shotguns for fox's

[mjr88 50]

Hi all.

 

Since joining THL i've read that a lot of people seem to use their shotguns on foxs .

I have never used a shotgun to kill a fox and am just curious how you guys get into range to do this.

 

All the people i know that are into fox control use Centrefire rifles such as .223 , .225 , for long range shots , with the possibility of a .22 at ranges out to about 75 / 85 yards.

 

Surely the spread of shotgun lead ( unless you are on top of old charlie ) would result in injury and slow death.

Or maybe you guys use your shotguns for dispatch purposes ,

 

John

[patdahat 41]

until my budy go his rifel we used the shotgun all the time, i have called foxes in as close as 3 yards but wouldn't take a chance at firing a one over 50 yards. 3" AAA were very affective.

[flytie 1]

When keepering on the shoot I have found it amazing how many times I have encountered foxes at close range. But this has mainly been when walking through, or to, woodland. So if you are round the release pens or any other abundant food source foxes are likely to be close enough to shoot with a shotgun. If foxing properly i would use a centrefire.

 

ft

[SportingShooter 0]

Shotguns kill Foxes perfectly well if you are within their effective range using suitable shot.

 

One of the most common combinations is 36gr of BB shot, through 1/2-3/4 choke out to 40 yards.

 

If you stick to this, then the Fox will go down.

 

40 yards is about the maximum effective range in terms of effectiveness and humane despatch.

 

Anything over this and the centrefire if the tool of the trade. Its amazing how many Foxes are in shotgun range when you come across them.

[ezzy6.5 0]

Last year I shot 11 foxes with a shotgun (10 with my Berretta 687 and 1 with a Benelli sa) all exept 1 were on fox drives and all were killed stone dead.

furthest was probably 30 yds and closest was no more than 5 yds running straight at me, 3/4 choke and 36gm 1s. Never had much joy calling them into a shotgun (lots of lamping around here makes them a bit shy).

Shot this one a couple of weeks ago while training the dog, i'd shot the rabbit and was praising the dog for being steady when I turned around charlie

ran out of the hedge (no more than 15 yds away) so i shot him with my 3/4choke barrel with a 36gm 5 dead as a nit.

 

 

Ezzy.

[mjr88 50]

Thanks for all your replys.

 

Maybe one day i'll get a chance to shoot old charlie with my 12g ,

 

John

[bobby b 0]

10 gauge 3 1/2" 70 gram AAA awsome.

[hiho 5]

10 gauge 3 1/2" 70 gram AAA awsome.

Is there much recoil

[SportingShooter 0]

10 gauge 3 1/2" 70 gram AAA awsome.

Is there much recoil

The gun will weigh about 10lbs to start with!

 

I have had the pleasure of firing one though, superbly dusted clay if I do say so myself with 64gr of shot

[nepolean77 0]

Using a shotgun for a fox you really need a choke to keep the shot together my trick is when I am loading shells for hogs or foxes is to pour hot wax in with the buckshot it keeps the shot together longer.a rifle much better choice for foxes.

[Born Hunter 17,751]

Using a shotgun for a fox you really need a choke to keep the shot together my trick is when I am loading shells for hogs or foxes is to pour hot wax in with the buckshot it keeps the shot together longer.a rifle much better choice for foxes.

 

That sounds fecking dangerous! lol. Heard of it being done on the old deer drives, but feck that.

[SportingShooter 0]

Using a shotgun for a fox you really need a choke to keep the shot together my trick is when I am loading shells for hogs or foxes is to pour hot wax in with the buckshot it keeps the shot together longer.a rifle much better choice for foxes.

Its also illegal to do so in the UK.

 

Apart from that, there is something fundamentally wrong in choking a gun up when using heavy loads.

 

If you put a heavy load, through a tight constriction you get more flyers, damaged pellets and holes in the pattern leading to a completely blown and unpredictable spread.

 

It is not only shortening your effective range, but also making sure that there are less pellets at the receiving end to do the job.

 

Full is too much choke for a heavy load, much better to find a medium between 1/2 and 3/4, which is why I shoot 5/8.