and rings mount setup. Anyway looking, lighter, shorter, compact etc.

I liked the look of the CZ 600 Alpha but their barrel length is a little long, Tikka lite is an option but barrel is too long and no thread, Ruger American Gen II Ranch may fit the bill, 16.5" threaded barrel, I'm out of touch with what else is out there.

Any input on my next rifle?
Click to expand...
I was using a tikka T3 1 in 12 twist with 55gn’s and I was pretty successful with it but it was always in my mind that I should have gone for a 1 in 8 twist to use something slightly heavier for windy nights.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

223. rifle
2
Replies
21
Views
1K
bullet chucker
B
Ruger Seems to have dropped .22 Creedmoor in favor of the .22 ARC. Any .22 ARC Feedback?
2
Replies
20
Views
1K
Penyard
Penyard
Looking to buy a used Tikka Tx3 Lite .223 with or without a stock etc.etc.
Replies
3
Views
385
ruger77
ruger77
6.5 Creedmoor Options
2 3
Replies
48
Views
2K
UpNorthMI
UpNorthMI
Is this a good Foxing rifle in .223 ?
2 3
Replies
49
Views
3K
JackDavis
J
New Avon Arms
Back
Top