Factory ammunition by "Fox"
In our series of ammunition tests, we are deviating this time from individual bullets designed for reloading and focusing on the factory ammunition "Classic Hunter Ammunition" by the renowned manufacturer Fox.
The Slovenian ammunition manufacturer Fox specializes in the development and production of high-quality monolithic lead-free bullets for reloaders. In recent years, this still relatively young brand (founded in 2015), with its stylized fox logo, has earned a solid reputation among hunters. Its range has gradually expanded to the current 45 different diameters, from .224 to .416, in hunting as well as sport/training variants without hollow points. After all, we at "Lovec" have already covered these bullets. However, not everyone is willing to reload, and for them, Fox offers a relatively broad palette of factory-made ammunition. This article focuses specifically on that.
Title photo: Fox Classic Hunter Ammunition – 7x57 mm R
The box conveniently displays ballistic data, including velocity, energy, and bullet drop at distances from the muzzle up to 300 meters.
Groupings of .308 Win ammunition at a distance of 100 meters speak for themselves.
At the Shooting Range
The brass cases are produced by S&B. While not the best origin, as long as the factory does a good job with the assembly process, there’s nothing wrong with that. However, reloaders intending to reuse these cases will find that they don’t last long compared to the competition. The powder is of unknown origin, but it’s likely standard “commercial-grade” Explosia. The bullets were tested in a Ruger American Predator rifle with a 457 mm barrel and a 1:10” twist rate. Shooting was conducted from a stable sitting position using a heavy tripod at a distance of 100 meters, yielding excellent results. Excluding the worst shot from a six-shot group, the grouping was around 23 mm (measured between the centers of the farthest impacts). For reloaders, even better results can be achieved; for instance, with handloaded 6.5 Creedmoor, I achieved a grouping of 19 mm. I see the maximum potential as even slightly better, but 23 mm is an excellent result for factory ammunition.
As for shooting comfort, recoil, and performance, it was slightly more pronounced. This is due to the short barrel, as factory ammunition is typically optimized for longer barrels. Packaging consists of 20 rounds in a cardboard box with a divider made of the same material—not the usual plastic, which is a plus from an ecological perspective. Conveniently, the box includes ballistic data such as velocity, energy, and bullet drop at distances from the muzzle up to 300 meters, although it doesn’t specify the barrel length used for these figures. Typically, such tables are based on a 24” (610 mm) barrel, which can be misleading since modern firearms in .308 Win are most commonly found with barrel lengths of 508 mm or 559 mm. Regarding performance, the box for .308 Win specifies a muzzle velocity of 855 m/s and 595 m/s at 300 meters. My measurements at the range showed a muzzle velocity of 805 m/s, which corresponds roughly to the reduction caused by the shorter barrel. However, the velocity consistency was excellent, which is a key factor for achieving good accuracy.
The 7x57 R cartridge was also tested, but unsurprisingly, only an old “ZHčko” combination gun was available in this caliber. This obviously affected the results negatively, as even when it left the Brno factory decades ago, this gun was not known for its accuracy—at least not by today’s standards. Let’s just say that Fox ammunition performed no worse than S&B’s classic soft-point rounds.
How Does It Perform in Hunting?
The material and design of the bullet ensure proper deformation even at low impact velocities, according to the manufacturer, down to around 500 m/s. For context, the tested 7x57 mm R provides an effective range of up to 400 meters, and the .308 Win up to 410 meters. To give you some numbers, the 7x57 mm R has a nominal muzzle velocity of 820 m/s and energy of 2,824 J, which at 300 meters drops to 580 m/s and 1,413 J. If someone wants to use a ballistic calculator before purchasing to see how it behaves with increasing distances, the .308/150 gr bullet has a BC of .307, and the 7mm/130 gr has a BC of .330. Data for additional calibers can easily be found on the manufacturer’s website.
These cartridges are highly versatile and suitable for hunting roe deer, wild boar, and trophy red deer, as well as heavier game outside the region. How does the bullet perform in hunting practice? Personally, I can report on two cases: one fallow deer doe (albeit a large one), shot with a handloaded 6.5 Creedmoor at 180 meters (Fox Classic Hunter bullet, loaded close to factory specs), and an adult sika stag (not particularly trophy-grade), taken with factory-loaded 7x57 mm R at a range of approximately 50 meters. In both cases, the shots went through the shoulder, both lungs, and the heart. The result was always a quick drop on the spot or very close to it. The entry wound was minimal and without significant blood, while the exit wound was roughly the size of a coin and provided sufficient blood for tracking, if necessary. The Classic Hunter inflicted exemplary damage to vital organs, and the bruising on the exit side was average in size—nothing overly devastating. The bullet was not recovered, and no fragments or traces were found in the meat. This indicates that the cohesion of the bullet, as expected of a monolithic design, was exemplary.
Hunters with more experience using Fox ammunition agree that the bullets are slightly harder, meaning that for smaller game, shots should be placed on the shoulder to ensure proper deformation. The ribcage alone, especially if a rib is missed, may not provide enough resistance. Additionally, these bullets are not ideal for hunting small game unless headshots are used. As always, monolithic bullets tend to perform better at higher impact velocities.
.308 Win cartridges in the magazine of a Ruger American Predator rifle. Due to the short barrel, the shooting experience was slightly aggressive. Factory ammunition is simply optimized for longer barrels.
Conclusion
The tested .308 Win variant costs 70 CZK per round on our market, the 7x57 mm R is 4.5 CZK more expensive, and the 9.3x62 mm is priced at 81.5 CZK per round. These are not exactly "budget-friendly" cartridges, but for monoliths and even some premium lead-based ammunition, the price is reasonable. For comparison, monolithic cartridges like the .308 Win Nosler E-Tip and S&B eXergy cost around 62 CZK, whereas RWS HIT and Barnes TTSX are priced at 82 and 90 CZK per round, respectively.
Personally, I advocate for reloading. It’s the only way to create a perfectly tailored cartridge for a specific firearm, which is doubly true for monolithic bullets. Additionally, it offers the potential to save a lot of money. However, for those who, for any reason, do not want to reload but still wish to enjoy the benefits of Fox bullets, I have very little criticism for the factory ammunition. For medium to large game, they are an excellent choice, provided the shot placement is carefully aimed at the shoulder. For small game or particularly weak animals, this is not the best choice, primarily due to the higher cost, though it can still be used if the situation requires it. In my opinion, the price is reasonable for the quality, and the factory precision is exceptional.
Fox ammunition and bullets can be purchased at STROBL.CZ s.r.o. For more information, visit strobl.cz or the manufacturer’s website at foxbullets.eu.
Zdroje fotek: Archiv autora
Autor: Tomáš Prachař
Článek původně vyšel v časopise Lovec od Extra Publishing
Advantages/Disadvantages
+ Excellent accuracy for factory ammunition
+ Outstanding terminal performance
+ A wide range of variants, especially in "European" calibers
- The bullets are slightly harder, so aiming for the shoulder is recommended