simonl Posted February 17, 2013 Report Share Posted February 17, 2013 Hi, I've decided to get a 223 (definitely a 223 - to keep the thread straight ) I like the idea of shooting at long ranges, but I mustn't get away from my prime requirement, which is foxes up to 250 yards, mostly lamping. Rather than jumping at deciding on the rifle I want, I thought it might be prudent to decide on the best bullet for the job, and then look at twist rate etc so I have a good starting point for choosing the right gun. I've sort of concluded 53gr Vmax is a good candidate, but would like to seek opinions. I'll home load if I have to, but will have to start off on factory. Thanks, Simon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1967spud Posted February 17, 2013 Report Share Posted February 17, 2013 53 is a good place to start Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pork chop Posted February 17, 2013 Report Share Posted February 17, 2013 hi mate i use the 53 vmax in 22br and 223 great bullets but any varmint type bullet will work fine,used allsorts in the past from 40gr to 60gr sp hp vmax all do the job in the right place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pork chop Posted February 17, 2013 Report Share Posted February 17, 2013 What about the 75gr amax? Good for foxes and longer range stuff. 1:8 tikka t3 will shoot them good. If you dont mind handloading that is. Gary dont hornady load 75 amax in the tap range Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pork chop Posted February 17, 2013 Report Share Posted February 17, 2013 Yea never found anywhere over here that stocks them tho? sounds about right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pork chop Posted February 17, 2013 Report Share Posted February 17, 2013 dont hornady load 75 amax in the tap range just checked their site looks like the tap range loads for 223 is the 60 vmax or 75 bthp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onehole Posted February 17, 2013 Report Share Posted February 17, 2013 Yeah,,,,,,,50 vmax,,,52/53 AMax at around 3400 and zero at 200 to just point and shoot out to 250,,,,,easy,,, with 300 a simple hold over if pushed for a quick shot,Once my supply of 50 vmax is expended then I will switch to the Amax, buy as many as I need all same batch and get em posted to my front door. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyhunter Posted February 17, 2013 Report Share Posted February 17, 2013 Any v/a-max 50-60grn will work just fine on fox. I done what onehole is doing, ran out of 50grn v-max so went onto the 52grn a-max posted to my door. Push them along with 26.5grn h4895, tiny groups when I do my bit, zeroed 1.75" high at 100yards, drops back in at 215ish and only 5" low at 300yards and drops them on the spot. When the conditions allow I've shot them accurately (plinking and shooting vermin) out to way beyond what is needed at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbal Posted February 17, 2013 Report Share Posted February 17, 2013 Any v/a-max 50-60grn will work just fine on fox. I done what onehole is doing, ran out of 50grn v-max so went onto the 52grn a-max posted to my door. Push them along with 26.5grn h4895, tiny groups when I do my bit, zeroed 1.75" high at 100yards, drops back in at 215ish and only 5" low at 300yards and drops them on the spot. When the conditions allow I've shot them accurately (plinking and shooting vermin) out to way beyond what is needed at night. Yep-minute of door accuracy over any reasonable delivery range,even better from a rifle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaz6br Posted February 17, 2013 Report Share Posted February 17, 2013 Hi,I've decided to get a 223 (definitely a 223 - to keep the thread straight ) I like the idea of shooting at long ranges, but I mustn't get away from my prime requirement, which is foxes up to 250 yards, mostly lamping. Rather than jumping at deciding on the rifle I want, I thought it might be prudent to decide on the best bullet for the job, and then look at twist rate etc so I have a good starting point for choosing the right gun. I've sort of concluded 53gr Vmax is a good candidate, but would like to seek opinions. I'll home load if I have to, but will have to start off on factory. Thanks, Simon. For up to 250 yards any bullet will do the job fine in the right hands, if it was me id be thinking 40 grain or 50 with some speed behind it, its what me and my mates use for foxing and we kill our fair share and never seem to have a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveK Posted February 17, 2013 Report Share Posted February 17, 2013 They don't like 55gn Vmax very much AT ALL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 Hi,I've decided to get a 223 (definitely a 223 - to keep the thread straight ) I like the idea of shooting at long ranges, but I mustn't get away from my prime requirement, which is foxes up to 250 yards, mostly lamping. Rather than jumping at deciding on the rifle I want, I thought it might be prudent to decide on the best bullet for the job, and then look at twist rate etc so I have a good starting point for choosing the right gun. I've sort of concluded 53gr Vmax is a good candidate, but would like to seek opinions. I'll home load if I have to, but will have to start off on factory. Thanks, Simon. The whole thing will be decided on what you can get in factory locally , which leaves the usual suspects. Shouldn't worry much about twist rates either unless you buy something specialised they will all shoot the std fodder, buy 20 of everything you can get and pick the one that shoots best in your chosen rifle- then buy as many as you can I TOTALLY GARANTEE THE FOXES WILL BE DEAD IF YOU DO YOUR BIT. Better if you buy rounds with good brass and harvest it till you start on those handloads Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yetidude69 Posted March 13, 2013 Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 I was in your situation a couple of yrs back, And iv tried 40/50/53/60gr V-max, 52gr A-max, 40gr bk's and 50gr Nosler silver tips! All are very accurate if you are willing to play around till you find the best load! I still dont have a favourite, and have just ordered 500 50gr Z-max to play with, im guessing they will just be the same as the 50gr V-max.....? atb J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yetidude69 Posted March 13, 2013 Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 I was in your situation a couple of yrs back, And iv tried 40/50/53/60gr V-max, 52gr A-max, 40gr bk's and 50gr Nosler silver tips! All are very accurate if you are willing to play around till you find the best load! I still dont have a favourite, and have just ordered 500 50gr Z-max to play with, im guessing they will just be the same as the 50gr V-max.....? atb J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minkstone Posted March 13, 2013 Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 I was in your situation a couple of yrs back, And iv tried 40/50/53/60gr V-max, 52gr A-max, 40gr bk's and 50gr Nosler silver tips! All are very accurate if you are willing to play around till you find the best load! I still dont have a favourite, and have just ordered 500 50gr Z-max to play with, im guessing they will just be the same as the 50gr V-max.....? atb J You haven't found a favourite yet......Just what exactly are you looking for???? Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunner Posted March 15, 2013 Report Share Posted March 15, 2013 I was in your situation a couple of yrs back, And iv tried 40/50/53/60gr V-max, 52gr A-max, 40gr bk's and 50gr Nosler silver tips! All are very accurate if you are willing to play around till you find the best load! I still dont have a favourite, and have just ordered 500 50gr Z-max to play with, im guessing they will just be the same as the 50gr V-max.....? atb J i think Hornady are being sneaky re-naming there bullets ! im sure there the exact same bullets just different colour tips ! thats what i read some time ago that theyd just put diffrent tips on and renamed and put zombie pics on the box ! probably to sell more! second that what ronny said ! id keep to the 53g Vmax for 250! but there probably the better option if you get a longer shot also with the best BC in that weight by far ! And DaveK i never liked that bullet either , it wouldnt shoot thru mine and has that annoying flat base ! why ? it wouldnt matter at normal ranges but when you have boat tails in the same weight , the choice is obvious for me ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yetidude69 Posted March 16, 2013 Report Share Posted March 16, 2013 You haven't found a favourite yet......Just what exactly are you looking for????Regards. What i mean is theres very little difference in them, they all seem very accurate and get the job done out to normal hunting distances <300yrds, but over 300yrds then the 53/60gr would be the way to go! regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minkstone Posted March 16, 2013 Report Share Posted March 16, 2013 What i mean is theres very little difference in them, they all seem very accurate and get the job done out to normal hunting distances <300yrds, but over 300yrds then the 53/60gr would be the way to go! regards Just how far do you want to shoot foxes,...do you dial in?....how good a shot are you? ...how accurate is your set-up?, that's what you need to ask yourself, you need to be realistic. Higher BC bullets are all well and good, but you still got to hit what your aiming at. Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonl Posted March 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2013 Thanks all for your responses to my post. I've opted for 1 in 12" and expect some fun establishing what works best in the 40-55gr range. I'll funamentally be establishing whether I can point it in the right direction and absolutely acknowledge that all this talk of 250 yds plus is largely academic until I'm nailing everything up to 150 Might the FLO let me buy another 223 on the basis of wanting/needing another gun with tighter twist for longer range with heavier bullet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tank Posted March 16, 2013 Report Share Posted March 16, 2013 I use 55gr Vmax in my 1:9 .223 and they do the job nicely. Like Minkstone says you need to be realistic. If you're shooting foxes under the lamp then personally I wouldn't be shooting much over 200yds but then we're all different. 40's, 50's, 53's, 55's will all drop a fox. I've dropped plenty with 35 grn Vmax in my little hornet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 16, 2013 Report Share Posted March 16, 2013 I don't know if I have ever shot a 250yds fox under the lamp, I just cannot 100% be sure of backdrop or even ID at that range you see- I hear plenty claims otherwise, perhaps they have lamps that can start wildfires and eyes like the proverbial rat?. Done plenty further out during the daylight with various guns, recon I could drop most at that range with the .22 Hornet if the weather gods were smiling and I could get a good stance. Far more to do with the shooter than the bullet when your dealing with a .223 rem at 250. Get what your gun likes most and learn the dopes- most if not all are going to be very terminal in the boiler room, in the dirt or over their backs is only going to make them shy and hard to account for another time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minkstone Posted March 17, 2013 Report Share Posted March 17, 2013 Thanks all for your responses to my post. I've opted for 1 in 12" and expect some fun establishing what works best in the 40-55gr range. I'll funamentally be establishing whether I can point it in the right direction and absolutely acknowledge that all this talk of 250 yds plus is largely academic until I'm nailing everything up to 150 Might the FLO let me buy another 223 on the basis of wanting/needing another gun with tighter twist for longer range with heavier bullet? Simon, your twist rate will be just fine even out to 500yds using 53/55/60 gr bullets. Iv'e witnessed rabbits/crows and 4" gongs hit with regularity by someone using a standard 12 twist .223!.....it's time and practice and good re-loads. I'm sure you'll acheive all you set out to do. Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no bull Posted March 17, 2013 Report Share Posted March 17, 2013 I don't know if I have ever shot a 250yds fox under the lamp, I just cannot 100% be sure of backdrop or even ID at that range you see- I hear plenty claims otherwise, perhaps they have lamps that can start wildfires and eyes like the proverbial rat?. Done plenty further out during the daylight with various guns, recon I could drop most at that range with the .22 Hornet if the weather gods were smiling and I could get a good stance. Far more to do with the shooter than the bullet when your dealing with a .223 rem at 250. Get what your gun likes most and learn the dopes- most if not all are going to be very terminal in the boiler room, in the dirt or over their backs is only going to make them shy and hard to account for another time A 170 Ligtforce lamp will easily identify a fox at 250yds, as for the backstop well I guess that's down to knowing the lie of your land personally I shoot from the truck roof so you have a better view and mostly your shooting slightly down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yetidude69 Posted March 17, 2013 Report Share Posted March 17, 2013 Just how far do you want to shoot foxes,...do you dial in?....how good a shot are you? ...how accurate is your set-up?, that's what you need to ask yourself, you need to be realistic. Higher BC bullets are all well and good, but you still got to hit what your aiming at.Regards. Well I tend to shoot them when a shot is presented, granted 70% are sub 200yrds, but if their 300, ill happily take the shot! No i dont dial in yet, its something im wanting to learn this year tho, but i do know my mp8 ret out to 350. How good a shot am i ?, well i missed 1 fox last yr out of the 137 i shot, so im happy with my shooting! My set-up, well again it gets the job done so i guess it must be accurate!?! I do hope this answers your questions regards J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 17, 2013 Report Share Posted March 17, 2013 A 170 Ligtforce lamp will easily identify a fox at 250yds, as for the backstop well I guess that's down to knowing the lie of your land personally I shoot from the truck roof so you have a better view and mostly your shooting slightly down. Backdrop not backstop. Ricochets off the backstop are always possible in the field I don't want a non target animal within the angle of a greedy chunk of pie. I hope you understand this. You might well be able to ID them but I cant and think I have pretty good eyesight my quarry might well end up being the Farmers pet Border terrier that would be very bad! I have seen a positive fox turn into a feral cat once. that said you might get a few hundred yards at best in a truck on my sort of moorland before you sunk up to your axles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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