Accurate small calibre.

[Heym SR20]

In this day and age the 223 really makes most sense unless you reload, as ammo is widely available just about everywhere. With a faster barrel twist you can stabilise any bullet including all the monolithic non toxic bullets. With a 40 to 50grain bullet its fast and flat shooting.

And it will do double duty on small deer - depending on which side of the Scottish Border you are on.

22 Hornet - ammo is harder to come by and more expensive that 223.

222 - its a lovely little round, but 223 is more available.

204, 17 Hornet etc all very effective, but in the real world any better than 223?

 

[wabbit warren]

.17 or 22 hornet, 222, 223.

Depends on range you want to shoot them at, .22lr subs in the right place work, so does .17hmr, perhaps get to the bottom of what’s causing the .17hmr inconsistency?

what .17hmr are you using I've got a cz445 bang on the money (same hole) as many rounds as you want to put into a group
don't know if I just got lucky with it because a mate of mine had one the same that just wouldn't group
as smelly dog says get to the bottom of why its not behaving its self or get rid and try again

 

[25 Sharps]

Keep life simple, get a .223

 

[old keeper]

I generally use a 204 or 243 for my Fox work. However, I would agree that probably the best is, and has been for a very long time, the 223. I've tried a 17Hornet, but it wouldn't always drop them on the spot. Its big brother, the 22Hornet, is a decent Fox round.
Having shot foxes with pretty well everything from an FAC air rifle upwards to a 308 if I had to start again knowing what I know now., I'd go for a 223.

 

[25 Sharps]

Better question Is how far are we shooting these? If your shooting them over 80-100 yards and need them *dead dead* a .22H might not do the job as well as folks are pointing out here? some of the other calibres mentioned here do a bit better job regarding take down power.

223 will be legal for roe In Scotland and Is plenty capable at taking over vermin If needed (although, bit more expensive per shot.....)

Out of interest have you shut many foxes with a .22 hornet or any other .22 CF?

At 80-100 yards .22 hornet with a suitable bullet will make a fox very ‘dead, dead’ as you put it, with a properly placed heart or brain shot.

No issues at all, I used it as my main fox rifle around livestock for years, only recall one runner and that was a misheard range call (30 not 130) meant I aimed low.

 

[Rake Aboot]

.222 or .223 will reach out 4 times that as well and kill easily

If .222 was good enough for Deckard in Bladerunner it’s good enough for wee foxes

 

[Cyres]

204 every time. Dumps all energy on target and you don't get runners if it's in the boiler room. Just find which bullet it like as all are different.
D

 

[Selous]

17 Remington works well for what you describe. Not excessive for vermin and kills foxes well. Not quite as definitive as a 22/250 but still very capable

 

[crawfordjohn]

Evening all.

What’s people views on the most accurate small caliber for foxes. I need them dead, not running on. obviously shot placement blah blah.

I’ve been using a 17hmr but it’s so unreliable I can’t trust it. It goes bang bang on the money and then next shot just goes anywhere it likes. I know a few others who have the exact same issue.

Im looking for a small safe calibre, but still accurate. Only needs to be over short distances. Something in the 17/22 family.

I might go back to my 22lr it was accurate and if it missed I knew it was me, don’t think i ever shot a fox with it.

Cheers

I have a .22 WMR Anschutz which does the job well.

 

[Tazz]

what .17hmr are you using I've got a cz445 bang on the money (same hole) as many rounds as you want to put into a group
don't know if I just got lucky with it because a mate of mine had one the same that just wouldn't group
as smelly dog says get to the bottom of why its not behaving its self or get rid and try again

Equally have an Arnie 1517 17HMR bullet on bullet at 100 yds on a calm day and off a bench set up, it has to be the rifle or set up

 

[Greener Jim]

I'll add my two pence.

The current fox rifle is a 357 with red dot. Authoritative at close range, and with subs, it is perfect where discretion is advised.

Do have a .223 Rem on hold, and my reasoning may apply to you. I figure factory ammo is affordable, and everyone has it. Nice and easy longer range fox stopper fodder. However, I can also reload it to WMRish performance if desired, which gives me options, and I like options.
Being handloaded centrefire, I'd bet my shoes that it'll out shoot most WMRs.

 

[25 Sharps]

.222 or .223 will reach out 4 times that as well and kill easily

If .222 was good enough for Deckard in Bladerunner it’s good enough for wee foxes

Yes, they will, I’ve reached out past 300 with my .223AI on plenty of occasions, hence my recommendation above to keep it simple and get a .223.

But that wasn’t the point I was responding to, which was that at over 80-100 yards a .22 hornet might struggle to make foxes “dead, dead” which is nonsense!

 

[Hornet]

Yes, they will, I’ve reached out past 300 with my .223AI on plenty of occasions, hence my recommendation above to keep it simple and get a .223.

But that wasn’t the point I was responding to, which was that at over 80-100 yards a .22 hornet might struggle to make foxes “dead, dead” which is nonsense!

Yes nonsense, when I had a hornet,(wish I never sold it) I shot lots of foxes with it, the furthest was around 180-200 yards, never had a single runner, the 35gn vmax are good to around 150yards or so, but I switched to 45 gn Sierra under a hot (ish) load of H110, it would quite easily head shoot bunnies out to 200 yards in still conditions, and was flat shooting, considering the heavier bullet, get a CZ 527 hornet buddy, you won't regret it.

 

[Bo Diddley]

.22Hornet, the super sweet spot for mine is 80 -120 yards, easy to load for, and accurate, quiet ish... a bit of a cult calibre.

.223rem, my favourite calibre of all time, all of the above benefits and I'm lobbing 60 grain Vmax sleeping pills at them which they hate.... in fact most things hate them.

 

[MAH]

looking for a small safe calibre, but still accurate.

There is a 17 remington for sale on here now.
Fabulous cartridge.
Ticks all those boxes.


M

@204 Ruger

 

[204 Ruger]

There is a 17 remington for sale on here now.
Fabulous cartridge.
Ticks all those boxes.


M

@204 Ruger

Thanks MAH, yes still for sale. Unreal calibre you shoot

 

[kenbro]

That brief just screams .22 hornet. Should not be too hard to find a well sorted one at reasonable money. By well sorted, I mean accurate with factory ammo.

If a 22 Hornet won’t shoot worth a hoot…how do you sort it to shoot factory ammo accurately?
Ken.

 

[njc110381]

With respect, I think we should all the "think"ing about that always a anyway, every shot every calibre. Just because your using a 308 doesn't make it ok to shoot it in the arse!? No?

It depends on the calibre, bullet construction and shot angle. Facing away and with a good 6mm+ rifle, aiming for the chocolate starfish will put it down. It's not a shot I'd take with a .22 calibre varmint bullet but my .25-06 shooting 102gr Yew Tree copper drops them on the spot, the whole cavity is turned to soup.

As for what calibre, I wouldn't drop below .222/.223 for a foxing rifle. I prefer a .22-250 and a .243 is better still. I've used all the common .17's, none of them are ideal. The lighter the bullet the more likely it is to fragment if it hits bone. Even a rib can mess with a .17.

 

[kenbro]

.222 or .223 will reach out 4 times that as well and kill easily

If .222 was good enough for Deckard in Bladerunner it’s good enough for wee foxes

Yes, and 222 and 223 can easily be loaded down to 22 Hornet velocities if so wanted, assuming you reload.
Ken.

 

[25 Sharps]

With respect, I think we should all the "think"ing about that always an anyway, every shot every calibre. Just because your using a 308 doesn't make it ok to shoot it in the arse!? No?

Arse end on fox with a .308 is going to be humane as the bullet will reach through to the vitals.