FAC advice

[mercury]

Hi all,

A bit of background first so please bare with me .

My permission is a dairy farm of approx 250 acres,been shooting there (sub 12ft/lbs) for about 4 months.The farmer and I get on really well and he's pleased with the job I do for him regards the rabbits and corvids.

He approached me today and asked if I could do anything about the foxes that are after their chickens.

My reply was along the lines of "not with this gun,I'd have to get a FAC and all that that entails,you may get your land inspected,etc"

He's quite happy for me to apply for a FAC and shoot firearms on his land.

The only experience I have with firearms is shooting SA80 and SLR on a 25 metre range during my time in the forces.


So,my question is what gun should I consider for foxes?


I've toyed with the idea of FAC air for a while now,but am completely clueless when it comes to any other firearm eg rimfire,centrefire....I don't know the first thing about them regarding range,ammunition or anything!

Sorry for going on a bit,thanks for reading,hope you can explain things for me

Al

[teabag_46]

Probably a .17 HMR, for pests, and 'occasional' fox (although some police forces may not allow that)

[Kyska]

As said, you'll need to check with your local constabulary what they will allow for fox, many forces are now stipulating a centrefire for fox, although some do allow .17hmr, mine doesn't so I have to have a dedicated fox gun.

If you put your application in, you may aswell request for as many calibres as you can justify.

I'd suggest FAC air, .22lr, .17hmr and if you do need a centrefire you need to think what you'll use it for, if its just fox any centrefire will do, so any of the .22's, .20's or .17 c/f's. If you are planning on deer you may want to start looking at the larger calibres.

But remember they will only grant you what they deem to be suitable for the land you're shooting on.

As for ranges, its a huge can of worms because lots of people bullshit how far they shoot, me personally, FAC air at 30ft/lb up to 50 yards on a regular basis, but its capable of a bit further, I just tend to get closer, and you can shoot FAC air at elevated targets unlike any powder burner.

.22lr, 80 yards max for me, .17hmr, zeroed at 100 yards but have shot bunnies out to 130+

I use a .204 for fox, and haven't shot one any further than 100 yards, normally a lot closer.

Also, apply for your shotgun at the same time and it'll only cost you £60 for both, rather than £50 each.

Kyska

[mick 1986]

Probably a .17 HMR, for pests, and 'occasional' fox (although some police forces may not allow that)

As said, you'll need to check with your local constabulary what they will allow for fox, many forces are now stipulating a centrefire for fox, although some do allow .17hmr, mine doesn't so I have to have a dedicated fox gun.

If you put your application in, you may aswell request for as many calibres as you can justify.

I'd suggest FAC air, .22lr, .17hmr and if you do need a centrefire you need to think what you'll use it for, if its just fox any centrefire will do, so any of the .22's, .20's or .17 c/f's. If you are planning on deer you may want to start looking at the larger calibres.

But remember they will only grant you what they deem to be suitable for the land you're shooting on.

As for ranges, its a huge can of worms because lots of people bullshit how far they shoot, me personally, FAC air at 30ft/lb up to 50 yards on a regular basis, but its capable of a bit further, I just tend to get closer, and you can shoot FAC air at elevated targets unlike any powder burner.

.22lr, 80 yards max for me, .17hmr, zeroed at 100 yards but have shot bunnies out to 130+

I use a .204 for fox, and haven't shot one any further than 100 yards, normally a lot closer.

Also, apply for your shotgun at the same time and it'll only cost you £60 for both, rather than £50 each.

Kyska

are yous sure??

i have been told, the smallest LEAGAL calibre for foxes is a .22 magnum rimfire. so i would suggest sticking that on the application if your planning on foxes, but some constabularys wont allow you to shoot vermin with it, eg. rabbits.

mick.

[teabag_46]

Absolutely positive about that; some forces will allow .17 HMR to be used for 'occasional fox' ie. it's not a dedicated fox gun. Some forces won't.

[Kyska]

Absolutely, most forces will prefer the hmr to the wmr for fox if they allow rimfire, effectively the same round, just the hmr carries a explosive bullet.

The smallest legal round is the .17 centrefire IE .17 rem, .17 fireball and now the PCP .17 if you can be arsed to reload.

are yous sure??

i have been told, the smallest LEAGAL calibre for foxes is a .22 magnum rimfire. so i would suggest sticking that on the application if your planning on foxes, but some constabularys wont allow you to shoot vermin with it, eg. rabbits.

mick.

[mercury]

Thanks for the advice all,I shall have a chat with my local plod

[Kyska]

Just another point, the .22 wmr is a rabbit calibre, there will be no force in the country that won't grant wmr for rabbit, its just a longer range .22lr really, but the hmr has taken president.

I'm allowed to shoot rabbit with my .204, 350ft/lb compared to 1400ft/lb, not that I do, at 50p a shot.

are yous sure??

i have been told, the smallest LEAGAL calibre for foxes is a .22 magnum rimfire. so i would suggest sticking that on the application if your planning on foxes, but some constabularys wont allow you to shoot vermin with it, eg. rabbits.

mick.

[roughcoat]

Thanks for the advice all,I shall have a chat with my local plod

17 HMR YOU'LL BE LUCKY TO GET ANYTHING ELSE ON YOUR FIRST TICKET DOWN HERE

[mick 1986]

well that sorts that out then, the gun shop owner was talking out his arse.

mick.