Is this a good Foxing rifle in .223 ?

[scotch_egg]

Go handle one in a shop.

I’ve got several metal stocked rifles and to be honest I grab my traditional stocked rifles 90% of the time when out after deer and fox’s.

My fox rifle is a Tikka T3 in PSE stock. Both bought second hand off this site and cost less than the ace game. Buy the rilfe and a fancy stock can wait. The factory stocks although plastic work very well.

I would recommend a T3 Lite, I got the heavy barrel and really don’t need it. A small mod like the Ase Utra SL5i and you’re set. 20” barrel is plenty for 53gr V-max to get 3300fps.

Once you get a scope with rings, silencer and bipod on a rifle the weight certainly adds up and before you know it you are handing 12lbs just check out the post the weight of your rifle thread.

 

[Bowland blades]

I am looking at the Tikka T3x Ace Game rifle in .223 for Foxing, primarily shooting off Rekon tripod (Arca) and using the bipod (Arca) and rear bag.

Most of my permissions I can use the 4x4 to get around or the Mule UTV, which minimises walking distances with the weight of gear I would have to carry. Big fields hence my rifle choice.

200yds nightime / 300yds daytime, with everything in between.View attachment 455986

The rifle is going to be fine , though i question 300 day and 200 night on a noisy motor unless these Foxes are deaf or daft . .223 at 300 yards is quite a fair poke unless you have a lot of training time in and an easy wind call . Never mind what some people achieve on the range days , out in the field its very different even in the daylight

 

[ShotKam 0]

The rifle is going to be fine , though i question 300 day and 200 night on a noisy motor unless these Foxes are deaf or daft . .223 at 300 yards is quite a fair poke unless you have a lot of training time in and an easy wind call . Never mind what some people achieve on the range days , out in the field its very different even in the daylight

Fair points and ranges will generally be far less. There are roads around most all of my permissions and Mules driving the fields constantly dealing with livestock, which will definitely help.
My original plan was to buy a used 20" Tikka lite, fit a MDT XRS chassis stock to mate with the tripod and add an Arca rail, then someone posted on here it would cost less to buy a Tikka Ace Game outright - which is indeed true, plus it would be a nice new barrel.
What I like about the Ace is it's accuracy, stock adjustability, fitted picca for scope and the full length Arca to mount direct to the Recon and Bipod. It's at the Shooting Show in Feb, as is everything else , but at the moment the Tikka Ace Game is looking like the front runner.

​

 

[bluesako]

get it in 22.250 fox no problem at plus 300yds

 

[ShotKam 0]

get it in 22.250 fox no problem at plus 300yds

Great choice but too noisy for my situations.

 

[Smellydog]

200m max at night, 300 ish daytime if wind not an issue with this particular rifle (any further daytime .260 it is - Hornady 143-gr ELC-X )

222 cz 527 off sticks.

222 cz 527 off sticks.

 

[Will the chippy]

Great choice but too noisy for my situations.

Have you ever shot them side by side? There's little it them sound wise.

 

[ShotKam 0]

Have you ever shot them side by side? There's little it them sound wise.

I am going on what others have reported. I like the price of .223 ammo and the reduced barrel wear. .223 will work for me if I do my part.

 

[Mike1979]

Sod what everyone else thinks and get what you want mate

If I gave a stuff what other think I wouldnt have a 6.5 Creedmoor

 

[Bowland blades]

Fair points and ranges will generally be far less. There are roads around most all of my permissions and Mules driving the fields constantly dealing with livestock, which will definitely help.
My original plan was to buy a used 20" Tikka lite, fit a MDT XRS chassis stock to mate with the tripod and add an Arca rail, then someone posted on here it would cost less to buy a Tikka Ace Game outright - which is indeed true, plus it would be a nice new barrel.
What I like about the Ace is it's accuracy, stock adjustability, fitted picca for scope and the full length Arca to mount direct to the Recon and Bipod. It's at the Shooting Show in Feb, as is everything else , but at the moment the Tikka Ace Game is looking like the front runner.

​

The New Tikka is set up for pic rails . As it happens i bought the Lite stainless . The top plate is a bit of a faff and you need the correct loctite . It does great with a 1-8 twist shooting 80 grain tTSX none toxic handloads , I am not a big fan of chassy personally speaking , that sort of rifle i find is inferior to the std slim / light sporter when it comes down to field work . Its doing an inch at 200 yds though and its great to carry up difficult hills etc . Its a lot cheaper i guess and remember Almost every custom stock makers will have better if you choose to change in the future
Its hard to appraise a rifle you are going to carry around until you have actually carried it around and shot from different field stances and hard stances , scrambling over stone walls etc etc

 

[ShotKam 0]

The New Tikka is set up for pic rails . As it happens i bought the Lite stainless . The top plate is a bit of a faff and you need the correct loctite . It does great with a 1-8 twist shooting 80 grain tTSX none toxic handloads , I am not a big fan of chassy personally speaking , that sort of rifle i find is inferior to the std slim / light sporter when it comes down to field work . Its doing an inch at 200 yds though and its great to carry up difficult hills etc . Its a lot cheaper i guess and remember Almost every custom stock makers will have better if you choose to change in the future
Its hard to appraise a rifle you are going to carry around until you have actually carried it around and shot from different field stances and hard stances , scrambling over stone walls etc etc

Yes, as you say, until you actually carry and use, almost impossible to assess, unless what you are buying is very similar to what you have had previously. Why do you think would it be inferior to the std slim / light sporter when it comes down to field work if setup on a Rekon tripod?

 

[Bowland blades]

Yes, as you say, until you actually carry and use, almost impossible to assess, unless what you are buying is very similar to what you have had previously. Why do you think would it be inferior to the std slim / light sporter when it comes down to field work if setup on a Rekon tripod?

i have not used or fancied a rekon tripod indeed i am unfamiliar about it totally and a bit confused to what your actually saying

 

[ShotKam 0]

i have not used or fancied a rekon tripod indeed i am unfamiliar about it totally and a bit confused to what your actually saying

Why do you think the Ace would it be inferior to the std slim / light sporter you have when it comes down to field work if I am using it setup on a Rekon tripod to shoot foxes ? The Tikka Ace Game full length Arca rail connects direct to Arca mounting platform = Solid. The Tikka T3X range have generally polymer (plastic) stock assemblies that would be a challenge to mount to Arca fitment and retain any rigidity, even though they are of course great Rifles..

 

[Fox246]

Great choice but too noisy for my situations.

Depends on mod I think. My .22-250 is a lot quieter than my mates .223 and recoil isn’t noticeable

 

[Overlay]

I’ve been using a 222 for many many years with great success for foxing, 2 years ago I got a 204 and I have to be honest its wiped the floor with the 222 in range and knock down on foxes, its my go to foxing kit for over 100 mtrs as I have the hornet for out that range, using a decent IR and night scope my furthest shot with the 204 is 240 mtrs restricted purely on back stop, it will go very accurately much further and accurately

If its a permanent foxing rifle your after, give the 204 a look

 

[Rake Aboot]

Of course they may, but not always for many reasons we all understand. Also I like a sporting shot, you wouldn't shoot a 20 yard driven Pheasant, others opinions will differ, which is fair enough.

Not a great answer.
Killing them efficiently is the correct view, not sporting shots for pest control.

I’m not against long shots.

 

[ShotKam 0]

Not a great answer.
Killing them efficiently is the correct view, not sporting shots for pest control.

I’m not against long shots.

You have misinterpreted - I am taking shots that are within my capabilities to humanely dispatch the vermin, that always must be the priority.

 

[PhilSN12]

I have popped up with my foxing rifle, and although its not to everyones liking, its short, easy to work with and very accurate.

 

[Dan Newcombe]

From the amount of carrying you say you are planning to do I would go the longer barrel because it doesn’t sound like weight is an issue and it’s also only 200g.

I’d maybe consider a .22-250 but that’s because I have one and like it and it’s got a wee bit more wallop to it.

Otherwise decent choice

 

[Kevgun]

I shoot with 22.250 and .223 Both are capable of 300 yard Foxes with the right conditons, My 22,250 is much quieter on account of it having a Wildcat predator 12 and my .223 has a Wildcat Evo which isn't as quiet as the Predator 12 I shoot a 40gr vmax home load in my .223 running at 3800fps in a 24in barrel. In my 22.250 I use a Sierra 77 Tmk running at 3250 fps in a 26in 1:7 twist barrel, I had this built by Neil Mckillop especially for Long Range Foxing it shoots 1/4 inch groups@ 100 yards when using a rear bag and prone on the floor, Its a Tikka T3X mounted in a Tac A1 chassis, I don't have any Problems carrying it about if required, It weighs over 20lbs with the A7 Senopex Thermal Scope on it and feels very stable and planted on a Modified Inorrel RT90 C carbon Tripod