picking new calibre

egan04921

Lads I want to swap my .22 I have at the moment but I'm completely lost on what calibre to go for next. I shoot mainly foxes and some rabbits so I was thinking a .17hmr but was told there no good in wind. I thought of a .223 or 22-250 but might be to big for what I shoot. Any idea's......

zlezlius

223 for what you need it, the way to go IMO. Great on foxes, will do rabbits, headshots only if for the pot though. Cheap enough to run, good choise of rifles, ammo and resale value.

yubabill1

223 FMJ will kill rabbits by shock alone at any range you can hit them (preferably in vitals).

FMJ start at around 7.50 for cheap Rooskie fodder to around 13.00 for US manufacture, buying single boxes.

Choice of ammo for foxes is overwhelming and I wish you lots of fun trying them out.

Personally, I found combinations of FMJ and expanding ammos which shoot to practically the same POI in my rifle, so I just pick the appropriate round for the job, load it and with c.1" high @ 100, out to 150 you don't really have to worry about flight characteristics for rabbits and quite a bit further than that for foxes.

It's the choice of ammo that makes it so versatile.

Gormley85

yubabill1 wrote: »

223 FMJ will kill rabbits by shock alone at any range you can hit them (preferably in vitals).

FMJ start at around 7.50 for cheap Rooskie fodder to around 13.00 for US manufacture, buying single boxes.

Choice of ammo for foxes is overwhelming and I wish you lots of fun trying them out.

Personally, I found combinations of FMJ and expanding ammos which shoot to practically the same POI in my rifle, so I just pick the appropriate round for the job, load it and with c.1" high @ 100, out to 150 you don't really have to worry about flight characteristics for rabbits and quite a bit further than that for foxes.

It's the choice of ammo that makes it so versatile.

Where do you get them? Are they any good? The cheapest .223 I can find are american eagles and generally pay around the 12 euro a box.

Gormley85

You have a lot of options for a fox caliber. The majority of lads say get a 223 but if you want to try something a bit differentyou could get a 204. Its a great round and would highly recommend it.

yubabill1

Gormley85 wrote: »

You have a lot of options for a fox caliber. The majority of lads say get a 223 but if you want to try something a bit differentyou could get a 204. Its a great round and would highly recommend it.

You'll get Tulammo FMJ in Atlantic Carlow 7.50 per box of 20 or 3 boxes for 20.00

http://atlanticshootingandfishing.ie/

You'll get a better deal for quantity.

the Tulammo is OK - certainly good enough for rabbits and rocks.

On a good day I can get 0.5" groups @ 100 with them, on a bad day approaching 2"

You will get maybe 1 or 2 dud rounds in 100 - I've personally only had 2 duds in 2 years: One round had a badly-finished lip and wouldn't feed, the other didn't ignite after the second try, so it got discarded.

I have a suspicion they will take a fox, because they are a curious manufacture - one of these days I will shoot one into a large container of water - I'm expecting them to fragment after a distance.

They don't frag with rabbit body shots side-on, (they make a mess if you send one along the spine (so will any FMJ)) but they don't leave a knitting-needle wound like other FMJ's, either.

Just don't expect much precision beyond 150m for rabbits. If your rifle is a slower twist (1 in 12 - the most common) then you might be better sticking to less than 100 for rabbits using Tulammo.

I like them because I hate the idea of expensive ammo, but then I'm a mean old so-and-so.

I would like to get some of the new Hornady Steel Match FMJ, which can be got (when available ) for 25.00 for 50 rounds - reading good reports here about them, but have not bought yet.

Liam_D

I'm waiting on my ticket to come back for a .22 hornet. What I've read about them is that they'll push a 35grain vmax at 3000 fps or shoot cast lead bullets at much lower velocities. I'll be getting my rifle in the next month or two and I have gathered most of the gear to reload for the rifle, I know it may be more restrictive for you guys but having previously had and loaded for .222 I can load for .22hornet at 25p per shot where the .222 was twice the price and about 70p a shot for factory. It's also regarded as being not much louder than moderated .17hmr. It's a round that has been around a long time but has gone out of fashion much like the .222 but can be an incredibly accurate low recoil handy calibre.

meathstevie

Liam_D wrote: »

I'm waiting on my ticket to come back for a .22 hornet. What I've read about them is that they'll push a 35grain vmax at 3000 fps or shoot cast lead bullets at much lower velocities. I'll be getting my rifle in the next month or two and I have gathered most of the gear to reload for the rifle, I know it may be more restrictive for you guys but having previously had and loaded for .222 I can load for .22hornet at 25p per shot where the .222 was twice the price and about 70p a shot for factory. It's also regarded as being not much louder than moderated .17hmr. It's a round that has been around a long time but has gone out of fashion much like the .222 but can be an incredibly accurate low recoil handy calibre.

I've shot loads of rabbits and foxes at distances ranging from 20 to 150+ meters with an Anschutz .22 Hornet ( it happened to like Remington 45gr hp's ). It's a very soft recoil, low noise caliber that in my opinion doesn't require a mod at all. Headshots for rabbits and boiler room for foxes and you'll be grand.