Another "What rifle would you use" thread - Tiny 10 specifically

[Goose Cracker]

Hi there, quick question - if your target list was black wildebeest, nyala, impala, warthog, mountain reedbuck, duiker, and klippy - what rifle(s) would you use?

I'm thinking 35 Whelan with 225g TBBCs and something else. My choices are: 223, 22-250, 243, 6.5x55, 270 WSM, 7mm-08, 308, 300WM, 338 Federal, 338WM, and 375 H&H. I reload, so I can dial things up and down within reason.

So, what say you?

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

7mm-08 or .308Win would be my choice. Choose carefully what bullets you use.

 

[JakeH]

I don’t have any experience hunting Africa with one, but I’ve hunted plenty of whitetail with a .243 and I think it’d be great for the deer-sized or smaller game on your list. Granted, it’d be much less useful if you happened upon a wildebeest you just had to take while in pursuit of something else.

 

[HWL]

Hi there, quick question - if your target list was black wildebeest, nyala, impala, warthog, mountain reedbuck, duiker, and klippy - what rifle(s) would you use?

I'm thinking 35 Whelan with 225g TBBCs and something else. My choices are: 223, 22-250, 243, 6.5x55, 270 WSM, 7mm-08, 308, 300WM, 338 Federal, 338WM, and 375 H&H. I reload, so I can dial things up and down within reason.

So, what say you?

The answer is....9,3x62!

An now, explain to your wife, you need a new rifle....



HWL

 

[bilmcc]

The answer is....9,3x62!

An now, explain to your wife, you need a new rifle....



HWL

257 Roberts ... just because.

 

[Bullthrower338]

375 with 300 gr A-Frame, I haven’t ruined a cape yet. Also either of the 338’s with an A-Frame or Peregrine would work well

 

[Rick Cox]

Personally I would be selecting something from the middle of your list. I just picked up a 7-08 in a Winchester Super Grade for game like this. Very mild recoil but can be loaded with heavier slugs. I would not hesitate to use it on moose or elk, under 250 yards.

 

[IvW]

I would shoot the first 4 with the 35 Whelen and the last 3 with the 6.5x55.

If the duiker got in the way while hunting the first 4 the 35 Whelen would be fine.

6.5x55 is a great little cartridge and wont mess up the cape as much as the higher speed ones on your list especially the klippie.

 

[PeteG]

I’d say the 6,5x55 first and then possibly the 308win second.

 

[Red Leg]

I've taken all my little guys with .375 solids. .375 hole coming and going with no cape damage. I once shot a steenbuck facing me with a .338 and a TSX - the results were not pretty. He is a Euro mount. A .243/22-250/or .223 could be perfect or horrific depending on the bullet. I have always thought a .22 Hornet would be just about ideal for duiker and suni, but never had one along while hunting them.

 

[Royal27]

375 with 300 gr A-Frame, I haven’t ruined a cape yet. Also either of the 338’s with an A-Frame or Peregrine would work well

This.

Although especially for klippie with their hollow hair I'd like to have a solid as well. My klippie was shot with a .375 and a solid and had very little relative damage on exit from the chest.

 

[IdaRam]

.375 H&H with 300 gr A-Frame and 300 gr Solid. This combination was just about perfect for the animals I hunted last year. A very similar list to yours. I ended up shooting:
A-Frame - 2 Warthog, 1 Impala
Solid - Duiker, Steenbok, Klipspringer, Bushbuck, Serval, Civet
This would be the combination I would choose again. Results were exactly as hoped.

 

[Goose Cracker]

I would shoot the first 4 with the 35 Whelen and the last 3 with the 6.5x55.

If the duiker got in the way while hunting the first 4 the 35 Whelen would be fine.

6.5x55 is a great little cartridge and wont mess up the cape as much as the higher speed ones on your list especially the klippie.

This is exactly the way I was leaning - either the 6.5x55 or the 7mm-08. Now the question is what bullet? A-Frame?

I've thought about the 375 as well with solids. I'd really prefer to shoot smaller if possible.

 

[IvW]

This is exactly the way I was leaning - either the 6.5x55 or the 7mm-08. Now the question is what bullet? A-Frame?

I've thought about the 375 as well with solids. I'd really prefer to shoot smaller if possible.

A-frame 140gr in the 6.5x55 would be fine.

Depending on how you want to mount your Klippie I always take a large cooler box with ice. If wall pedestal, gut it in the field get it in the ice. Full mount into the cooler with ice and back to the skinning shed and into the brine solution and salt asap.

 

[lwaters]

Hornady makes a 150 grain fmj that should do alright in any 30 caliber.

 

[HWL]

I would shoot the first 4 with the 35 Whelen and the last 3 with the 6.5x55.

If the duiker got in the way while hunting the first 4 the 35 Whelen would be fine.

6.5x55 is a great little cartridge and wont mess up the cape as much as the higher speed ones on your list especially the klippie.

...you are headed for a bergstutzen in .35Whelen & 6,5x55



HWL

 

[HuntingGold]

Take two rifles of course.
For the tiny ten my vote is for the 6X45... mostly because I just built one because of a recommendation in a similar thread from years ago. A 6X45 is a 223 necked out to take a 243 bullet. I just built mine and now have a whopping 99 rounds through it. Just received another 500 bullets from midway and will start the reloading process again today. I will be taking this little gun with me to the East Cape next May and will report on it's use.

Whatever you take... just have fun!

 

[rnovi]

I'd just take the .308 or 7-08 and be done with it. They will work just fine, as would the 6.5x55 with 140's.

As much as the legendary toughness of African game exists, much of that is about proper shot placement. Do it right and the critter drops either right there or within 200 yards. Do it wrong and your chasing that damn kudu for hours...

Black Wildebeest is about a 450# animal. I shot mine with a 7mm RM...in fact, my 7mm RM didn't feel under gunned with 150 E-Tips until I shot my Eland. The ONLY reason it was under-gunned was because I dead centered the shoulder, blowing through the BIG 3" thick bone, the blade, and two ribs on the way to the heart...where the bullet stopped early. A second shot was needed. Move that first bullet back 4" and that was a single shot kill.

Now, if you WANT to use the Whelen then by all means, please do! Just know, it isn't really necessary.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Hi there, quick question - if your target list was black wildebeest, nyala, impala, warthog, mountain reedbuck, duiker, and klippy - what rifle(s) would you use?

I'm thinking 35 Whelan with 225g TBBCs and something else. My choices are: 223, 22-250, 243, 6.5x55, 270 WSM, 7mm-08, 308, 300WM, 338 Federal, 338WM, and 375 H&H. I reload, so I can dial things up and down within reason.

So, what say you?

My choice 275Rigby ( 7x57Mauser ) or 9,3x62.
Witold

 

[Alexandro Faria]

Yup, 7mm mauser gets my vote as well. You aren't hunting anything that would justify the .375, but that will always be my first choice in reference to your list. You can never be over-gunned, there is no such thing as too dead.

Much needs be considered, as is always the case:

1) What are you most comfortable with? Usually it's best to stick to that which we are best at and most comfortable with, so perhaps go with the favourites?

2) Insurance: ALL other things equal, a bigger bullet kills better than a little one. I feel a lot more comfortable with a big boom stick than I do with a small bore, perhaps you feel the same?

3) Ammo availability: Assuming sh*t hits the fan with baggage, your hunt could be over before it even begins, if you can't get hold of ammo. Going with a cartridge that is readily available is a decent idea.

4) Appropriateness: Do you prefer having 2 "do it all" calibers or 2 specialized calibers? Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Also consider that anything under .277 (the .270 WSM), may provide legal issues in certain situations due to minimum caliber requirements. Not really something you want to be worrying about.

All things considered, I would suggest the .300 win mag and either your .308 or the .375 H&H. You won't need to stress about damaging pelts if you use monos, so load whatever you take with TSX or similar projectiles and avoid any "large" bones when shooting the tiny game. Personally, I would go with the .375 H&H with 300 gr monos for thick stuff and the .300 win mag with 180/200 gr monos for the long stuff.

Enjoy, sorry for the rant.