Rifles and night optics for foxing

[Moaky]

Ive been asked by the owner of my permission if I can take care of some foxes (along with the deer I already manage) as they are doing a number on his lambs. Ive never really targeted foxes before, and to be honest never really even seen one outside of crossing a road in town. My current setup is a moderated .270 with a standard 3-15x44 scope, which obviously proved very ineffective when I tried to get out there earlier in the morning or later in the evening. Cant see a thing.

Id like to get some recommendations on calibers (something not as noisy as a .270 as the lambs are relatively close to the farmhouse) as well as what everyone's night vision setup is. Thermal spotters? Scopes? A combination of both? this will all be extremely entry level for me so really not looking to go to town with the high end stuff yet. Just really something to get me started.

thanks in advance!!!

 

[finnbear270]

.204 / .222 / .223
.17Rem / .17 Fireball

Very short range up to well placed shot inside 100 yards .22LR / .17hmr.

 

[Eric the Red]

22.250 and a Pard 007 will get you what you need (and a thermal spotter if you don't have one)

 

[Len the dog]

A thermal spotter is a must, an absolute game changer for locating foxes in the dark without giving yourself away.
The most popular choice of calibre would be either one of the .22 centrefires or the .204 Ruger, coupled with a moderator.

A number of paths you can follow for what goes on top of the rifle, dedicated thermal scope, dedicated day/night NV scope, or a rear add on NV unit.

Getting the foxes to come to you is the next step, again plenty of options from electronic remote callers, mouth callers that you blow through, or just sucking on the back of your hand, all of them work.

 

[finnbear270]

You say noise is a factor, stick to the smaller slower cals.

 

[Moaky]

22.250 and a Pard 007 will get you what you need (and a thermal spotter if you don't have one)

Ahhh, didnt even think about the add on's like the Pard. Just watched a video on it, seems like this would be something more up my street to start. Thanks!

 

[Moaky]

A thermal spotter is a must, an absolute game changer for locating foxes in the dark without giving yourself away.
The most popular choice of calibre would be either one of the .22 centrefires or the .204 Ruger, coupled with a moderator.

A number of paths you can follow for what goes on top of the rifle, dedicated thermal scope, dedicated day/night NV scope, or a rear add on NV unit.

Getting the foxes to come to you is the next step, again plenty of options from electronic remote callers, mouth callers that you blow through, or just sucking on the back of your hand, all of them work.

Regarding a day/night scope, are there any specific recommendations on the low end? Is it possible to find good units second hand?

 

[Jelen]

Ahhh, didnt even think about the add on's like the Pard. Just watched a video on it, seems like this would be something more up my street to start. Thanks!

If you decide to go down the PARD 007 route bear in mind you need a scope with parallax adjustment down to 30m or preferably less. Also - with a 44mm objective - you'll need a high power IR torch to get a clearer sharper image.

 

[Len the dog]

Regarding a day/night scope, are there any specific recommendations on the low end? Is it possible to find good units second hand?

I’m sure someone else would be able to advise on that as I went down the rear add on route.
If you were to go for a rear add on though, the cheaper scopes such as those from Hawke perform very well, ironically the more up market scopes don’t because of the lens coatings filtering out the red end of the spectrum.

 

[Moaky]

I’m sure someone else would be able to advise on that as I went down the rear add on route.
If you were to go for a rear add on though, the cheaper scopes such as those from Hawke perform very well, ironically the more up market scopes don’t because of the lens coatings filtering out the red end of the spectrum.

thanks thats a good tip. This would be a dedicated fox/night time set up so I can find an optic package that will just live on that rifle. Currently just looking for a cheap smallish caliber on guntrader that will come with one of these scopes..

 

[Len the dog]

thanks thats a good tip. This would be a dedicated fox/night time set up so I can find an optic package that will just live on that rifle. Currently just looking for a cheap smallish caliber on guntrader that will come with one of these scopes..

There’s usually a few of the dedicated NV scopes in the classifieds on here.

 

[Will the chippy]

Don't discount using a lamp to shoot with. Me and 3 mates still use one to good effect. A thermal spotter is more important. A 223 with pretty much any named scope. Hawke, Bushnell etc will be fine.
Or just buy a lamp and spotter and use your270 I know one chap who does as he doesn't shoot that many foxes.

 

[old keeper]

Much depends on the range. if it's only going to be around the 100-yard mark or less, a 22 Hornet will do the job without too much noise. Certainly, a thermal spotter will give you a tremendous advantage.

A Pard is good out to 150 yards or so. Personally, I don't believe in calling foxes into areas where damage is being done, such as lambing fields or poultry, they will come there naturally, and you don't want to encourage the "passers-by" Find a good spot either to park a vehicle or to set up behind cover, and just wait. That way there's a very good chance you will get the guilty party. Patience is often the key to successful fox control.

If you are going to do more foxing, after using various calibres over the years, all of which kill foxes I still think that for a variety of reasons the 223 is still perhaps the best choice.

 

[Pellet Pinger]

Don't discount using a lamp to shoot with. Me and 3 mates still use one to good effect. A thermal spotter is more important. A 223 with pretty much any named scope. Hawke, Bushnell etc will be fine.
Or just buy a lamp and spotter and use your270 I know one chap who does as he doesn't shoot that many foxes.

Good advice, a thermal is your top priory to see whats about and help with the stalking.
Im sure the farmer wont mind the odd boom at night if you are rolling foxes over with the .270 and a lamp.

 

[VSS]

If I was in the market for a dedicated foxing rifle it would be a 22-250

 

[JTO]

I got exasperated with using an infra red torch and a digisight, too much glare from nearby vegetation. I don't know how cheap thermal scopes are now, but that's the way I would go.

 

[buckfever]

You will get a new Hikmicro alpex a50t for about £400 just need a good ir to go with it. That's what I have on my .223.

 

[BenBhoy]

You say noise is a factor, stick to the smaller slower cals.

Don't have to be slow - my 204 isn't slow but still quiet enough.

 

[Greenmist]

My dedicated NV rifle is a .17rem, I also still use a lamp on occasion with my .22-250

 

[finnbear270]

Don't have to be slow - my 204 isn't slow but still quiet enough.

I was meaning I would be avoiding the likes of 22-250's / 243's.