AusVarmint

I was speaking to a friend recently about a fox problem they have. They are losing show chooks regularly.

They live on a smallish hobby block with a fair bit of livestock around and about the place as well as relatively close neighbours.

I've stayed there a bit and looking at the nearness of neighbours, sightlines and horizons make even a .22 RF a bit of a hassle.

Is there an air rifle with enough oomph for foxes at typical small paddock ranges?

That is without having to take out a second mortgage.

Are you after a springer, gas ram, or PCP?

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That is a very good question, and one I do not have an answer for.

I am not sold on the idea yet - I am really asking is if an AR is a option worth investigating for fox control?

That is, would it be effective and would it be clean enough to be ethical?

There certainly are ar's capable of taking foxes cleanly. Honestly though, the cost of the ar, plus the fact a PCP without a moderator is far from quiet, makes. 22lr subs a pretty attractive option in my opinion.


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If you can get close, like about 15 m close, my old springer takes cats with headshots. Getting close is the issue


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First up,make a secure pen/yard for the poultry,only allow them out under close supervision,next step if you want to is try to trap the Fox.It doesn’t matter how many foxes you kill,there are always more waiting for an easy meal.

I've killed foxes with 22 Zimmer's, even on the run with my lever action.

They are only 770fps with a 29 grain bullet, and no louder than my HW80 probably even quieter out in the field as there's no mechanical noise that springers make.

That would be his best bet in my opinion.

Although, if he doesn't have a 22 rimfire then the air gun is much better for all other pest control like pest birds etc, cause you don't want a heavy 29 grain bullet flying over other properties.

Never come across a fox whilst air gunning but I still reckon a 22 air gun like my old HW 80 with a head shot would easily stop a fox, when I used to skin bunnies that I shot 25 to 30 yards away the pellets have gone clean through!

A mate of mine has bowled over foxes with a HW80 at 15M

I reckon an 80 or a Diana 350 would work with a headshot out to 20-25M

I know years ago in a UK Airgunner magazine a Theoben Eliminator in .22 was being used out to 30M on foxes.

Don't underestimate a 25 gn jumbo heavy in .22
Just saying.
Ol 55

HW100 Jumbo Heavies at 28m that was the 3rd for that rifle

That’s a big fox!
I’m assuming the HW100 is .22?
Pretty impressive

I have a Theoben Rapid Mk1 in 25 cal. Apparently it will easily kill a fox at 50m. I say “apparently” because it’s so loud I don’t dare fire it on my land due to the proximity of my neighbours.

LWR58 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2019 7:35 am That’s a big fox!
I’m assuming the HW100 is .22?
Pretty impressive

Yes it is 22 Lewis that was my 100 that missed bought about a year ago.
It served me well has a BSA barrel a Ratworks cylinder and a few other trick bits.
Missed has been having some fun with her.