An evening on Martins ground...

[Yokel Matt 918]

I met Martin yesterday evening to have a crack at my first Munty. The ground we were going to stalk on really is a gem, the only potential problem this evening was the wind which was all over the shop. We stalked over to the lay up point where we were going to wait for them to emerge from the thick blackthorn and scrub that fringed the valley the ground was set in, I sat under an ash on one side of a thin belt of cover that split the valley with Martin the other. It was very much a waiting game. I saw a fox moving from the left so I got a bead on it and and whistled gently - it stopped briefly and dropped at my shot at about 160 yards.

 

 

The light really doesn't hang around any more and with it been overcast the light began to fade a lot earlier. Munty's began barking from the thick cover and kept us guessing but refused to come out into the open despite some gentle encouragement

 

Whilst the weather wasn't good for staking it was shaping up well for a spot of lamping - I had an evening pass from the Mrs which is rarely given so Martin very kindly took us to another permission of his some distance away in search of Charlie. Things didn't start well when i missed a sitter from 50 yards. The next one wasn't so lucky has i shot this vixen in the head at around 70 yards

 

 

 

The cloud was pretty patchy but a real low, thick cloud base came in with the wind still swirling in all directions. We caught this dog fox right on the edge of the beam - he wouldn't present a shot initially and totally ignored the call, busy bouncing mice or trying to drum up worms, he finally presented a shot at around yards.

 

 

On the way back to the wagon after some comedy fence crossing this dog fox was spotted laying down with only his head showing in so pasture at only around 50 yards - i missed the bugger twice trying to head shoot him both times. For some reason he stopped a third time and boiler roomed him. He ran off but only got 20 yards and collapsed.

 

 

 

I was using my 6.5x55 with 140gr softpoints - they put fox's down but seemed to lack the splat power needed to turn the light out straight away on a couple of them so i'll be looking for a dedicated fox rifle at some point...................

 

Thanks for a great evening Martin and for doing all the calling and lamp work My patch soon

[dixyhmr 62]

Nice write up and pics

[vimto 0]

Excellent Fox round local and a good choice for "pro" Deer control

[ferretville 69]

Good read and pics local

[martin 332]

I really enjoyed the company mate,it was nice to put a face to name as they say.The 'Comedy fence crossing' actually resulted in a decent hole in my knee which I only realised when I took my strides off....lol.

 

speak soon.....Martin.

[Yokel Matt 918]

Excellent Fox round local and a good choice for "pro" Deer control

 

I do love the caliber, punchy with little recoil. I had to finish off a few of the foxs as although they we down they weren't 'out' - probably just down to my shot placement mind you might get better results when i start home loading...

 

The 'Comedy fence crossing' actually resulted in a decent hole in my knee which I only realised when I took my strides off....lol.

 

you carried it well mate - rather that than the old twig and berries hey

 

cheers fellas - it was a good night

[The one 8,479]

Nice picts and read mate and another few for your tally

[outdoors kid 1]

good write up local

[danebrewer10 6]

uh oh, it looks like i'm dragging this into a calibre debate Bruce Potts wrote an article back in january in the shooting times about the 6.5x55 being the all-round caliber, perfect for anything in this country, i'd suggest that your bullets are deer bullets and the fox isn't thick or heavily built enough to allow them to expand ... so i'd have a look at hodgon's (I know i didn't spell that right) load data or whoever else and try some reloads, BP loaded some 85gn Sierra hollowpoints over 44 grains of Varget or H4895 at 3250 fps or a Hornady 95gn V-Max over 42gn of Alliant RL 15 or the same weight of Vitavouri N150 for 3078 fps with the V-Max dropping 2.6in @ 200yd and 10.5in @ 300yd, these are just figures from the article, but I imagine these bullets at those velocities would do the business! I'd just say change your ammo and then see how it performs!

 

I do not reload or own anything above .17HMR but I read a lot and am especially fond of the 6.5x55 , I have been criticised for giving advice by way of recounting information as I don't have the experience of CF rifles but I feel I am able to because of the source of the information...

 

I hope this will be of some help!!

 

Cheers

DB

 

 

P.S. see if you can get Mr. Logic to give you some tips as I think he reloads and shoots the 6.5x55....

 

 

PPS- what rifle do you have? is it a Sauer?

Edited October 8, 2009 by danebrewer10

[martyn789 0]

Nice write up and pics mate

[vimto 0]

Dane you`d do better looking for tips off someone who really use`s the 6.5x55 like Brucey Boy suggests

I`m surprised Local that the 140g did`nt come up with the splat value you were looking for may i suggest you try the lower weight Varmint heads which have thinner jackets which are designed for quick fragmentation on smaller targets. The 140g are designed for thin skinned game such as Antelope, Mule Deer and Bear (what it say`s on the Federal box

Or go the whole hog and choose a designated ultimate fox round in the 243 calibre.

 

[martin 332]

Dane you`d do better looking for tips off someone who really use`s the 6.5x55 like Brucey Boy suggests

I`m surprised Local that the 140g did`nt come up with the splat value you were looking for may i suggest you try the lower weight Varmint heads which have thinner jackets which are designed for quick fragmentation on smaller targets. The 140g are designed for thin skinned game such as Antelope, Mule Deer and Bear (what it say`s on the Federal box

Or go the whole hog and choose a designated ultimate fox round in the 243 calibre.

 

 

Thats a lumpy old charlie you're toting there Vim mate,and,I wouldn't personally use hollow points for foxes,I would usually go for the V-Max through my .204 in 40grn,but,if I have been out stalking and then onto a bit of a lamp I am very happy with the stopping power of the 100grn Remington Core-Lokt in .243.

As Mr. Vim says,as an all round rifle you do have to go a very long way to better the .243.By the way Vim Dropper had a big dog fox with my rifle tonight and will no doubt relay the info to all sometime this weekend(he was worth weighing)..........Martin.

[vimto 0]

He sure was an old lump of a Fox Marty and going from his battered appearance it was obvious that he`d been worked by a Terrier. Over several months he was affectionately know as Stumpy due to him having only a short bob of a tail. Probably pulled off by the Terrier? He was easily recognised and was seen on a regular basis in the area.

That gun i had at the time was indeed a 243 and killed more stuff than smallpox well nearly. I used 100g for everything through it.

Where as the 6.5 i used 85g Sierra HP and vhit N150 for the foxes and believe me that combination has stopped some stuff.

I like the v-max stuff they do a 95g in 6.5 but feck me there expensive,lol.

The 40g v-max Marty is plenty enough

[Yokel Matt 918]

DB

 

You’re right mate – the rifle is a Sauer 202 - haven’t had it long and, apart from the safety being in a stupid place, I can’t fault it... which is annoying as i can't blame it when i miss

 

Vim

 

I’ve been thinking about those lighter loads but bought a job-lot of the 140’s at a silly price and wasn’t too keen to have two different rounds encase I had to keep adjusting the zero – to be honest I’ve never tried the lighter ones as fox’s are more of a target of opportunity for me and I wasn’t sure what they’d be like on deer. I’ve always thought the 140’s put a big enough hole in them until I had to give Coup de grace to two on this outing – like I say it probably more down to my shot placement… I’ve got brass coming out my ears now so will start home loading soon – won’t take too long to recoup on £35.95 a box!

 

[vimto 0]

To be straight Local those 140g should hit them like a train. But like you i dropped on some cheap 129g SST`s so there being used for everything at the moment.

I`v had a couple of Sauer 202 Outbacks one i changed because i initially chose the wrong calibre so months later i brought another spanking new 202 in 6.5 only to realise that there not as robust as people believe. The potential problem i`m led to believe has now been rectified in the new Outback models which now have the integral mounting system unlike the older models which had the mount bases screwed on top of the action.

Steel screw`s less than 5mm into an Aluminium action is just asking for trouble and that's why i parted with my last Sauer.

 

A used Gun and not a posturing accessorie like some own..