I need to fill a 223 sized gap....

[Effortless 0]

I have the rimfires covered for my rabbiting etc, and then a big jump to 308 and 303 (and thence on to 458 Lott, but that's another story).

 

One of the farmers over whose land I shoot has OK'd me to shoot a couple of foxes for him, but I'm a bit wary of using 22LR for fox. I know that many on here have the confidence to shoot foxes with this calibre, but they're probably much better shots than me, and probably much better a stalking prey than me!

 

I'd quite like a 223, but which one? I have always been someone who loves fine sporting guns (I worked at H&H for 4 years... the gun room is lovely!!), with all their fine wood and deep bluing, and I was always a bit critical of the military style stuff that was around.

 

But I find myself getting more and more interested in the M16 / AR-15 style rifles around, like the Decade Corp and Sabre M4.

 

3 questions...

 

1. Are these styles of rifles accurate enough for pest control? Always preferred bolt rifles as I thought triggers were better.

 

2. Has anyone on here had any experience of these styles of rifles, and do they have any recommendations?

 

3. Am I likely to get an FAC slot for one of these rifles, for pest control?

 

Hope you can help,

Effortless.

[Guest JohnGalway]

1. Yes, I know a member of another forum had an AR style .223 for foxing and always gets good results. However it\'ll be very heavy so most likely won\'t suit as a walk about rifle. He got his from.... Southers someone or other (I think - I\'m not being deliberately vague!). I\'m sure another member will be along to complete that name.

 

2. Nope sorry, I don\'t own one so don\'t feel i should comment.

 

3. I don\'t see why not.

 

Edited to add, that name is Southern Gun Company and it was indeed an AR-15.

 

Here\'s a photo of it and some results - robbed off the other forum for informational purposes.

 

[FJager 0]

1. Yes they are accurate enough for pest control, but generally a bolt gun will have the accuracy edge because of the stronger action, the rifles you are looking at though will do the job quite well though.

 

2. Used most makes out there and most perform very well with regular cleaning, the Ruger Mini 14 while not really a military job is semi-auto and is VERY accurate and reliable, if you go for an AR-15 type try and keep away from any older military surplus ones as most are too worn out and rattly to be of much use, but as you are probably aware there are some great models out there these days.

 

3. Can't help there sorry, I'm in Aust.

[rob reynolds uk 3]

iv shot one many years back and i thought then why do you need or want one of theses to shoot a fox ?..its one for the army boys i think ,the farmers eyes will raise when you pull that out of he rifle case and if some body was to see you walking round a field i think the police would be on there way real soon ..do you need the hassel i no i dont