A ramble out last night

johngalway

My first port of call last night was to a farm where the odd hen gets knocked off now and then. I'd only been there once in the past few months so it was time for a visit. After setting up in my usual look out spot, no sooner than I had turned the call on I see a pair of fox eyes belting in towards me.

Settling down with the rifle and having clipped the lamp to the scope I found the fox in the scope. After shouting nine or ten times at this fox it decided to stop at just over the one hundred yard mark. The Federal Premium 40 grain entered through the chest and made quite an exit through the top of the back, due to the foxes stance.



Nothing else turned up on the next two stands on the same farm so I loaded up the car and headed for stop number two. Same set up for this stand, an initial scan around the immediate area for eyes then a quick squeal with the call. And again another pair of fox eyes are charging in towards me along a lake. This fox stops something around ninety yards from me, decides something is wrong trots ten yards away and looks back the way it came. Crosshairs are already on the back of his neck and a quick squeeze of the trigger finishes the job.

Now I discover why he was looking back as another pair of eyes are moving in towards me along the lake. This one is more cautious though, and takes it's time walking in, walking and looking. I mostly keep the light off it, save for a small edge of the lamp halo just to keep tabs on this fox. After a bit it sits up on a rock and decides this is a safe spot to take stock of the situation. One hundred sixty one yards out this fox isn't the easiest to see as my lamp is rapidly dying, I had not charged it since my last run out. I know he's facing me, I know he's sitting and I know how far away he is. Careful aim for the chest area and over he goes.



Still having mod glare issues which I must experiment properly with to remedy. My sight picture was cloudier than usual for all three shots.

Saw another three or four foxes last night but my battery was jiggered and I didn't particularly want a late night out.

Birdnuts

Never fails to amaze me how many foxes there are about the place:eek:


PS: Connemara wouldn't the most productive habitat eithier for this species. The Density in the counties around Dublin must be massive!!

johngalway

Birdnuts wrote: »

Never fails to amaze me how many foxes there are about the place:eek:


PS: Connemara wouldn't the most productive habitat eithier for this species. The Density in the counties around Dublin must be massive!!

There is a pattern to them around here, up until mating they're plentiful. During mating and after it they get scarce and extremely cagey. Lambing time hits and so does an avalanche of foxes. I get the feeling there will be more foxes about this year than last, nothing to base it on, just a hunch.

kay 9

Good night again John. What camera you using. Nice and bright. I use a little Nikon coolpix digital but they come out darker.

johngalway

kay 9 wrote: »

Good night again John. What camera you using. Nice and bright. I use a little Nikon coolpix digital but they come out darker.

Panasonic Lumix 12mp 29mm wide angle with a 3" LCD screen.

Model number is DMC-FS25.

Does the job well enough, got a couple of 8gig SDHC cards for it too, gives loads of room for photos/video.

No6

What Caller are you using John, I find with the foxes around here once you start squeaking they just bugger off 8 or 9 times out of 10!! It's only the young ones that come in.

Cass

johngalway wrote: »

....... and having clipped the lamp to the scope ................................... Still having mod glare issues which I must experiment properly with to remedy...........

On that topic John i had a similar problem years ago and fixed it with the following.

A mirage band or piece of elastic strap bought from any fabric store.

2" wide is plenty. I got a piece of wire coat hanger and cut it to shape around the front mount. I stitched it to the band. I then attached the other end of the fabric band to a plastic clip.
or

This plastic clip sits on the barrel right behind where the mod finishes on the barrel. Now the stainless barrel cannot pick up any glare from the light which was the problem for me. I too thought it was the mod, but trial and error discovered that it was "residual" glare from the barrel.

The whole thing cost less than €5 to make. I also used a fabric backed tape ...............


............... to "line" the coat hanger wire and side of the clip that made contact with the barrel to prevent scratching and wear and tear.


Its only a fiver and about 30 minutes of your time, plus if it doesn't eliminate your glare problem it will cut out any mirage issues.




PS - Nice work on charlie.

Justashotgun

Great shooting there bud. Its near time I put in for my .22.

Tackleberrywho

ezridax wrote: »

On that topic John i had a similar problem years ago and fixed it with the following.


2" wide is plenty. I got a piece of wire coat hanger and cut it to shape around the front mount. I stitched it to the band. I then attached the other end of the fabric band to a plastic clip.

Did you, or did you get someone to do it for you?
.

The whole thing cost less than €5 to make. I also used a fabric backed tape .

Its only a fiver and about 30 minutes of your time, plus if it doesn't eliminate your glare problem it will cut out any mirage issues.

PS - Nice work on charlie.

Nice work John!!

Ezri, I have a few old combats that require stitching, do you know a good seamstress

Cass

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

Ezri, I have a few old combats that require stitching, ...........

I learnt it from my time in Vietnam, stitching up my wounds with the needle and thread from my knife.............

.............. oh wait that was Rambo.




Smart a**e. I was wondering how long it would take someone to pick up on that.

Tackleberrywho

ezridax wrote: »

I learnt it from my time in Vietnam, stitching up my wounds with the needle and thread from my knife.............

.............. oh wait that was Rambo.




Smart a**e. I was wondering how long it would take someone to pick up on that.

I have made several attempts at sowing, as I am long sighted I find it a pain in the rear end.

I never suffered from glare from the lamp (lightforce, however I use a red or amber filter)

And I ca't find the poxy mounting bracket as I took it off when doing work on rifle and "put it somewhere safe" so safe I can't find it!

now that the nights are drawing in I might do a bit more lamping.
I have two flat deben batteries and no bracket so I may start sorting it out (and the connection is gone finicky on the lead, where the coiled piece joins the straight piece, so lightforce needs some TLC)

dwighet

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

I have made several attempts at sowing, as I am long sighted I find it a pain in the rear end.

I never suffered from glare from the lamp (lightforce, however I use a red or amber filter)

And I ca't find the poxy mounting bracket as I took it off when doing work on rifle and "put it somewhere safe" so safe I can't find it!

now that the nights are drawing in I might do a bit more lamping.
I have two flat deben batteries and no bracket so I may start sorting it out (and the connection is gone finicky on the lead, where the coiled piece joins the straight piece, so lightforce needs some TLC)

sowing(seeding fields)
sewing(stitching together cloth)
stag(sika)
buck(fallow)

Tackleberrywho

dwighet wrote: »

sowing(seeding fields)
sewing(stitching together cloth)
stag(sika)
buck(fallow)

Australian= wannabe English man:p

Cass

Pay back time.

A useful site Tack, www.dictionary.com

Tackleberrywho

ezridax wrote: »

Pay back time.

A useful site Tack, www.dictionary.com

Well is that correct Ezridax


You look good in the pic, although they say the Camera adds 10lbs

I'll remember all this next time I shoot a fallow "stag" rip my trousers climbing the fence in the freshly sewed field and need a good seamstress.

Did you and D ever consider stand up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhmjnYKlVnM

Cass

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

............. although they say the Camera adds 10lbs

Better than this and just how many cameras are on you so.

Did you and D ever consider stand

I'm statler, dwight is Waldorf.

dwighet

Nice couple of foxes there John....
Keep up the good work Bud..

Tackleberrywho

Sorry for derailing thread JG.
P.S like the camo tape on the mod, it's amazing how trends start.;)

clivej

Good shooting again John. What caller are you now using as you sold one on here a while back.

Did you cover the back of the mod to stop the reflection back to the scope?

kay 9

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

I have made several attempts at sowing, as I am long sighted I find it a pain in the rear end.

I never suffered from glare from the lamp (lightforce, however I use a red or amber filter)

And I ca't find the poxy mounting bracket as I took it off when doing work on rifle and "put it somewhere safe" so safe I can't find it!

now that the nights are drawing in I might do a bit more lamping.
I have two flat deben batteries and no bracket so I may start sorting it out (and the connection is gone finicky on the lead, where the coiled piece joins the straight piece, so lightforce needs some TLC)

I have a spare lightforce mounting bracket laying around Tack if it's any use to you? I had it on the 22wmr but don't lamp with much anymore.

johngalway

No6 wrote: »

What Caller are you using John, I find with the foxes around here once you start squeaking they just bugger off 8 or 9 times out of 10!! It's only the young ones that come in.

clivej wrote: »

Good shooting again John. What caller are you now using as you sold one on here a while back.

Callmaster digital caller, also known as Mini Colibri/Tecnoest. The important bit is the chip which came with it from decoying.co.uk.

ezridax wrote: »

On that topic John i had a similar problem years ago and fixed it with the following.

A mirage band or piece of elastic strap bought from any fabric store.

2" wide is plenty. I got a piece of wire coat hanger and cut it to shape around the front mount. I stitched it to the band. I then attached the other end of the fabric band to a plastic clip.
or

This plastic clip sits on the barrel right behind where the mod finishes on the barrel. Now the stainless barrel cannot pick up any glare from the light which was the problem for me. I too thought it was the mod, but trial and error discovered that it was "residual" glare from the barrel.

The whole thing cost less than €5 to make. I also used a fabric backed tape ...............


............... to "line" the coat hanger wire and side of the clip that made contact with the barrel to prevent scratching and wear and tear.

Its only a fiver and about 30 minutes of your time, plus if it doesn't eliminate your glare problem it will cut out any mirage issues.

PS - Nice work on charlie.

Not sure where to start with that Ez, lol. I've got a couple more ideas in mind and if all else fails

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

P.S like the camo tape on the mod, it's amazing how trends start.;)

clivej wrote: »

Did you cover the back of the mod to stop the reflection back to the scope?

If ye look in the first photo all the mod, including the back is covered in wrap. I removed it soon after as I felt is made things worse. When I have time again I'll re-wrap it and also the barrel to see if that helps any.

I've got a second 18cm flower pot here ready to go under the knife...

Tackleberrywho

kay 9 wrote: »

I have a spare lightforce mounting bracket laying around Tack if it's any use to you? I had it on the 22wmr but don't lamp with much anymore.

Savage, I'll take you up on that

kerryman12

John

not telling you how to suck eggs but .....

try the sock first dude its

cheaper
more effective
less cunmbersum
faster to install/remove
and it works

kay 9

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

Savage, I'll take you up on that

SOund tack, I'll get back to ya this eve. Have to go work now.

Tackleberrywho

kay 9 wrote: »

SOund tack, I'll get back to ya this eve. Have to go work now.

Thankfully I'm off for the next few days, in Sunday though

I'm an awful man at losing yokes.

The lightforce needs a bit of use, she was used very little in the last year or so

custom 7mm08

Hey guys went out last night to shoot some foxes for my neighbour on a farm where a syndicate shoot. i borrowed my mates tikka 223. didnt think it would be good first field saw one running like the clappers across the field. went into the next scetion walking up a path picked one up about 100mtrs shot him in the chest.was walking back when i picked up another one about 400mtrs walked into about 60mtrs straight between the eyes. the last i picked up with my head lamp just above the yard he took off. i went into the field lay down he stopped up on a bank again between the eyes. this was my first time shooting them with a 223 i must say what fun very accurate. no pics will try and get some later

poulo6.5

custom 7mm08 wrote: »

Hey guys went out last night to shoot some foxes for my neighbour on a farm where a syndicate shoot. i borrowed my mates tikka 223. didnt think it would be good first field saw one running like the clappers across the field. went into the next scetion walking up a path picked one up about 100mtrs shot him in the chest.was walking back when i picked up another one about 400mtrs walked into about 60mtrs straight between the eyes. the last i picked up with my head lamp just above the yard he took off. i went into the field lay down he stopped up on a bank again between the eyes. this was my first time shooting them with a 223 i must say what fun very accurate. no pics will try and get some later

Welcom to the club. I love my .223 as a caliber it's a joy to shoot and don't mind what they say about it's affective range of 250y. A couple of weeks ago I shot a fox at 365 m stone dead. And I have shot steel plate out to 500y and more.
I have and had several other cal's but my fav is .223.
And my rifle is a tikka

johngalway

365m, nothing wrong with that shooting Poulo

My mate is getting a scope in his rifle now, finally got it out of him that (apparently) I can't be the "only ****** having fun around here" Suits me down to the ground, a bit of pressure off at the busy times!

poulo6.5

johngalway wrote: »

365m, nothing wrong with that shooting Poulo

My mate is getting a scope in his rifle now, finally got it out of him that (apparently) I can't be the "only ****** having fun around here" Suits me down to the ground, a bit of pressure off at the busy times!

ya it was a good shot alright. my self and gentlemanjim were practicing all day up on the "range" so it was as a result of plenty of practice.
it was in a big massive field that curves away down and then back up about 700-800m long and almost as wide again and plenty of fields off in the back of that again.
this fellow was sitting in the shallow of the dip about 400m from the road, we were in about 50-60 metres trying to call him back up to us but he was having none of it
so i said i had nothing to loose as he was already lamp shy and if i miss him it was going straight into the ground as i was shooting down.
so i sat down on the grass opened the 26" harris bypod and took aim, guessing i held the cross hairs about half a mildot above his head.
you know the sound affects by now i'm sure but it took a second longer and the thump was not as loud as usual so i was optimistic that it was successful.
i had it marked against the tree line in the distance so of i went counting as i went first 100 ok second 100 i was thinking its not much further now, third 100 and i was loosing faith in the shot.
curiously i kept walking and at about 340 paces i could see a shape appear
and i arrived after 365 paces i arived at the young dog fox still facing in my direction. it just keeled over in its sitting position,

in order to qualify my estimation of distance, earlier that day we ranged a manhole lid that i paced out to 250 was actually 280yards, and a deer silhouette that i paced out 400 was actually 450yared.
so to say it was 365m as apposed to yards is conservative i think.

Tackleberrywho

Well done Paulo.
That hawke scope is serving you well

poulo6.5

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

Well done Paulo.
That hawke scope is serving you well

i told you it was a good one. and only €350. spanking new out of the box:D

Tackleberrywho

poulo6.5 wrote: »

i told you it was a good one. and only €350. spanking new out of the box:D

Is it an illum reticle?


I find illum horrid handy at night, the only thing handier is having a good lamp man to do all the Donkey work;)

poulo6.5

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

Is it an illum reticle?


I find illum horrid handy at night, the only thing handier is having a good lamp man to do all the Donkey work;)

yes it does red and green and bright adjustable. 6-24x56. mill dot ret. target turrets, 30mm tube.
its all you could ask for in a scope. and cheep as chips.
i use it lamping all the time and never need to use the IR as i can see the cross hairs clearly but its there if you want it;)

nightforce eah!!:p

Tackleberrywho

poulo6.5 wrote: »

yes it does red and green and bright adjustable. 6-24x56. mill dot ret. target turrets, 30mm tube.
its all you could ask for in a scope. and cheep as chips.
i use it lamping all the time and never need to use the IR as i can see the cross hairs clearly but its there if you want it;)

nightforce eah!!:p

I'd never use mine without illum, having said that mine has a very fine reticle. i might go for a madra Rua before dark.
And between the showers

poulo6.5

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

I'd never use mine without illum, having said that mine has a very fine reticle. i might go for a madra Rua before dark.
And between the showers

go on you know you want to

Tackleberrywho

poulo6.5 wrote: »

go on you know you want to

No madra rua, but i did get these babies

Not a great pic almost dark and wet but Job done

poulo6.5

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

No madra rua, but i did get these babies

Not a great pic almost dark and wet but Job done

that .22lr you have for shooting bunnies looks just like the .308 you have for shooting deer:rolleyes:

Tackleberrywho

You must be mistaken, thats a CZ .22lr with Subs