What 12b fox cartridge?

[kev.rem700]

42g express number 3s for me hard hitting shells

ATB

Kev

 

[Triggermortis]

Well i recon that as long as you are shooting them at a reasonable range (these were taken at 25-30yds as a left and right with 21gram 9's with1/4 and improved chokes)and hit them up the right end then pretty much most cartridges will kill them, whilst it can't be argued that a heavy cartridge will/can make a difference at distance or if you only manage to part patten one i don't agree that artillery shells are a must, if you take your time, don't fluff the shot, shoot them well within range then pretty much any cartridge will kill them every time? however i do think that tighter chokes for foxes are an advantage but not an absolute must?
The other issue to take into consideration is if the fox knows you are there which will mean the adrenalin is running, this i'm sure makes a hell of a difference as to if it runs on or not

View attachment 22692

 

[kevhumps]

Express 50g BB in 3", not cheap at £12 a box but dammed effective!
Kev.

 

[matt_1029]

well since i have started this thread a while ago i have shot a few with the shotgun . First one of this year fell to a 32g 6 , was waiting for pigeons and a vixen just sort of appeared infront of me . She didnt go far , and while they were combining later in the year i had 3 in two days using saga 36g buffalow shot , just 8 musket balls in a cartridge . The one vixen on ispection only had been hit with one ball but it droped her on the spot . Also saw a chap on a pheasant shoot kill a fox with his 20b at about 30 yards . I suppose its more of where u hit them and how close you are .

 

[Triggermortis]

The one vixen on ispection only had been hit with one ball but it droped her on the spot . Also saw a chap on a pheasant shoot kill a fox with his 20b at about 30 yards . I suppose its more of where u hit them and how close you are .

Exactly Matt, if you were to skin every fox you shoot with a shotgun, you'd probably be surprised as to how few shot it takes to do the business

 

[Goingback]

In 70's and early 80's we used to skin foxes until the money went out of it. I found that 34g of nickel 4's worked best with two well aimed shots and not magnum type's that would kick like a mule and then make a follow up shot hard. Skinning gave good feedback to cartridge/gun combinations.
Amazing on 200 foxes shot/snared a year, how many carried BB's and larger due to poor patterns.
Try a pattern plate and see what works best.........

 

[muddy42]

I have a very old shotgun that I wouldn't want to put more than 30 oz down (or is it chambered for much more). Hence I had some 30 oz number 3s lead 65mm made for it a few years ago by Caledonian cartridge. Excellent for fox drives. Having said that I still think I shot more foxes as a youngster with my 28 bore!

 

[mickjgardner]

Seems to me that people talk a lot of rubbish about patterns.I once ran out of cartridges while pigeon shootin and used an old box of bb's i had left and surprisingly they consistently killed pigeons at good ranges,not what i would recommend but shows there are still plenty of pellets in a pattern even on bb,s.When i used to shoot the ouse washes years ago(before lead ban) we used 3,s all the time and killed ducks at very good ranges .A foxes head and chest is a very large target at sensible ranges so bb or even aaa will have more than enough pellets in a pattern and i have shot loads of foxes over the years on fox drives and lamping off pick ups.Only use rifle lamping now though

 

[Paul at Fechan]

got to be 3" 50g 3's or 1's if 's you're using a magnum but for 2 3/4 sporting guns the 36g buffalo or if you can get 42g mini mags in 3's or 1's are the shizzle. I've shot a fox stone dead with an express 3" in 3's at about 30 yards.

 

[Triggermortis]

Well i recon that as long as you are shooting them at a reasonable range (these were taken at 25-30yds as a left and right with 21gram 9's with1/4 and improved chokes)and hit them up the right end then pretty much most cartridges will kill them, whilst it can't be argued that a heavy cartridge will/can make a difference at distance or if you only manage to part patten one i don't agree that artillery shells are a must, if you take your time, don't fluff the shot, shoot them well within range then pretty much any cartridge will kill them every time? however i do think that tighter chokes for foxes are an advantage but not an absolute must?
The other issue to take into consideration is if the fox knows you are there which will mean the adrenalin is running, this i'm sure makes a hell of a difference as to if it runs on or not

View attachment 22692

So what is it with the "must use artillery shells" brigade? unless i'm much mistaken, i've never seen an armour plated fox? if you shoot it in the right end and within range they are are going to die.
Whilst every little helps, any shot/cartridge size will kill them everytime as long as they are within range, the problem comes when people unreasonablely expect a shotgun to consistantly kill foxes at 60yds, the old adage "horses for courses" comes to mind, it's a case of right tool for the job? At 20yds i have shot cubs dead (headshot)with both an FAC 40ftlb air rifle and .22lr shorts.

 

[Overlay]

Lead BB size 1 or 2 shot in standard cartridge at a moderate range under twenty five yards, they will do the job admirably, preferably in 12 gauge. If you have a very open choke you could fill the pattern up with 2's to maintain a closed pattern

Main thing, avoid a front on shot, the snout, front legs will carry best part of a shot, you stand a good chance of wounding and losing rather than a humane kill.

Side on lower neck, shoulder, heart and lung area will be the best and stop em in their tracks.

Cartridges are irrelevant, shot size and placement are the key factors

Pattern plate your gun and find the best cartridge that suits


Phil

 

[ajfab]

i have shot foxes with 30grm 6s and right down to rc 50 grm number 2s and killed them dead at 40yrd, thing is use whats safe for your gun and make sure you hit it in the right place, make my blood boil when people say they gave two at 50 yrd up the arse with a pigeon load and it will go and die some where else!
please also remember if shooting big steel shot that they can ricochet on frosty ground.

 

[al4x1]

please also remember if shooting big steel shot that they can ricochet on frosty ground.

seconded but not just steel large lead can do the same, thats why I wouldn't use AAA's or SSG's on a driven fox shoot, I had a ssg bounce off a tree and hit a landrover at 90 degrees to it and 60 yards away. Ok you only heard it hit and couldn't find damage but was an eye opener. I've shot foxes with most loads from 7's to bb's and really some of the small shot has worked very well. 7's was at 10 yards and really I'd not really go for one much over 30 so shot size is fairly irrelevant. Best thing is to stand absolutely still and they will often just run straight at you

 

[Richard doran]

I use No. 3 1oz 1/8th. Do the job nicely.