I think an fac air would also be handy for your permission specially if shooting around paddocks and horses with the risk of ricochet I would not use a 22 lr nears horse also look into the hornet family either a 22 or 17 but have found the 17 a bit lacking on foxes does the job but a bit hit and miss brilliant rounds for small perms I’ve shot 22-250 mainly for foxes for years but just added a lightweight 204 rifle for walking and I’ll be honest I’ve fell in love with the 20 cal again
3 rifles for FAC app. Fox/Vermin only
- Thread starter Revan797
- Start date
Brad93
Well-Known Member
.22-250 is a great round. However it's a bit harder to get locally to me and also is more expensive.
Realistically, with proper maintenance, you're not gonna shoot a 22-250 barrel out unless you're out a few nights a week, every week.
Last time I bought .223 it was £26.50 a box of 20
That's expensive enough for me!
Edit: the .22-250 is coming in at £34 a box of 20
Realistically, with proper maintenance, you're not gonna shoot a 22-250 barrel out unless you're out a few nights a week, every week.
Last time I bought .223 it was £26.50 a box of 20
That's expensive enough for me!
Edit: the .22-250 is coming in at £34 a box of 20
As per @VSS you have to be able to 100% justify each of them that you request. However you can justify them if you demonstrate reasonable need. In fox and vermin calibres alone I currently have:
3x .22LR, 1x .17HMR, 1x .22WMR, 1x .223 and 1x 22-250.
Daytime, subsonic, night time, long range etc are all reasons for specific set ups. Everyone will argue in favour of their own situation and experiences. Get out with a pal and try a few, see what suits you and your environment. If I had to keep just three for my land and shooting opportunities it would be a CZ .22LR, a CZ.17HMR and a Sako or Tikka .22-250.
3x .22LR, 1x .17HMR, 1x .22WMR, 1x .223 and 1x 22-250.
Daytime, subsonic, night time, long range etc are all reasons for specific set ups. Everyone will argue in favour of their own situation and experiences. Get out with a pal and try a few, see what suits you and your environment. If I had to keep just three for my land and shooting opportunities it would be a CZ .22LR, a CZ.17HMR and a Sako or Tikka .22-250.
Not to be a pedant but need doesn’t really factor and it shouldn’t creep in because it could become unnecessarily prohibitive.
You have to be able to show good reason, I don’t need 3 different deee rifles but I have good reason for all 3 and I can demonstrate that good reason so my application for each was approved.
On the stables I shoot horses are as bothered by moderated FAC air as they are by moderated .22 LR subs.
The also bounce, but do carry less energy than a .22 so better on that front.
A fair point, good to clarify
also consider the type of shooting you will mainly be doing, by day or by night and the type of land, just because the calibre can kill at 300, 400 yards or more does not mean you can do likewise in the dark, skills to do so and safely.
Rabbits I shoot are virtually all within 150 yards and foxes I enjoy the challenge of calling foxes in within 150yards to 200yards. Otherwise long walk to recover them
But as I say the land you shoot over will be a big factor in determining the limit on distance to quarry.
I shoot .17hornet round horses and they take little notice, guess they know me now
Rabbits I shoot are virtually all within 150 yards and foxes I enjoy the challenge of calling foxes in within 150yards to 200yards. Otherwise long walk to recover them
But as I say the land you shoot over will be a big factor in determining the limit on distance to quarry.
I shoot .17hornet round horses and they take little notice, guess they know me now
17 h is superbly quiet I run mine with a hardy of it’s quieter than a hmr and I imagine wil be a touch quieter when I reload some 25salso consider the type of shooting you will mainly be doing, by day or by night and the type of land, just because the calibre can kill at 300, 400 yards or more does not mean you can do likewise in the dark, skills to do so and safely.
Rabbits I shoot are virtually all within 150 yards and foxes I enjoy the challenge of calling foxes in within 150yards to 200yards. Otherwise long walk to recover them
But as I say the land you shoot over will be a big factor in determining the limit on distance to quarry.
I shoot .17hornet round horses and they take little notice, guess they know me now
love mine, mainly use the kranks 17gr bullets on rabbits, so they make for very cheap shooting especially as by luck was fortunate enough to stock up with primers and powders before the prices shot up.
25s are good on foxes at sensible distance, but despite comments in sd when I asked for advice
i know, i know i should have listened, but needed to scratch the itch, I have just very recently changed from a 223 to a .22hornet. Hence then can use the .22hornet cases for both as have tooling to neck down the .22 to .17 Then have the good old faithful .22lr.
Work to do to sort out a load for the ,22hornet but just got some speer 40gr SP to work up a load.
As one gets older I find I do not need all the fire power I once owned
Not read the whole post, probably of the same opinion… .17 hmr, .22 LR and .243 will see you right, tools for the job
Willowbank.
Willowbank.
If it were me I would look at .22LR or FAC air and a .223. If I fancied something in between I’d go .22 hornet and reload, .17 is also an option but I really like the .22.
22-250 is a good option but as a new shooter you probably shouldn’t be pushing shots over 250 yards until you’re up to it (no offence intended but long shots require a lot of practice). .223 will do this all day long and if you reload will be cheaper too, if not reloading you will have more choice of factory ammunition and if looking at secondhand rifles it is far kinder on barrels.
I have, amongst others, a .223 AI and a .243 in the cabinet both for foxing, the .243 is pretty close to the 22-250. If it is really windy and I need to get out the .243 comes out maybe 4/5 times a year. The .223 is out at least once a week and comfortably takes foxes and to 300 yards on a regular basis, rabbits and hares to 200 + as well.
Okay, I’m gaining a couple of hundred feet per second in the Ackley but having run it at regular .223 velocity (50 gr v-max at circa 3400 fps) for a while, the same accuracy and ranges were achievable.
.223 will do your Scottish roe and English munties and CWD, without beating them up with the velocity of the 22-250.
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25sharps good point, I have been shooting for many years, but I still value the confidence that practice gives in my ability, gun and ammunition. You need to be budget for that occasional practice especially if wanting to shoot long distances from sticks and most of my shooting is under 200yards. Plus it’s an enjoyable exercise.
Factory ammunition costs should be considered if not reloading, with factory ammo in the likes of 22-250, .243, .223 now around £30 to £40 a box of 20.
Factory ammunition costs should be considered if not reloading, with factory ammo in the likes of 22-250, .243, .223 now around £30 to £40 a box of 20.
If you shoot a lot of ammo then I still think reloading is the way to go. I never used to think too much about the extra 15-25 gr of powder stepping up from .223 to .308 family, but the cost of powder today comes into it!
The other thing with .223 is the availability of milsurp for practice, though not always the most accurate, sometimes it’s good.
Norfolk Deer Search
Well-Known Member
You making hard work of that, you must have deep pockets 22 rf and 243 is all you need.
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