5 OF THE BEST FOXING RIFLES

Price: £1,915

Contact: Edgar Brothers - www.edgarbrothers.com

The B14 Crest Carbon is the lightest Bergara available, and in the short 20” Cure Carbon barrel format, it is a superbly light and handy rifle to carry on a regular basis for urgent fox shooting at closer ranges. It’s not a multi-round tack driver for range use, and like any carbon-barrelled gun, it is subject to the material’s fundamental thermal limitations, but as a true hunting tool, it is hard to resist. The twin-lug, 90-degree lift, Remington-inspired action has survived for over 60 years and offers light, fast operation with a detachable AICS-type magazine. The bolt handle shape and size ensure it is hard to jam the action, and ejection is ensured too. A Picatinny rail enables straightforward optical or digital night vision fitting, and of course, the rifle is threaded for a moderator to keep the noise down at night. The single-stage trigger breaks crisply at 780g on a rifle that weighs 2.9kg. The stock has a reasonably tall Monté-Carlo cheekpiece that provides good scope alignment, as well as QD sling anchor points and a regular stud for a bipod. In fairness, this Bergara won’t cross over as a long-range precision rifle, but the weight savings of the carbon stock and barrel make this a true hunting tool capable of handling foxes at the realistic ranges most are actually shot at. This visually attractive rifle combines modern design with excellent handling dynamics, all at what appears to be a very modest asking price. For greater precision and reliable thermal performance over more than three rounds, the steel-barrelled option would be my preferred choice. It’s cheaper too, at £1,630.

Price: £1,279

Contact: Sportsman Gun Centre - www.sportsmanguncentre.co.uk

Many shooters have cut their teeth on CZ rimfires and centrefires, and there’s no doubt that the venerable 527 was a fox shooter’s delight. However, the launch of the 600 marked the introduction of a completely fresh design that uses a three-lug bolt and features an aluminium receiver with integral Picatinny scope bases. The cold hammer-forged barrel features a 15x1 muzzle thread and it is clamped into the receiver, meaning it can be replaced in the long term. The semi-controlled feed bolt face shows a sprung ejector pin that holds the case in place during extraction, yet it’s still flung clear of the gun by manual ejection force, which is dependent on bolt speed. CZ’s detachable magazine holds five rounds in two columns, and it can be top-loaded in or out of the gun. There is a locking catch on the underside to prevent accidental loss. The two-position safety catch plunger locks the bolt, and there’s a manual unlocking button too. One of the boldest steps was the inclusion of a weight-adjustable trigger with detents/stages, allowing you to accurately return to your preferred setting at any time. The stock itself is a stiff, injection-moulded unit with consistent action-to-inlet fit, ensuring no bedding stress. The Alpha’s 18mm diameter barrel is slightly heavier than the other sporter setups in the range and features a fast 1:7 twist rate, allowing the use of 77gr or heavier bullets for long-range precision, while still performing reliably with 55gr foxing ammunition. In fairness, the lighter-barrelled Ergo with its thumbhole stock or the American with its delightful walnut finish are both excellent foxing choices, but I chose the Alpha specifically for its barrel’s technical details.

Price: £789.98

Contact: Highland Outdoors - www.highlandoutdoors.co.uk

The Howa 1500 has been a reliable, fuss-free, entry-level rifle for over 15 years, and it embodies the concept of keeping things simple. By offering multiple stock and chassis options, as well as different chamberings, the modular brand allows users to tailor their rifle exactly as needed, with a price to match. The standard sporter in .223, for example, features a light 15.7mm barrel profile with a 1:8 twist rate to stabilise bullets up to 77gr. The barrel is 22” long, making it well-suited as a range rifle with adequate velocities and extended-distance potential for corvids, yet it weighs just 2.3kg. It features a floorplate magazine system that holds five rounds, plus one in the chamber, and the design means it cannot be lost in the dark, unlike a detachable mag. Another advantage of the floorplate magazine is that it can be loaded through the ejection port. It will also single-feed, enabling quick follow-up shots. The twin-lug bolt offers smooth operation, with strong extraction and assured ejection from the modestly sized bolt handle that’s ideal for a true sporting rifle. The addition of a Picatinny rail enables versatile optical mounting and space for those who want to swap from day to night gear. The rifle is, of course, screwcut for a moderator. The HACT trigger is pretty good, with adjustable pull weight, and the three-position safety locks the bolt closed when applied. Overall, the no-frills Howa shows no weaknesses, has a logical specification, and won’t break the bank. It’s not hard to see why it has lasted almost two decades. My regular pest control partner uses this rifle, and it never lets him down.

Price: £1,559

Contact: Blaser Group - www.blaser-group.com

I often quote the Sauer 100 as the benchmark rifle against which I compare all others, and it’s not just about precision. Although the 100 is accurate, it also combines superb ergonomics and handling dynamics, all at a realistic price accessible to many shooters. The rifle features a 20” cold hammer-forged barrel that’s 17mm in diameter and screwcut for a moderator, while the Keeper, which is a UK-specific version, adds fluting and Cerakote for weight-saving and visual character. The action will accept separate bases or a Picatinny rail, and the barrel truly free-floats within the polymer stock’s fore-end. Sling studs are fitted, there’s moulded chequering for grip, and you get a decent length of pull at 14”. The detachable polymer magazine is silent in operation and holds four rounds. In addition to all these key features, the Sauer has a three-position safety catch and one of the best bolts in the business. It is a push-feed with a single ejector plunger, and the three lugs offer a 60-degree lift to cock and open. I have used and relied on a Keeper for five years, pairing it with 55gr V-Max and 50gr CX Hornady ammunition to dispatch more foxes and rabbits than I can remember. It has also consistently delivered the precision needed to tackle wily corvids at longer ranges. What sets this rifle apart is that every time I use it, I grow to appreciate its character even more. Considering the wide range of guns I have access to, that is a particularly bold statement.

Price: £2,050

Contact: Edgar Brothers - www.edgarbrothers.com

If you fancy a straight-pull, AR-15-style foxing rifle, there are some compromises, but accuracy and precision aren’t among them with the Schmeisser. It features a slick action and, although not as quiet as a bolt-action rifle, it offers higher-capacity magazines and is inherently designed to accommodate accessories while enduring rough handling without losing zero. There is a Picatinny rail on top for your optics, multiple fore-end anchor points, and a free-floating barrel within the stiff aluminium fore-end that is immune to any undesired contact or pressure. Want to shoot from a tripod? The Schmeisser is perfect. Want a spare magazine in the stock? Again, this is your rifle. The AR-15 grip options are endless, and the straight-pull action will allow very fast backup shots when needed. The rifle is accurate and equipped with a fast 1:9 twist Walther barrel, making it more capable than many sporting rifles when using heavy bullets weighing up to 69gr. It is also threaded for a moderator. Straight-pulls always seem to polarise opinion, but if you get one that works with a smooth action and strong extraction, like the Schmeisser, you won’t be left struggling in the dark, and it will happily cross over as a daylight fast-fire competitive range gun too. The trigger is a two-stage unit, delivering 95% crisp operation once the second stage is engaged—a thoroughly practical design with a 1700g (57oz) pull weight, ideal for cold, gloved hands. The large hammer within ensures the firing pin and primers get a good thump, boosting reliability. Extraction and ejection proved reliable, with the latter demonstrating remarkable enthusiasm in fast-fire conditions. I was a sceptic, but this rifle has warmed me to the AR concept’s benefits.