What CF Calibre for fox & rabbit

[charlieboy-shooter]

​Hi,

I'm thinking of getting a dedicated rifles for night use but want a CF rifle that I can use mainly for fox but which can also be used on rabbit, but leaves the rabbit still edible. I have recently started home loading, so the option of a fox load and a change to a rabbit load would be ideal. I have read that the .22-250 is a good calibre that offers a very flexible load. I have considered .22 hornet but apparently is harder to home load than .22-250 ????
Also thinking best to stay away from SH 22-250 as unknown use and barrel wear?

Any advice or experience welcome

Thanks

 

[see it shoot it]

if your going to muse any CF for rabbits you will need to head shoot only and it will make your rabbits expensive if you want a rabbit gun get a cheap 22 rimmy.
as to foxes anything in 224 cal flavour will do you,I would opt for a 22.250 as I used to own one but you will get all manner of advice from people who use different calibers.
a to buying a used 22.250 as long as you have the bored inspected don't worry about as you could be passing up a bargain through listening to shop counter talk.

 

[howy308]

Years ago all that were used was the .222 excellent for rabbits, crows, foxes

 

[unicorn71]

Another vote for the .222.

 

[derek treherne]

+1 for the 222 good with light loads

 

[1967spud.com]

any thing les than a .300 rum simply wont stop them


on a more seroius note have a look at a .22 hornet

 

[multiman]

Hi I have a 223 and a 22 hornet. I love the hornet and am thinking of selling my 223. The Hornet is easy to reload for 13grains of LIlGun and either 35vmax of 40 grain Sierra sp.
I shot Rabbit with the hornet makes less of a mess than the 223 but you still need to head shot.
ATB Multiman

 

[Ben410]

Plus one for the mighty hornet. Swapped my 222 for a hornet and not looked back. 35gr and 40g vmax both shoot equally well.

 

[timbeech]

Get what feels best for you. What about a .204 or .20TAC/PRAC?I'd stick the small end If the calibres if you want to take rabbits, and foxes with a heavy grain bullet. At the end of the day a rimfire will kill a if with a good shot placement, all C/F's will take a fox, again with careful shot placement.

 

[Finny]

Ihear te hornet is a sidle to reload for just waiting for a nice one to come along to fill an empty slot

 

[finnbear270]

.17 Centrefire, preferably a Fireball!

 

[rowdy]

Ahother vote for the 222.rowdy

 

[tikka2506]

22/250, 50gn nosler ballistic tip, but not if you are wanting to eat your bunnies?

 

[njc110381]

When I'm in your situation I always reach for my Hornet. I've had both the .17 and .22 versions and it's hard to say which is best. I think for fox the .22 wins because of the higher bullet weight, but for rabbits the .17 is fantastic.

I'm still learning about the .17 but I put thousands of rounds down my .22. It was my carry gun for several years for shooting everything but deer (I even shot a couple of them that were stuck in fences etc and it worked just fine). I've estimated that it had fired 10,000 rounds before I shot it out and rebarrelled in .17 - I absolutely love it!

Cost of ammo is a serious consideration if you're shooting a lot of rabbits. A .22 Hornet round can be home loaded for a similar price to factory HMR rimfire ammo. It really is hard to beat unless your foxing ranges need to exceed 200 yards. If you're good at foxing, they shouldn't!

 

[splash]

.17 Centrefire, preferably a Fireball!

+1

 

[Selous]

I went through the same thought process and came up with the 17 Remington. Very happy so far

 

[dlz90]

I went through the same thought process and came up with the 17 Remington. Very happy so far

As others have mentioned 22 hornet or the good old 222 will do the job very nicely but for me its the 17 Remington love it.

 

[Jimbo 30 06]

Years ago all that were used was the .222 excellent for rabbits, crows, foxes

+1 I use .222 it is a very good and accurate round and cheap to reload. I shot this target with Tika T3 Hunter .222 Sako 50grn Gamehead 5 rounds i wish i knew how to post the target full size.
Jimbo

 

[dlz90]

+1 I use .222 it is a very good and accurate round and cheap to reload. I shot this target with Tika T3 Hunter .222 Sako 50grn Gamehead 5 rounds i wish i knew how to post the target full size.
Jimbo View attachment 33071

Very tidy group lad.

 

[bobjs]

.17 rem fireball. this will leave you most of the meat on the bunny and is ok on fox,....low to nil recoil.

204 zips along and you will need to head shoot bunnies and very good on fox, little recoil,

20 tac, as above turns bunnies into glove puppets........take my word for it i have had 2 20 tac's, but you have to reload.and it drops charlie like a bolt from the sky (biased)

20 br is stunning but same as above.

.222 been around for years and is ok for bunnie head shots and hits charlie like a express train with 50 gr tops,

22,250 mince meat for rabbits and knocks charlie into next week,...................but its very noisy and uses more powder than all the above for the same result.

tin hat on and waiting for the on slot of 22,250 lovers.

bob.