COAL - 204 Ruger

[warbucks]

On my learning curve with fox shooting i started off with 223, what i found was that i was getting "runners" with 40g Nosler, and Hornady factory bullets, this was with some times perfect shot placement.
In my case i found that 50g, 53g, and 55g was stopping them a lot better, now the lads that have heavily put the 39/40g 204r will know exactly how good or bad they are for runners -------but i dont know.

I then moved up to a 243 using 58g bullets in the belief that this would stop them better at range if shot placement wasn't perfect -----and it does to a certain extent but the saying "Ive never had any runners with ANY calibre if you have shot enough just isnt true, the shot placement has to be reasonable and this isnt easy at times when on foot in field conditions at night, although the 1035 foxes ive shot in just under 5 years suggest im not too bad at it ?

I personally like the flat fox shooting calibres 204r, 22-250, 243, it just makes point-n shoot in the dark so much easier, suppose with the 204, and 22-250 you are using a lot less powder for SIMILAR range, which can be a good thing.

Dave (warbucks)

[Elliott]

I haven't shot that many foxes with the 204, Dave but it does drop them as well as my 223. I suppose if you shoot enough foxes your bound to get the odd runner, regardless of calibre.

Can't get motivated for night time forays these days. Much prefer lazy summer days and early mornings. My 204 is more of a long range rabbit/corvid rifle.

[jackal1]

On my learning curve with fox shooting i started off with 223, what i found was that i was getting "runners" with 40g Nosler, and Hornady factory bullets, this was with some times perfect shot placement.
In my case i found that 50g, 53g, and 55g was stopping them a lot better, now the lads that have heavily put the 39/40g 204r will know exactly how good or bad they are for runners -------but i dont know.

I then moved up to a 243 using 58g bullets in the belief that this would stop them better at range if shot placement wasn't perfect -----and it does to a certain extent but the saying "Ive never had any runners with ANY calibre if you have shot enough just isnt true, the shot placement has to be reasonable and this isnt easy at times when on foot in field conditions at night, although the 1035 foxes ive shot in just under 5 years suggest im not too bad at it ?

I personally like the flat fox shooting calibres 204r, 22-250, 243, it just makes point-n shoot in the dark so much easier, suppose with the 204, and 22-250 you are using a lot less powder for SIMILAR range, which can be a good thing.

Dave (warbucks)

Firstly well done Elliot on the group, good shooting. I knew you would come to the dark side eventually and get a 204.

Dave don't ask me why because the answer will simply be "i don't know", however i had far, far more runners with my .223 than the .204. Whether i used 40grn or 53grn it made no difference. After trying my current night vision equipped Supervarmint in 204 for about a fortnight i realised the 223 would remain in the cupboard, so i sold it and bought another Supervarmint for day use. I did briefly try my 243 at night but didn't like the fact that i lost sight picture due to recoil so gave up on it. I use 32grn bullets and rarely get a runner, certainly not if they have been hit in the engine room. They don't often leave any marks on the fox, you sometimes struggle to see an entry wound but on recovery of the carcass it sounds like a bag of jelly.

[223AI]

Firstly well done Elliot on the group, good shooting. I knew you would come to the dark side eventually and get a 204.

Dave don't ask me why because the answer will simply be "i don't know", however i had far, far more runners with my .223 than the .204. Whether i used 40grn or 53grn it made no difference. After trying my current night vision equipped Supervarmint in 204 for about a fortnight i realised the 223 would remain in the cupboard, so i sold it and bought another Supervarmint for day use. I did briefly try my 243 at night but didn't like the fact that i lost sight picture due to recoil so gave up on it. I use 32grn bullets and rarely get a runner, certainly not if they have been hit in the engine room. They don't often leave any marks on the fox, you sometimes struggle to see an entry wound but on recovery of the carcass it sounds like a bag of jelly.

Sounds similar to my experience with 50 gr z-max out of the .223 AI, apart from my permission n west wakes where the foxes are of slighter build.

Surprised you're losing sight picture with a light bullet in .243, I have no issues with 85s in the creedmoor at 3350 fps, though that a 24" varmint so weight may come in to play.

[warbucks]

Its not just the recoil from the 243, its the burnt power smoke that drifts up in front of the n/v, some times i see the shot strike some times i dont -----tend to listen for the impact sound.

Dave (warbucks)

[jackal1]

Its not just the recoil from the 243, its the burnt power smoke that drifts up in front of the n/v, some times i see the shot strike some times i dont -----tend to listen for the impact sound.

Dave (warbucks)

Listening for impact sound i:e a pop, is ok but it can make the same sound on a complete miss when the bullet hits soft ground.

[223AI]

Its not just the recoil from the 243, its the burnt power smoke that drifts up in front of the n/v, some times i see the shot strike some times i dont -----tend to listen for the impact sound.

Dave (warbucks)

Maybe try a cleaner burning powder? Have never really had an issue with this in any calibre with and NV.

Juts a thought too, when your barrel burns out on the .243 a rebarrel to a slow twist .22-250 for £700-900 then the world is your oyster, 69 gr TMK out of a 1:9 22-250 is gong to be good medicine for any fox.

Listening for impact sound i:e a pop, is ok but it can make the same sound on a complete miss when the bullet hits soft ground.

I had this last week, head shot a rabbit, got on to a second 30 yards behind, lights out (battery went on IR with recoil) but exactly same sound, thought it was 2 for 2 but scan with the thermal and the second is running up the hill so the strike into the soft ground mimicked the head shot sound.

[Elliott]

Firstly well done Elliot on the group, good shooting. I knew you would come to the dark side eventually and get a 204.

Aye, not a bad little varmint calibre

[223AI]

Aye, not a bad little varmint calibre

So has this superseded the hornet as your favourite?

[Elliott]

So has this superseded the hornet as your favourite?

Tough call!

Summer time, calm weather and the 22 Hornet still has it for anything sub 300 yards. Handy 200 yard fox rifle on the small perms, too.

Bit of a wind, or past 300 yards and the 204, I reckon. It's pretty versitile. Probably the perfect corvid calibre.