Choices, choices!

[The Duncan 802]

I'm struggling a bit here guys.

 

I reckon its about time I got a centrefire or two added to the armoury, first for a dedicated foxing rifle, and second a deer/boar rifle.

My FEO (who knows sweet FA about rifles) has said that any CF I get will come with a mentoring condition, so I reckon I might as well go for a .223 and .308 at the same time for my next variation.

Any comments/suggestions about the suggested calibres?

 

ATB

 

Duncan

[JonathanKent 16]

Rather than going for two rifles have you thougth of going for one rifle that does both jobs? I know it can split oppinion (especially on the bigger species) but what about the good old .243??

 

It can throw a lighter bullet faster and flatter than the .223 and on the heavier stuff its legal for all deer species in blighty.

 

I would also suggest your FEO would be more likely to grant you one calibre than two and if you spend the cash on one rifle, scope & Mod set up your going to get something better than splitting the cash over two rifles?

 

ATB

Jonno

[GRAM71 29]

i think you've answered your own question there dunc, probably the most popular centrefire calibres around are those two, readily available ammo, and accurate with the right set up. go on, fill ya boots

[GRAM71 29]

Rather than going for two rifles have you thougth of going for one rifle that does both jobs? I know it can split oppinion (especially on the bigger species) but what about the good old .243??

 

It can throw a lighter bullet faster and flatter than the .223 and on the heavier stuff its legal for all deer species in blighty.

 

I would also suggest your FEO would be more likely to grant you one calibre than two and if you spend the cash on one rifle, scope & Mod set up your going to get something better than splitting the cash over two rifles?

 

ATB

Jonno

i think he mentioned wild boar aswell tho, might want something a bit bigger than a 243 for that, although if it was just deer and fox on the other hand.....

[coldweld 65]

won't get deer or boar unless you have access to shoot both.

[Rake aboot 4,936]

222 and .700 holland and holland nitro express,

 

 

That should cover it.

[matt_hooks 188]

The .308 is perfectly good for all the species mentioned, or a .270, which is the minimum suggested for boar (though a .243 WILL kill them) The .270 will kill anything in the UK with ease, and the added benefit of having a fair few second hand rigs around at sensible prices as it's not a fashionable calibre.

[Rake aboot 4,936]

The .308 is perfectly good for all the species mentioned, or a .270, which is the minimum suggested for boar (though a .243 WILL kill them) The .270 will kill anything in the UK with ease, and the added benefit of having a fair few second hand rigs around at sensible prices as it's not a fashionable calibre.

 

Why is that Matt ?? is 270 one off those fast burn out barrel calibres??

[matt_hooks 188]

Not particularly Rake, no real reason why it's out of fashion, just the way it goes.

[SportingShooter 0]

I do find the .270 a little heavy on the shoulder when its unmodded and zeroing it but when you're actually stalking the likelihood of you firing more than one or even two rounds in succession isn't high.

 

Obviously that begs the question as to whether he'd be granted a .270 for Fox. Some shooters I know have "occasional Fox" alongside their Deer conditions.

[matt_hooks 188]

I don't know what Beds police give. Shame he's not in TVP area, he'd get AOLQ automatically, and .270 is definitely legal on foxes!

[The Duncan 802]

I don't know what Beds police give. Shame he's not in TVP area, he'd get AOLQ automatically, and .270 is definitely legal on foxes!

I am in TVP , got Sue Curryer as FEO.

Thanks for all the replies everyone, its still a tough choice; ideally I'd rather just have one CF to get used to and become good with and I reckon going after boar/feral pig would be infrequent to say the least. Fox would be regular, and munty's and CWD, roe and red less often, but more often than the porkers.

I'm a big bag of 'dunno'.

[markha 99]

7mm is the way forward

[dave1372 83]

Go gor a 6.5x55 .....it is another calibre that wil do it all.

[SportingShooter 0]

I don't know what Beds police give. Shame he's not in TVP area, he'd get AOLQ automatically, and .270 is definitely legal on foxes!

 

In fact I've heard some FEOs say that anything over a .243 is overkill, to me dead is dead. I'm thinking along the lines of whether they'd grant one specifically for Fox, Deer & Boar.

 

Only one way to find out.