Starting out foxing again - rifle?

[dropmdead]

I'm going to start a foxing only rifle and scope, out with deer and comp rifles.
I would like to be mindful and prepare for future copper bullets etc
The ground is open lambing fields over 600 yards between walls.

I would like to run factory ammo..

I'm boiling it down to something rebarrelled, and shot off sticks, not carried for miles every night, but not shot from a vehicle.

22-250 fast twist?
243 1-8 twist?


Open to ideas

 

[Mike1979]

I would avoid .243 due to the copper issue.

.223 or .222 is also a good bet but .22-250 will certainly do the job.

 

[bluesako]

22.250 all night long

 

[old keeper]

I've been using a 204 for years now, easy to load for, and no problems with factory ammunition. It does the job for me!

 

[Nickb]

.22/250 will do the job

 

[Longstrider]

The 22-250 is, and always has been, a super foxing rifle whatever you feed it with (as long as goes where you point it), but it's certainly a 'barker' of a round whichever mod you fit.
The .204 is far from silent, but it's a good deal quieter than the 22-250 and will happily kill foxes at ranges only the brave (or foolish) would ever attempt. It's aso a bit cheaper to feed IIRC

 

[Cyres]

204. Get it with a 1:10 so optimal with 39/40 bullets. Talk to Dasherman on here. If brave go for 20 TAC but a bit specialist.
D

 

[Eric the Red]

I would tend toward the (fast twist) 22.250 (having shot one for years) - however, there is little in the way of factory ammunition with heavier loads to make use of the twist (and copper not an issue with this calibre).
I would think about wind and the distances you want to shoot. The fast twist 243 with a decent barrel length gives you immediate access to heavier bullets - 70,75,80gr still doing a decent speed.

Either will perform admirably. If however you were able to lay hands on 22Creedmoor factory ammunition......

 

[Brave Echo Niner]

I'm going to start a foxing only rifle and scope, out with deer and comp rifles.
I would like to be mindful and prepare for future copper bullets etc
The ground is open lambing fields over 600 yards between walls.

I would like to run factory ammo..

I'm boiling it down to something rebarrelled, and shot off sticks, not carried for miles every night, but not shot from a vehicle.

22-250 fast twist?
243 1-8 twist?


Open to ideas

Yew Tree have just released a 53 grain Foxing bullet if you did decide to reload - the Super X in 6mm.

Edinburgh Rifles are also looking to do cheap non lead factory foxing ammo in .223 and .243 as per a thread they started on here.

.243 if you spec it fast twist would be my choice therefore, as you can always use it on deer if another rifle is in for a rebarrel or anything, but also the options are there for 243 and NLA.

 

[Scottb123]

I’ve shot 243 for years then over to a250 love both but would go 243 if I could only pick one just stock up on heads if you reload before the lead disappears if only for fox

 

[palo]

Any factory 204 or 22-250 rifle will do the job fine.
You don't need a fast twist 22-250 if your shooting factory ammo.

 

[bluesako]

dont forget the 17 rem it smashes charlie

 

[wabbit warren]

I've shot a 22-250 and didn't like loosing sight picture
i shoot a .223 with 53gr vmax factory rounds and never had a fox complain
sorry rifle is a 1-12" tikka t3x lite

 

[7Miller]

Factory Ammo, 223 or 22-250.
Fast twist 22-250 will allow for longer, heavier bullets but can you actually buy them in factory loads?

For the larger range of factory ammunition availability, the 223 is a safer option. Unless you just stick to 55gn bullets from a standard 22-250.

If you could hand load then it's a fast twist 22-250 or 22 creedmoor for me

 

[triggertrix]

I’d get a Steel Action .223, it’s incredibly fast to reload, being straight pull it also means you dont torque the rifle and lose sight picture.

 

[finnbear270]

.222, no worries re lead, perfect 250 yard foxer.

 

[kenbro]

dont forget the 17 rem it smashes charlie

Factory ammo not common now.
KB.

 

[Shabz]

What kind of scope are you going to use?

I always liked fast shooting calibres for mpbr but these new range finding scopes mean that it barely matters now. If you’re gonna put one of these day/night scopes that range find and work out your drops, it doesn’t matter what calibre you get and you might as well buy the cheapest/most available one? The barrel will last longer on a .223 than a .22-250 and it’ll be cheaper to load if you ever want to. I suppose you might get a lot of wind where you’re shooting? That might make a difference.

 

[dropmdead]

How does the 6mm creedmoor fit in?
Anyone run with light weight bullets?

 

[Stumpy2]

For 600 yards I’d be tempted to 6.5 Creedmoor, reduced wind drift at range and loads of factory ammo available.

don’t like 95grain vmax but with non lead I’d look at the 100 grain peregrine from Edinburgh rifles