The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Hi

I'm new to this forum but not new to Shooting.
I'm re applying for my FAC after giving up shooting about ten years ago, my children are no longer children and the wife is no longer terrified of my youngest getting hold of things he shouldn't.
Not that it was ever a possibility, but keeping the every body happy was a thing.
Selling my trusty Ruger 10/22 and my Tikka .223 was accutualy one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.

Anyways I've recently been granted permission on private farm land to take care of the rabbit over population.
And have also been asked to look at the fox population as well.
 
Now I'm planning on getting another 10/22 but instead of another .223 I'm thinking of a different approach for foxes, I'm thinking of an under leaver Marlin style 357 Magnum i really like the idea, I'm planning on reloading my own rounds as well.

So my idea of an under leaver 357 magnum, is that possible for fox control? I've read on several places that it is..?

thanks in Advance.

Hello and welcome.

Good question.

I tried to get my .357/.38 Marlin specified for pest control - but the reply was that the land was only cleared for up to .308...

I didnt bother to pursue this at the time - although obviously there was a bit of confusion in the firearm dept about the relative powers of the cartridges involved...

However, I may try again as I have an open certificate now.

Under-leVER's are passed for vermin in some areas - seems to at a whim based on the local office staff's ideas of what can/cannot be allowed - though given your choice of a Marlin for the role you'll find it substantially cheaper to buy a .223 & put a decent scope in it instead.

The .223 is much flatter shooting & more suitable for fox, longer range rabbit/crow, etc. & some species of deer.

Thanks the the quick responses guys

I fall into the Cleveland police command.

In the past they have been really clued up and very responsive to any questions I've asked.

I'm thinking the 357 Mag would be cheaper to deal with regarding purchasing and reloading.

Onto the next question from here.
slightly new guy question relating to the 357, do I request sub sonic hollow point as i would with the rim fire.

GOoch

A second hand .223 is not going to be any more expensive than a under lever. The .223 is not expensive to reload for and you could use cast bullets in it if you wanted.
Personally I would go for a .223.

Cheers Alpha1

357 being a cheap factory round ended with the handgun ban. Even for reloading it is not as economical as some of the smaller rifle rounds, unless you also cast your own bullets.
The hollow-point .357 bullets will cost more to buy for reloading & they are not as commonly "in stock" with most RFD's = no idea why the police need to know the muzzle velocity but you'd need to have the HP/SP types itemised on your FAC.*

With pure lead home cast bullets you have the cost saving advantage, plus good expansion without the extra paperwork of partly jacketed or exposed lead tip factory types.

*IF you go down the LEVER action route, then the Firearms Act states that you do NOT need to have soft-point bullets listed on your FAC as the Firearms Act gives a specific exemption for them for use in lever actions; though the many dumb as a bag of rocks RFD's that make 2 + 2 = 27 will insist that you need a conditioned FAC (some of them being the same RFD's that seem to think a Section 2 shotgun cartridge has to be on an FAC slot if that cartridge is a .22 or 38 Special!)

Think by this you've persuaded me to go .223
And from what you guys have said, it's the cheaper option.

Cheers

G

I've got vermin on my marlin .44,I only got it as I rarely shoot fox and didn't want to buy a rifle just for a couple shots a year.I'm now looking at getting a .22wmr or one of the .22 centrefire's as although the marlin is a handy size I just don't think the marlin is anyway near the best choice.

mr smith wrote:I've got vermin on my marlin .44,I only got it as I rarely shoot fox and didn't want to buy a rifle just for a couple shots a year.I'm now looking at getting a .22wmr or one of the .22 centrefire's as although the marlin is a handy size I just don't think the marlin is anyway near the best choice.

Best varmint basher I ever had was a Winchester 9422M WMR. It was just a bit awkward to fit a scope at the time, easier now I think.