More fire power needed

[nortchul]

Been shooting magpies and rats on a neighbouring farm, but his chickens have been massacred by foxes.
I only got a .22 air rifle and need something bigger before I go after them, what's the preferred calibre?
Been looking at.223 but not wanting to go crazy heavy.
Have a night scope and they seem to be in and around 80-150 yards.
TIA

[Rob1980]

Been shooting magpies and rats on a neighbouring farm, but his chickens have been massacred by foxes.
I only got a .22 air rifle and need something bigger before I go after them, what's the preferred calibre?
Been looking at.223 but not wanting to go crazy heavy.
Have a night scope and they seem to be in and around 80-150 yards.
TIA

.223 or a 22/250 will be perfect,I used a sako 22/250 heavy barrel version,for almost 20 years fir mainly foxes,was a lovely gun to handle and shoot.I would highly recommend you get a sound moderator fitted by a gunsmith as well,the modern ones have come on leaps and bounds in the last 20 years,god luck.I really miss my fox shooting,not been for years and gave up my rifles 3 years ago.

[Bob Watson]

A bloke I did a drive for a few years ago had a moderated .22 rimfire. He told me the sound of the round hitting a rabbit was louder than the shot.

[benelli]

A .22 Hornet or a .22 wmr would do the job at those ranges.

[Rob1980]

A .22 Hornet or a .22 wmr would do the job at those ranges.

It would,but I'd rather have a flat shooting centerfire capable of a bit more range to do the job,thes always those foxes that are a little bit further out

[muncherpike]

I would go for a .204 Ruger, excellent varmint round.

[paintman]

Been shooting magpies and rats on a neighbouring farm, but his chickens have been massacred by foxes.
I only got a .22 air rifle and need something bigger before I go after them, what's the preferred calibre?
Been looking at.223 but not wanting to go crazy heavy.
Have a night scope and they seem to be in and around 80-150 yards.
TIA

.223 or a 22/250 will be perfect,I used a sako 22/250 heavy barrel version,for almost 20 years fir mainly foxes,was a lovely gun to handle and shoot.I would highly recommend you get a sound moderator fitted by a gunsmith as well,the modern ones have come on leaps and bounds in the last 20 years,god luck.I really miss my fox shooting,not been for years and gave up my rifles 3 years ago.

Same as a friend of mine.
Did a lot of foxing - no doubt helped that he was one of the firearms licencing officers so lots of farmers to see - & .223 & .22/250 were his preferred calibres.
He did a bit of stalking as well & that was either .243 or .308 depending what & where.

[fenland piker]

Up to 150 yards I would use my .22 WMR or previously had a .17HMR. Shooting with night vision requires you to either know the land really well and have some way of judging the range, or a very flat shooting cartridge that is more forgiving of holdovers.
I found the 17HMR was accurate, but even moderated the report tended to negate the benefit of NV, the 22WMR is as accurate and quieter with the advantage of better hitting power from what I have found. The HMR was also affected more by wind. Further than 150 yards I have a heavy barrelled Tikka .223.

It does slightly depend what the firearms licensing officer is happy to clear the land for, and whether you have an open ticket or not? The ultimate fox rifle is a .220 swift, they are absolutely devastating on foxes and shoot extremely flat, short barrel life is the compromise as with any hyperfast round. As others have said a .223 or 22/250 is a good choice, the .222 has a reputation for being really accurate too.

[SmellySmelt]

The king of foxing calibre is .220 Swift, had one for 15 years. The fastest factory round and one of the flattest. The only down side is barrel life and price of rounds.
If you want an out and out foxing rifle, has to be .223, plenty of options if you are buying factory ammo.