wabbit warren
Well-Known Member
.17 HMR every time a bit noisy compared to the sub .22 LR but far better for foxes
I hope you have a tracker on that Ratel!22/250 is my go to for foxes etc. Accurate, easy to shoot and only ever had one runner. That was the wife shooting and amazing, it ran 50yds with very few internal organs left in it.
I hope you have a tracker on that Ratel!
Any of the small centrefires will do the job the hornets, .17 rem, .222, .223, .204 etc.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
You don’t need to go that big, a .223 with an appropriate bullet such as a 50 gr v-max will turn their insides to pulp and drop them on the spot if you chest shoot them. If you really must go bigger then .243 will do the job admirably.I've seen a failure from the 250! Many actually.
Use the wrong bullet and it, like others will fail.
Unfortunately the owner of said rifle was stubborn and wouldn't admit his choice of bullet for his choice in rifle was not working until many fails later.
Eventually he agreed to try a different bullet and then it suddenly started to work.
If rating a rifle on a fox not moving one single inch on being shot is the paramount I recommend 270 Winchester or 308 and 3006.
The rifles are all very similar, or exactly the same, the go to for .22 hornet is the CZ527, these also come in .223.Surely for the average operator, there must be a round count per year where any amount under that is really not relevant and shouldn't influence the calibre selection. Is an inappropriate rifle that you are not happy with worth a few quid less in ammo cost?
Or .223, more factory ammunition and rifle choice than the other 2 put together.Based on your requirements 22 Hornet or .222. Both will do the job absolutely fine and with more authority than the HMR.
Take a trip to your local shop and see what's in stock for the hornet and other .22CFs - that will probably dictate what you go for in the end more than anything else.
If you’re on an open ticket that’s not an issue.When I applied for my FAC, I put down .223 for foxes, but when the FEO visited he informed me that the land wasn't cleared for CF, so suggested 17HMR, and said it would be fine for foxes.
Guess it's just pot luck on who visits.
Just wait until the new 220 PRC lands……22 Creedmoor looks amazing
25 wssm does what the little Creed does and some of what the 6.5 does
17 hornet 4,000fps and more. NufSed