advice on a rimfire

[CHUCKY 0]

im looking to buy a rimfire for rabbits and if need be take out foxs and was wondering which one would you recommend i want to spend about £250 i dont mind if it is secondhand cheers chucky

[wife 1]

im looking to buy a rimfire for rabbits and if need be take out foxs and was wondering which one would you recommend i want to spend about £250 i dont mind if it is secondhand cheers chucky

 

Hi Chucky

 

Firstly a rimfire should not be used for fox control, its not powerfull enough except very close up, you really need a centrefire rifle for fox, especially at any distance over 40 yards, you can kill fox's with a .22 but a lot get wounded, and no one wants that.

 

A .22 is ideal for rabbits, squirrels, crows etc at anything up to 75 yards, if you use a moderator(silencer) it cuts down the noise a lot.

 

I would say go for a CZ style, its got a synthetic stock, and a stainless type barrel, you can get them with a 16" barrel which is ideal , there's no loss of power or accuracy with that length barrel. I would use Eley ammo, all the CZ's I have fired go well with them, Remington is ok too, don't buy CI, they don't go well at all.

 

IF you go for a centrefire, you might have some trouble getting one on your licence, but if you can get one approved, go for either A CZ again, or a HOWA, both are very good value, about £500 - £600 but accurate,. The telescopic sights will cost you a bit, you can spend more on the sights than the rifle!

 

Most people go for a .223 because as long as you buy a rifle with the correct "twist rate" on the barrel it will take ex military ammo which can work out cheaper, but a lot of people "reload" there own.

[CHUCKY 0]

thanks wife i would only really be using it for rabbits ect dont like shooting foxs but have a bit of land that dont allow dogs on so thought it would do for there ive heard that them cz rifles are dead on so ill take a trip to my gun dealer. cheers chucky

[hecmac 0]

im looking to buy a rimfire for rabbits and if need be take out foxs and was wondering which one would you recommend i want to spend about £250 i dont mind if it is secondhand cheers chucky

 

 

CZ 452 .17 HMR falls nicely in your price bracket. My own ability allows me to use this rifle to safely dispatch a rabbit upto about 150 yards or so. There will be plenty out there that would argue that 200 yards is safe on rabbits and I have no doubt it is, however I am comfortable with about 150 or less.

 

The odd fox would no doubt fall to the rifle to, again, I myself would not attempt a fox at more than 100 yards but there are plenty folk out there that claim 150 -200 yards kills.

 

There are also plenty who would not consider using a rimfire to shoot a fox. If fox is your main quarry I would seek advice from someone who has experience of centre fire rifles . A 22-250 seems to be a popular choice.

 

Hec

[trappa 518]

Ive got a .22 lr cz style and its feckin great. Cannot pick a fault with it, really.

As for fox, its not a "true" fox calibre like the centrefires ( ive got a poll going at the moment) but would not think twice about shooting one up to 50 yards and possibly further as its got the capabilities to take one at this range imo. Cz style mate, great gun , and for the price, hard to better.!

[richie 1]

for the money you want to spend... get your self a cz 452 varmint .22, comes with the heavier barrel.. also screw cut for a moderator. i put a sak on mine & its silent.

 

i use eley subs and they are bang on.. in my personal opinion i wouldnt bother with winchester subs, not accurate in my cz. i stick to what works.

 

pictured is 5 shots at 25 yards bench resting using eley subs.

 

[Ratman2 2]

I've just bought myself a CZ Varmint .22 for Christmas (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it ) It is a superb gun and how they can be made for such little money is beyond me.

As for foxes, a mate of mine regularly drops them with the same type of gun at up to 100yds, yes I know the concensus of opinion is not to use .22 rimfire for foxes but I've witnessed several shots by my mate and not one runner. I strongly believe it's down to shooting skill.

[daz 0]

ive a cz 452 varmint lr.22 cant fault it.you wont go wrong with one mate

[daz 0]

ive a cz 452 varmint lr.22 cant fault it.you wont go wrong with one mate

for fox hunting i went for a tikka 222 brill for the fox but overkill for the rabbits

[martin 332]

Hi Chucky,here is my rimmy.....a Browning 'A' bolt..................

This pic is before I had the barrel shortened by 4".............

 

I don't normally take pics of dead foxes,but,the landowner wanted to see them.I can safely say that I have never had a fox run on after shooting it with my rimfire,and,I have shot an awful lot of foxes. But,I do only take head shots and normally no further out than 50 yds,so,get your fox calling up to scratch and you will be well away...........martin.

[Deker 3,478]

My views tend to fall in line with Martin above but apparently I am quite fortunate having the Fox on my rimmy.

 

As has already been said there has been lots of debate/dispute about fox calibre and much of it is pinned above, take a look.

 

Cheers

 

Deker

[dwighet 1]

thanks wife i would only really be using it for rabbits ect dont like shooting foxs but have a bit of land that dont allow dogs on so thought it would do for there ive heard that them cz rifles are dead on so ill take a trip to my gun dealer. cheers chucky

[/quote

 

Ive been using a CZ 17hmr american for the bunnies here in Ireland.

The 17hmr shoots dead flat to 100 yds and has enough punch to take a fox out to 100.

I personally use my Cz 527 varmint .223 For the fox but have taken several with the 17hmr whilst shooting bunnies with no runners.

[hewi 0]

they all have valid points mate but at the end of the day its up to you and what you wont the rifle to do rimfire all day for rabbits 17hmr in my eyes is to powerful for rabbits but will do a fox 100y just over no probs but for foxes stick 2 centrefire carnt go wrong

Edited December 31, 2007 by hewi