What to get?

[Fox hunter]

Hi all,I have brought a farm and there has been lots of foxes around lately and i have a 22lr but it wont do anything to the foxes i can only get a bought 100m away before they run what gun should i get i would also like to give my 13 year old son a shot a 22hornet a 204 or a 222 or any other recommendations thanks

[Couger]

Hi all,I have brought a farm and there has been lots of foxes around lately and i have a 22lr but it wont do anything to the foxes i can only get a bought 100m away before they run what gun should i get i would also like to give my 13 year old son a shot a 22hornet a 204 or a 222 or any other recommendations thanks

Aren't you 'down under?'     Whats the most popular/plentiful ammo or reloading components available to you?  In the USA the .223 is most popular, along with the fact our military use it (like yours?), but also our law enforcement.  Plus 100 meters is getting out there with a preditor smaller than a dingo. 

[Savage_99]

Congratulations on getting a farm!

Get whatever could be used for all game.  Unless your going to save the pelts a chambering that covers your big game would take fox as well. 

On the other hand if there are a lot of rodents there that require longer shots then a 223 type would be good for the kid as well.

[kombi1976]

Hi Fox Hunter.
Congrats on the land purchase.
As I see it you have a decision to make.
The definite choices if I were you would be 204 or 223.
204 is easy enough to buy ammo for and it's such low recoil and inherrently accurate that it's the perfect predator and varmint round (fox, cat, bunny, hare).
However if you want flexibility and cheaper ammo then the 223 may be a better choice.
223 ammo is amongst the cheapest on the market and it ranges from really light projectiles to fairly heavy stuff.
All of the rifles you can buy 223 Rem in are mostly available in 204 as well but 223 would have to be the most popular centrefire cal in Australia, closely followed by 243 Win.
Also if you wish to cull kangaroos at some point I think the legal minimum is 222 Rem so you need to make a call.
I'd probably buy a 223 if it were me simply because I reload and 223 components are disgustingly cheap.
But the bottom line is if all you're shooting is foxes with the odd bunny and hare then 204 Ruger was born to do that job.
Where are you in Oz? Victoria? NSW? Qld?

[BBF]

One of you "Down Under" guys clue me in. I thought "Your Beloved" Govt started to collect/confiscated firearms from all of you.

[kombi1976]

A popular if inaccurate rumour.
They confiscated SOME of our guns.
Semi-auto rifles and shotguns are not allowed without special provision as are pump shotguns and large calibre handguns and the restrictions on centrefire semi-auto rifles are especially stringent.
Farmers can get permits for pump shotguns and semi-auto rimfire rifles, trap shooters can get permits for semi-auto shotguns and target shooters in specialised classes can get permits for large calibre handguns.
But only professional pest exterminators are allowed to have permits for semi-auto centrefire rifles.
Meanwhile single shot, bolt action, pump and lever rifles and single & double bbl and lever shotguns are easy enough to get a licence for.
Handgun licences are more stringent and are only allowed for target shooting but so long as you play by the laws most people can get them.
Truth be told hunting rifles are easy enough to own so long as you can find a landowner who'll sign your licence application or if you join a hunting club and get a game licence.
Is that confusing enough?

[RevJim]

  Is .22 magnum ammo/rifles affordable down there? I have used one for years for small game (head shots) and hogs, all with FMJ bullets, usually CCI Maxi-Mag. I went to the newer Remington 33gr Vmax stuff for prairie dogs, and it is a gee-wiz killer! ha. I would think a good Marlin in .22 magnum would be about perfect. However, I've used both the .223 and the .204 and both are sweet. I especially liked how flat that .204 shot! To me, it felt like less noise/etc than the .223 but shot as flat as a 22-250.

[kombi1976]

I'd still go either a 204 Ruger or a 223 Rem and I'd err on the side of the 223.
More rifles made in it (although admittedly plenty are made in 204 these days) but some really cheap ammo and many more components should you start reloading, slightly more power and more deals out there.
If you had it and a larger rifle like 243, 270, 7mm08, 308 or 30-06 I'd say 204 but for a 1 rifle purchase the 223 wins.

[Fox hunter]

Thanks for that Kombi1976 im in western Australia but wouldn't a 223 turn a rabbit in side out though?

[kombi1976]

Anything that'll whack a rabbit out beyond 100m will probably make it inedible.
If you want rabbits in 1 piece stalk closer & use your 22lr.
WA, eh?
That's a long way from my stomping grounds.
I'm about an hour out of Canberra.

[RevJim]

 Foxhunter, any progress on your rifle purchase?

[Fox hunter]

Im really thinking about getting a 204 Ruger but il just wait until i get my house built and am living at the farm.
 

[streak]

Thanks for that Kombi1976 im in western Australia but wouldn't a 223 turn a rabbit in side out though?

What part of Western Australia are you located?

[JamesW]

Fox Hunter,
 
I own 222, 17rem and 22wmr as well as others, all late 70's era.  As a lad shot foxes to supliment my income hence the magnum then 17.  Just had a mate wanted to purchase a 223 (222 are not a common round any more) and after a lot of investigation went 204ruger, the factory ammo is not expensive and shoots well and I will reload for him when he builds up some cases. 
 
Currently the 17hmr is the go for both fox and rabbit without too much damage and good to 150m, this round looks set to bury the 22wmr and 204ruger is looking to do the same to 223 class!  For you and the 13y/o the 17hmr would be my first choice!  You "WILL" need to buy something bigger in the future though !
 
Cheers,
James