Thoughts on the perfect Tiny Ten cartridge

[Red Leg]

Is a solid really necessary. I find it doubtful an A-frame is going to open up at all when hitting a Dik Dik.

I took a wonderful blue duiker with a 170 gr SP from my .275. Stayed away from the shoulder and it made 7mm entry wound and 7.1mm exit.

 

[Rimshot]

I've done a lot of testing in ballistic gel and water, (and killing) with the 22 hornet.

With traditional lead tipped spitzer bullets such as the cheapest Speer and Hornady offerings in 50-55 grains, you get perfect mushroom expansion from 0 to 200 yards. This applies even the the Hornady SPSX "super explosive" variant. 2800 fps down to 2000 fps. The bullets deform like a traditional hunting bullet and don't fragment. You can get relative high energy and velocity by loading with Hodgdon LilGun powder in the 45-55gr bullet weights. The spire point 50gr Hornady and 55 grain Speer stabilize and shoot very accurate from my 1:16" twist barrel. Go too far below 2000 fps however and expansion becomes unreliable. Depending on the size of the critter you may not need a good mushroom and I've cleanly killed out to 250 yd.

The plastic-tipped bullets will grenade in ballistic gel even at Hornet velocities. Depending on what you're doing this may be desirable, but I would hesitate on tiny ten, and much prefer the lead-tip traditional bullet. I was hoping the 40 grain plastic-tip would mushroom since the BC is about the same as a 50 gr Hornady spire point, but no dice.

Another good option that is also available in combo guns like the 22 hornet is the 222 rem. For that I think the 55gr Norma Oryx bonded bullet would be a good option.

 

[skydiver386]

I took a wonderful blue duiker with a 170 gr SP from my .275. Stayed away from the shoulder and it made 7mm entry wound and 7.1mm exit.

I think that load is right in our sweet spot of 2300-2600fps impact velocity. Any faster and we tend to have diminishing returns.

Puts me in the mind of the 6.5X55 and it's long 160gr RN bullets at 2500fps. I haven't owned one for years, but back when my eyes were better it was hard to beat on the long range courses of fire.

 

[slam8031]

I have hunted 8 of the tiny ten--I shot Damara Dik DIs with 375 H and H--unfortunately tore up the back end of the antelope and have a nice table top shoulder mount. I went later on a dedicated night hunt and brought along a 300BlackOut--shot several night critters subsonic suppressed including a genet and civit--very little damage at all. On my most recent trip for five more, I took 6.5 creed moor with 143 ELDX--Vaalie at 405 yds, klippie at 154 yards, and oribi and cape grysbok at 100 yards each. very little damage. I also took a kudu at 90 yards and a bushbuck at 105 yards with the 6.5 set up. I was not undergunned in any way. I shot a blue duiker with a 12 gauge 3 inch turkey loads. There have been a lot of right answers in this thread. But these worked for me and my daughters would shoot all of these set ups except the 375...When I return for the suni and sharps I will bring the 6.5 again.

 

[pinotguy]

6mm Remington paired with the 100-grain Partition would be near-perfect in my mind.

 

[skydiver386]

I have hunted 8 of the tiny ten--I shot Damara Dik DIs with 375 H and H--unfortunately tore up the back end of the antelope and have a nice table top shoulder mount. I went later on a dedicated night hunt and brought along a 300BlackOut--shot several night critters subsonic suppressed including a genet and civit--very little damage at all. On my most recent trip for five more, I took 6.5 creed moor with 143 ELDX--Vaalie at 405 yds, klippie at 154 yards, and oribi and cape grysbok at 100 yards each. very little damage. I also took a kudu at 90 yards and a bushbuck at 105 yards with the 6.5 set up. I was not undergunned in any way. I shot a blue duiker with a 12 gauge 3 inch turkey loads. There have been a lot of right answers in this thread. But these worked for me and my daughters would shoot all of these set ups except the 375...When I return for the suni and sharps I will bring the 6.5 again.

Do you recall what bullets you were using in the 300 Blackout?

 

[Boone66]

Not only cartridge but rifle.

I think a BD14 with 22 Hornet/7×57R/20ga barrels would be ideal. Night hunting can mean bigger tougher animals availible.
Calling in duikers in thick cover has brought in more than the target species.
With the above rifle and cartridges uou good to go

A drilling would be quite a benefit, I have a pre war 9.3x74R under 16ga, wanting a 222 barrel for it also., but having trouble finding one.

 

[Nhoro]

.30-06 with 220gr bullets in case something larger pops up.

I used this combo on an impala a month ago. I shot badly and hit behind the ribs hitting liver and diaphragm so it ended well. At about 40 to 50 m it didn't expand much at all ( cup and core bullet). Zero meat damage except for the liver. I would put a 308 with 180 gr bullets in a similar category- fmj if you can get them

 

[slam8031]

Do you recall what bullets you were using in the 300 Blackout?

I will find my info on the blackout and post tonight.

 

[slam8031]

Do you recall what bullets you were using in the 300 Blackout?

Suppressed—American eagle 220 grain at 1000fps. Black hills 125 grain tipped match king for non suppressed.

 

[Andrew62]

My brain says take the 22 hornet. however in practice I never have due to the other animals on the list.
diker- 9.3x74
Klippy 9.3x62
Dik Dik 7REM MAG
oribi 6.5 grendel
cape grysbok 6.5grende
sunni 500/416
red diker 500/416
steenbuck 338 RCM
blue diker 6.5 creedmoor

still need the sharps grysbok

If you include the val Rehbok 6.5 creedmoor

Dave, if you were using a 500/416 on a Sunni, what the heck was your PH using for a backup gun?

 

[AZDAVE]

We since we had walked into the back of a breed herd of elephants looking for the little guy (Luckily the wind was heavily in our favor) but the PH was carrying a 460 weatherby.

Those moz Sunni can be a tough animals.

Since we were in Big 4 (no Rhino) along with hippo and croc figured I should be carrying a rifle capable of dealing with them and also be able to back my wife up on her buffalo (no need as she made a perfect shot)

 

[Safari Dave]

IMO - perfect would be a .223 Remington shooting Hornady 55g V-Max

But, I love the .22 WMR. I've shot at 200 yards, with it with no problems.
I like CCI Maxi-Mags with 40g JHP's

However, if big-game were also on the menu. I would take a .30/06 and shoot the tiny 10 with 150g FMJ's.


I shot a duiker with a .300WM using 200g Sierra GK's a few year's ago. I didn't expect the destruction...

Thankfully, I took a rear lung shot.

 

[bigborelover]

Either 30-06 or 300 weatherby.

 

[homeless]

And one 6.5 Creedmoor???

 

[TheDoubleD]

In 2002 I used a Small Martini in 218 Mashburn Bee for Guinea Fowl, Steenbok, Vervet and Springbok. I wanted spring hare and Rock rabbit. Spring hare were left for the kids to chase and catch. Outfitter never made rock rabbits available even though they were expressly requested. They were interested in shooting the money animals.

The Bee worked well on everything except Springbok. Although in fairness the shot was deflected by a thorn bush stock. The animal instead of being chest hit, was butt hit. We chased it for several hours before we could finish it. The wound was minor with little penetration. I did not like that.

The vervet was unplanned and just an opportunity. Chest shoot, dropped the animal right where it sat. My tracker loved monkey meat and was always pointing them out. I shot several more with the Bee and my 338/08 IMP. All dead at the shot. The Bee was devasting inside the body.

Guinea Fowl were all head shot---and excellent eating.

The steenbok is a story of it's own. We stalked that animal several times over a couple days and never got close. The day we got him we were out looking for meerkat. We saw him several hundred yards out in the field. To far to shoot. We saw a heard of cattle moving across the field towards the animal. I suggested we get with herd and move with them. The PH was skeptical, but I assured him I had done this successfully before with Pronghorn antelope. He consented and we got the herd between us and the Steenbok. We walked with the cattle and Steenbok paid no attention. We got in close, set up the crossed sticks and waited for the cattle to move on by. At the shot the steenbok jumped straight up in the air and fell to the ground. THe shot was well less than 50 yards. The bullet penetrated completely through animal, destroying the heart on the way through. The PH told he had tried take this animal before with previous clients and never got close enough for a shot. Frankly I was a bit surprised he hadn't thought of using the cattle for cover before. Different countries different hunting techniques.

If you make a plan for what you want to hunt and fill your bag before your time is up, then a small game rifle can be a handy thing to have with you. Just remember some of these animal are not money animals and the Outfitters don't want to spend time or money on them. Although after getting the guinea fowl the first day, my PH always wanted me to bring the little gun along.

I would use one of the little calibers for small animals like a steenbok and smaller, but never again for Springbok or maybe duiker size and bigger.,

 

[IvW]

A lot also depends on the method used for the specific tiny ten you are hunting....
One of the methods I employ for common duiker, red duiker, klipsringer etc. Is calling with a critter call.....you never know what comes in....I have called in bushpig, leopard, hyena, jackal etc. While targeting only the small ones.....so now you sit with a small caliber and have a problem.....
Blue duiker are always darting around and rarely provide a shot with a rifle cartridge and shotgun is ideal....

Therefore my opinion is that a BD14 calibers 7x57R(or6.5x57R/20ga/22 Hornet is ideal....yes one rifle 3 calibers ready for everything.....

 

[Odinsraven]

Combination in 7x57 12 ga would work

 

[skydiver386]

Being of Swiss German heritage, and a lover of all shooting things of Teutonic origin, I'd love a multi barrel combination gun. Unfortunately they are very, VERY rare here in the U.S.

 

[Hyena]

What about the 222, with good Bullet selection, it should work for you also.

I absolutely recommend the “Triple Deuce “.
Worked great with 50 gr TSX