Foxing F-Up!

Robotack

I went out yesterday evening in lovely sunshine to bag some bunnies with my buddy and my .17hmr. I was on the rifle, he was using a spotting scope as long range and long grass makes them tricky to spot in this particular field.

I shot one at 50ish yards, then another at 100 to 120ish yards, then about 150 yards away to my right we see a really large fox with very black paws just rambling about. I adjusted the rifle, took a nice shot and MISS... I notice a clump of ragworth weed about 5 feet away from my muzzel swaying which I can only assume sent my light 17gr bullet off course.

The fox legged it and I resided myself to a missed opportunity... I put the rifle back on the bunny warren and here's another, much smaller fox helping himself to the rabbit I'd just shot at 120yards. I took a very calm neck shot, the fox feckin ducked like he was in a war movie and the round splashed just behind him but must have parted the fur on his neck. He too legged it having dropped the rabbit, and went out of sight and suddenly popped up again about 10 yards in front of me. I couldnt believe it and a combination of my 9 times zoom at such close range and utter surprise made for miss number 3!!!

Never been so annoyed in my life! Rant complete.


Oh yeah.... all the foxes and gunfire meant the bunnies all disappeared too, so 2 was the tally for the evening.

dicky82

ah i love missing foxes. hitting them is so over rated, especially now were expected to dissect them. nothing like squeak, bang, b****x. :rolleyes:

Vegeta

You certainly learn more from these events. Chalk it up as a learning experience, alter your set-up or method and you'll smoke the next one.

garv123

The v-max bullet is so light it can blow up if it hits a blade of grass on the way to the target. you really do need nothing between you and the target.

**** happens people miss. I missed a fox myself on monday.. Was making my dinner and just as it was near done I spotter him 3 fields away out my back window..Grabbed the hmr and off i ran up the road to get into the field with the spuds on the ring and chicken in the oven. The place was soaking wet and could only rest standing on a stake. Was out of breath, rushing and rushed the shot. Absolutely stupid on my part and the fox never knew i was there. Shot went under his chest and off he ran.

I hate using stakes as a rest as is but rushing a 100yard shot out of breath was just stupid on my behalf.

lessons learned.

Robotack

I too rushed a little. I mean I took a rabbit at 252 yards with the hmr in the same field a few weeks ago. The blood is definitely up when I meet a fox in daylight in contrast to the routine nature of taking bunnies. I won't rush next time.

jap gt

garv123 wrote: »

The v-max bullet is so light it can blow up if it hits a blade of grass on the way to the target. you really do need nothing between you and the target.

**** happens people miss. I missed a fox myself on monday.. Was making my dinner and just as it was near done I spotter him 3 fields away out my back window..Grabbed the hmr and off i ran up the road to get into the field with the spuds on the ring and chicken in the oven. The place was soaking wet and could only rest standing on a stake. Was out of breath, rushing and rushed the shot. Absolutely stupid on my part and the fox never knew i was there. Shot went under his chest and off he ran.

I hate using stakes as a rest as is but rushing a 100yard shot out of breath was just stupid on my behalf.

lessons learned.

was your din ok at least:D

garv123

jap gt wrote: »

was your din ok at least:D

Quiet tasty the dog was watching it for me

Robotack

garv123 wrote: »

Quiet tasty the dog was watching it for me

A half positive result so

ssl

You should get a .22lr

Robotack

ssl wrote: »

You should get a .22lr

If they're available in full auto, belt fed with 200rd belts, then I might have hit him.

quicko

Robotack wrote: »

I too rushed a little. I mean I took a rabbit at 252 yards with the hmr in the same field a few weeks ago. The blood is definitely up when I meet a fox in daylight in contrast to the routine nature of taking bunnies. I won't rush next time.

Wow that's great shooting with the hmr 252 yrds, I would love to shoot hmr at those ranges but wouldn't be sure of the drop etc. how much hold over do you need to hit a rabbit at 252 yrds?.

kildare.17hmr

quicko wrote: »

Wow that's great shooting with the hmr 252 yrds, I would love to shoot hmr at those ranges but wouldn't be sure of the drop etc. how much hold over do you need to hit a rabbit at 252 yrds?.

get a load of taregts and set them up from 50-300 yards and figure it out. thats the best way to learn and keep notes of it. i have a small laminated drop chart i keep tucked in the elastic sleave that holds bullets on the stock of my rifle which helps

Dachipster

Robotack wrote: »

I too rushed a little. I mean I took a rabbit at 252 yards with the hmr in the same field a few weeks ago. The blood is definitely up when I meet a fox in daylight in contrast to the routine nature of taking bunnies. I won't rush next time.

I agree, great shooting. What sort of setup are you using? What mag are you using?

Robotack

I actually ranged that shot after I took it. I just kind of know that field if you get me. I never actually realised it was so far. I've since missed a few at that range. No wind is essential with the hmr for accuracy at that range.

There's some good info here http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/rimfire.aspx?id=367

As for my holdover... I reckon 3-5 inches above the tips of his ears. I didn't really take too much note as I really wasnt expecting him to drop.

I repeated the shot minus 2 yards a few days after with the .243. The rabbit went about a foot into the air, did an airborne spin and landed. Then he crawled away after getting a smack of a 100gr soft point. Maybe it just clipped him or something. It's gas because the tiny hmr killed him dead at the same range plus 2 yards.

Robotack

Dachipster wrote: »

I agree, great shooting. What sort of setup are you using? What mag are you using?

CZ452 with a Swift Reliant 3-9x40 & Deben Bi-Pod. Magazine or magnification? 10rd plastic & 5rd metal mag, and at that range I max out to 9x zoom.

Dachipster

Thanks Robo.

Sorry, I meant magnification. That is a great shot. I have a CZ452 with a 3.5-10x50 leupold and harris bipod. I was out the other evening and after reading this I realise I need to get in alot more practice as I was looking at bunnies at 210yards, which I did not even attempt.