243 repaired

[Mr_Logic 5]

I got my 243 back last week, been out in Malaysia this week so tonight was the first chance I had to see if it now shoots straight.

 

Took it out this afternoon to see if it would group with 55gr Winchester stuff for foxes. Didn't have a scope I deemed worthy, just the one from my target rifle, which isn't needed until March. So I slapped that on beforehand, and then boresighted it when I got out to the ground this afternoon.

 

Wasn't planning on lamping really but took the gear in case it performed well.

 

10 shots or so later it was shooting a 1 inch group (and that was with a called flyer, 1st two were on top of each other) in the middle of the bull. Pretty much dark by then so I whacked the lamp on and thought I'd go for a quick wander.

 

As I was starting to get ready I saw a shape some 120 yards in the distance. Looked through the scope, a muntjac. Wasn't in the mood for deer so I carried on getting the lamp ready. Got everything set up and had a shine to see if I could beat the rapidly-fading dusk. Spotted a fox straight away, he scurried to my left, but then stopped. I steadied myself and squeezed the trigger, and just as I did so he moved again. Trigger was pulled by that point though, and he ended up with one in the abdomen.

 

Not an instant kill but when I got there a sizeable hole and he'd only lasted 20 seconds or so. Glad I hit him with a 243 bullet at that point! I was sure that shape had been a munty though so I scanned again, and there, watching proceedings from a hedge, was the muntjac in question. Good! Not going mad

 

I was tempted to leave it there, but I was curious to see how this scope would perform against the S & B that I have on the 223, for the long fox shots that I want to use this rifle for. So I headed for the same bit of the shoot I was on when out with Deker last week.

 

Got there and had a quick look to see how far I could shoot a fox out there. And, sure enough, 2 foxes out there for me to shoot at - who'd have thought it?! First one disappeared into the hedge but the second one sat there, what I thought to be 300 yards away.

 

Foxy was sat down, chest on, looking at me - the best position for when there's no wind and a long shot! Not knowing the drop on the 55gr as yet, I went with a head shot, in the knowledge that the level of drop for 300 would be at worst in the chest. Bang! Whistle... for ages, and ages and ages and ages .... thump! That'll be more than 300 yards then. Too far for the rangefinder, I paced it instead.

 

Got to 380 when I saw a fox in the corner of the field, but unfortunately there's a road there so I couldn't take the shot, especially not with cars coming! I got to 400 but couldn't find the fox. I figure the drop is 15in at 400 yards, so that bullet will have hit, (really really sounded like it) but too low to kill instantly. Had a good hunt for anything but couldn't find it. Didn't manage to shoot the fox in the corner either so don't know if he already had a bullet wound.

 

Cursing, I turned back, and picked up a fox off in the distance. During this time I was still going after Corner Fox, because he'd run into the field next to it. Unfortunately for me, the only time he stopped when I had a clear view, the background was one of the neighbours' cars. Joy! So he got away.

 

The next fox I did manage to see and pick up. This was a 250-300 yard fox. Judging by the length of bullet flight time, it was more like 300, and it was a bloody long way. And that one worked, confirmed longest kill for me, #2 in the bag.

 

I headed round after this, still chasing Corner Fox. Spied one in the field next to one of the houses I shoot for (2 of the neighbours there like their rabbits shot), very close, maybe 50 yards, but in long grass so a standing shot needed. I missed

 

Headed for the car at this point. Spied something in the final shine so it ended up not being the final shine round (how many times does this happen?!?) - headed off into the field to investigate. Eyes turned out to be deer, but then I got some nice bright ones about 60 yards out. I got down ready on the bipod, having just missed one close one I wasn't about to again. At which point the fox darted out of the grass and further back into the field. But he stopped, and I got this one right, heart shot and straight over.

 

Now, seeing as I had 3 down already I figured I'd take the long way round, to get back to the car. Clambered through a barbed wire fence and began to head back, and again, one more shine round. I couldn't believe it but there was ANOTHER fox. Maybe -100 yards. Close enough I'd have shot at it with a 22LR anyway.

 

Aimed for centre-head, squeezed, CRACK! Down goes foxy. I got over there, blood from the mouth and what looked like back of head but he was still breathing. Couldn't believe that, not with a 55gr 243 that close, it's mad! He got one point blank at which point the breathing stopped.

 

The 58gr Norma I had was certainly more destructive, but this stuff seems to work! I decided enough was enough at this point, dumped Charlie in the hedge and went for the car, no more shining as I was knackered (still jet lagged!) and wanted to go home.

 

Couldn't believe the evening 4 confirmed foxes in one evening (only 4 hours too) with one long shot that almost worked. And I could see that far out, which I didn't expect with that scope, and certainly not on full mag, but it was fine. Not brilliant, but definitely acceptable.

 

So I guess my 243 works then

[Shooter08 0]

nice going then mate!

 

down goes foxy

[SportingShooter 0]

I think it works

 

I went for a shine the other night with the .222, I've recently switched ammo and not shot a fox with one yet! Been wanting too but the three times of late I've been out, i've seen sweet FA.

 

I went out in the fog the other night (not intentionally!) and I spied some eyes, one, two, three, four , five, lot of foxes I thought! Bloody sheep.

 

Be a good night out for comparison, you with the .243, Deker with the .22LR Click!, BOooooooooooooM!

 

SS

[weejohn 3]

fantastic going mr_logic, keep us posted if you go back and find the other fox i have yet to try out some winchesters i got in 50g for the 22-250.

[Deker 3,478]

I think it works

 

I went for a shine the other night with the .222, I've recently switched ammo and not shot a fox with one yet! Been wanting too but the three times of late I've been out, i've seen sweet FA.

 

I went out in the fog the other night (not intentionally!) and I spied some eyes, one, two, three, four , five, lot of foxes I thought! Bloody sheep.

 

Be a good night out for comparison, you with the .243, Deker with the .22LR Click!, BOooooooooooooM!

 

SS

 

 

Never ceases to amaze me where they keep coming from, LOADS of fox have been taken from this land this year and still they come.

 

The advantage of shooting in pairs....usually go out with different tools to deal with different circumstances, commonly a mix of rimfire and centrefire or sometimes the shotgun, seems to make sense to cover as many eventualities as possible when out, not a lot of point on the whole in both carrying a .243 or more unless we are specifically after the deer, and I may take the .223 anyway in these circumstances for the Muntjac or bunny etc...!!

[SNAP SHOT 194]

excellent going there, i'd say the bullet drop on the long shot should of been 18 19 inches in all honesty, at 400, or not far of it.

but thats for another day,

i would suggest you have a range finder if you don't have one, As shots past 250 300 yards are very hard to judge at night.....i've been there.....

this is where a lamping partner comes in...

hope to hear you better your longest shot soon.....

And on the subject of ground holding foxes one field in question always has at least one fox in it every time we go to it,

And its a fairly damp field so i'd say they get a quick easy meal from slugs and frogs.......

nice write up..........

[arveyboy 0]

cracking read really enjoyed it