Fox Collectors

OK, for the naysayers who think one of our vintage guns can't compete with the P-guns, K-guns and Veg-o-matics, think again!! Went to NY today and took the AH Fox A grade, 30", F/F along. Took HOA in tha Main with 96/100 and tied for 5-Stand with 18/18 (different sequence to run more shooters through). There were 5 scores in the 90's and Ansley bested the best!!!! So, fear not and grind 'em with the Foxes!!!!

Nice going Mike. I assume that was at Les and Jackie's invitational? If so, I'll bet some of the folks there went spastic. Especially if they asked about your chokes.

Yes it was!! A LOT of heads turned when they heard what gun was used. Even Sam shot with me today!! Fred, Al and Ed too. 75 shooters all total. It was a great day.

Well done K-man!! Someone was in the zone. Great shooting. Thought last I knew, your "Excalibur" was the CE ? Have we added another new toy to the ever-expanding tool chest?

Good goin Mike. That's great shooting!!

tjw

Mike---WOW I wish I could shoot like that congratulations! When can you start my lessons ?

Actually Mike and his son Tad are NSCA certified shooting instructors and they offer lessons at their club, Rock Mountain Sporting Clays near Hidden Hollow in northeast PA. Anyone coming to the Endless Mtns SxS Challenge on August 14-17 might be able to hook up with one of them for lessons at that time. If not, you can set up per your schedule. Also I heard from a friend that Mike has a business card that says: "Have Fox Will Travel"

Great shooting!! Way to go Mike!!

Mike, would that be the A Grade you brought to Drake Landing in the Spring? Nice shooting as always my friend!

Mike

WOW!!! Frank, I love it!! I have to add that to my card!! Tool Man, I had the A grade before the CE. All these Foxes can shoot brother!! Yes , Shady, that's the gun.

Thanks Dave. You know, a good arrow makes for a better Indian.

Yep I shot at Mike's club (Rock Mtn) with some friends yesterday morning and my Fox SPE kicked butt versus 4 sporting competition guns - 2 Browning o/u's and 2 Beretta vegomatics. One of the Brownings was getting misfires and Allan who's a Trinidad trained gunsmith reiterated how the geometry of the mechanism makes that common when primers are a bit low. And one of the gas guns, a new one I might add, was doubling and Fred ended up shooting singles on call. I took the opportunity to read my comrades a short lecture, on how the Fox rotating hammers with integral firing tips are pretty much certain and oh so reliable. "I pull the trigger and that barrel goes bang". Of course my friends were ready to beat me on the head. We do razz each other quite a bit while shooting. Anyway that almost 80 year old Fox arrow made for a good shooting native guy.

That is the first time I have ever read of a semi-auto doubling. What was Allan's word on that?

Truly is amazing how simple and how reliable these Fox guns are, especially when you compare them to modern guns. Plenty of P and K guns get sent back for repairs every year. Foxes just keep on shooting.

IMO, there is one weakness to the Fox design. Not a fatal flaw, but a weakness nevertheless. That's the gaping opening in the action that allows the cocking slide to engage and lift the hammers. It also provides ready access for debris to enter the innards. What's the likelihood and/or harm in that, you might ask.

Well, I flirted with New & Improved 50% Cleaner Burning Red Dot shortly after I put my target Fox into action. I had finished loading (but not shooting) my first keg and was well into my second when my triggers malfunctioned. After about 3,000 Red Dot loads my triggers began to intermittently fail to cock and/or cocked with a hair-set. I removed the stock and found burned and unburned (some red flakes) powder had entered the action and settled to the lowest point...beneath the triggers. I gave it a good cleaning and decided to switch from red Dot but I had another 3K loads to shoot up.

I was in the Bo-Whoop shooting stand when I closed Big Ann and she discharged, putting a divit in Ernie's lawn. Obviously, the gun was pointed safely downrange but it was little embarrassing to say the least. A strip cleaning revealed unburned Red Dots again. I went another 20K rounds before I pulled the stock for routine cleaning and found nothing, having fired only E3 and Green Dot loads.

So, not exactly a black eye for the Fox, but if you ever experience the slightest glitch in the triggers, best take a look.

I don't know how it could be related but, coincidentally, the only breakage I've had in over 100,000 shots fired in 5 Foxes was the tip of a hammer in a different Fox. Funny, but I'd just finished the last station of a clays tournament without incident and walked to my car with the gun broke open. Went to close it to case it and couldn't. Found the tip of the hammer in the bottom of the action. Had it welded and it's still going strong many rounds later.