Best bullet type for Tiny Ten?

[Geoclarkclark]

I am going to SA next August, on an all-Tiny Ten antelope hunt. Hope to take 6 or 7 species on this hunt.
I am taking my trusty .30-06 along, and plan to use Barnes 165 gr. TSX bullets, hopefully to minimize hide damage on these small animals. Had originally planned to use FMJ bullet ammo, but have read in several places that this may not be allowed in SA.

I know folks use .375's with solids on the small antelopes, but I prefer not to do so- the recoil of the '06 is a lot easier to take, especially when multiple shots are going to be fired, and the rifle is light, handy, and accurate.

Opinions or suggestions on bullet types? I have a lot of time between now and then to work on ammo.

thanks.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Which critters are making up your 6 or 7?

 

[Geoclarkclark]

Common Bush Duiker
Steenbok
Cape Grysbok
Blue Duiker
Klipspringer
Mtn. reedbuck
Vaal Reebuck

 

[BRICKBURN]

These guys tend to be taken at closer range.
Common Bush Duiker
Steenbok
Cape Grysbok
Blue Duiker

These guys can push the range limits. Certainly the last two.
Klipspringer
Mtn. reedbuck
Vaal Reebuck

Your selection will work.

Are you planning to do full mounts?

 

[Divernhunter]

I used 100gr TTSX in my 257Weatherby for Duiker and steenbok(also springbok) without much damage and excellent results. I would think that a 30-06 with 150-165gr TTSX or TSX would be fine. The TTSX would be my choice and they are a tuff bullets so there would be little expansion on such small animals.
My shots ranged from 100 to 300+ yards.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Have to agree with the TSX.

 

[Geoclarkclark]

BRICKBURN,

I am planning to do a pedestal mount with all the antelopes shoulder mounted. Something different.

 

[Buckdog]

These guys tend to be taken at closer range.
Common Bush Duiker
Steenbok
Cape Grysbok
Blue Duiker

These guys can push the range limits. Certainly the last two.
Klipspringer
Mtn. reedbuck
Vaal Reebuck

Your selection will work.

Are you planning to do full mounts?

Totally agree Brickburn the last 3 you will likley need to reach out and touch. I have taken all of those and Klippy was 400yds Vally was a good ways too. so be ready for some possible long shots on a small target. Duikers can be done with shotgun so as not to mess up as are usually close. I used a 300win mag and per taxidermist advice aka dennis harris I just zeroed them up in the guts when they were closer and the 300 about cuts them in 1/2 but front 1/2 is fine all you need for shoulder mount.
your rds will be fine, just know where that 06 shoots if you need to reach out.
up close I would probably figure that 06 would be good to just blow guts out too?? Maybe other can comment I dont use monometal bullets ?

 

[siml]

Solids!!

 

[Hogpatrol]

.17 Fireball with 25 grain Berger target bullets, pencil holes.
Stuff I killed with the FB:
steenbok
springbok
gennet cat
caracal
african wildcat
springhare
porcupine
jackal
warthog
blue vervet monkey
white breasted crow

YMMV

 

[Pheroze]

I would imagine the 150gr Woodleigh hydro would be effective. And, reports are that they make tiny in/out holes.

Neat hunt, have fun!

 

[enysse]

Solids or .223 Rem with softs works great.

 

[Red Leg]

The .375 Hydro worked nicely on Duiker and Suni - the latter about the size of a jack rabbit - .375 hole going and coming. The difficult thing is deliberately trying to center an animal (If you are like me, hand and eye are not trained to release a shot when the crosshairs touch there). If you hit shoulder, you will get a bit of expansion from the TSX clan - best location is rear lungs diaphragm. Even the stomach can cause expansion. Also be careful of facing shots if using any expanding bullet. I shot a steenbok facing me with a 300 gr TSX from a .375 several years ago. The results were dramatic and not very pretty. Were it me going on a pure little guy hunt, I would find a solid that the '06 likes. They are pretty common in 150 gr. I essentially did that in Mozambique by bringing Hydros for the .375.

 

[IvW]

Whatever you decide do not load to high velocity, even a TSX that hits one of the smaller ones wrong will destroy the cape.

Especially on Klipspringer as they have hollow hair and are very prone to hair slip. When hunting them I always carry an extra cooler box with ice, after getting one the guts come out and he goes straight in the cooler and as soon as possible to the skinning shed.

As mentioned solids are a good option on most of them.

When using expanding bullets, shoot just behind the shoulder(vertical reticle behind the front leg).

Get yourself a small critter caller. Not only can you very successfully call all of the duikers with it but you can also make them stop and stand still when they are otherwise occupied.(grazing and walking around etc.) The noise will not startle them like the normal whistle often given by trackers or ph's.

Common Bush Duiker-Solid or expanding bullet, shotgun loaded with AAA shot, normally closer range to moderate range.

Steenbok-Solid or expanding bullet, shotgun loaded with AAA shot, close to moderate range.

Cape Grysbok-Expanding probably better when hunting them in thick bush or fynbos. If in agricultural fields solid is ok, close to moderate range.

Blue Duiker-shotgun loaded with No.1 or AAA shot, you will 99.9% of the time not get a shot with a rifle.

Klipspringer-moderate to long range, solid or expanding bullet.

Mtn. reedbuck= expanding bullet, long range.

Vaal Rhebuck- expanding bullet, long to very long range.

A perfect rifle to use for the duikers(red, blue, grey), suni and steenbuck is a combination gun. I am very lucky to own two such rifles.

One is a 9.3x74R/12ga combination(perfect for all the forest duikers and suni) and the other one is a 7x65R/12ga combination.

They are perfect for use in the bush.
So if your quarry pops out at 110 yards in an opening my client or I can shoot them with the rifle barrel, if they jump out at close quarters or you call them in(which is easy to do but takes patience) and they rush in at close quarters the shotgun barrel is just the trick.

 

[Nyati]

From my experience,

Steenbok .22-250

Duiker .243

Mt. Reedbuck .30-06 (I was actually hunting hyena)

All expanding bullets, shot behind the shoulder.

 

[Art Lambart II]

@IvW

What bullet did you use in the 7x65R and what are your thoughts of it as a PG cartridge.

 

[IvW]

@IvW

What bullet did you use in the 7x65R and what are your thoughts of it as a PG cartridge.

@Art Lambart II

When I bought the rifle I got a whole bunch of RWS, TUG and Blazer ammo with it. All in 175 grain weight. We mainly use these on bushpig etc. they range in velocity from 2540-2730 fps. We hunt a lot of bushpigs either over bait or with hounds. I bought this combination for my son(13) and I use my 9.3x74R combination for the same purpose.

I also reload for this cartridge and then use the 170 gr Rhino solid shank or Rhino penetrator, excellent bullets with very little damage to the meat(we eat what we shoot). This is also the preferred bullet for the smaller animals as mentioned above.

The minimum bullet weight I would recommend would be a 160 gr.

The 7x65R and it's brother the 7x64 Brenneke are excellent medium to long range calibers and with the right ammunition perform very well on all PG.

It is a very efficient cartridge with mild recoil and a very good choice for a PG rifle.

 

[siml]

I don't know why I didn't see your list of animals, I was thinking more of the smaller ones in thick bush, would change from a solid to softs, 30-06.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

hi there
think your choice is fine
may get some damage if you hit shoulder bone on these smaller antelope
if you can go with solid for the close up guys and use the tsx for the long range stuff, but you should be fine if you go behind shoulder, not on it, a 30-06 passing staright through should put the smaller guys down pretty quickly without much damage

regards

 

[BRICKBURN]

Solids!!

Can you get a solid in 06?

Reload and SLOW the Barnes down and they will probably act like a solid.