300 Win Mag bullets for Tiny Ten

[Matt_WY]

Heading to Limpopo in May and hoping to put some smaller animals in the bag as part of the hunt. It's not a DG hunt, so I'm only taking my 300 win. Mostly, I'll run 200 grain a-frames.

When I was in Namibia last year my 300 with 185 bergers made a mess of my steenbuck. I was smart enough to hit him far back, but it still definitely ruined any option for a full mount.

I was thinking of trying to work up another load that I could use on small guys if I have time to switch loads in the field. Solids for the 300 seem uncommon and they would still be going pretty fast out of the 300 -- not like using solids from a 375. Maybe FMJ is an option? Anyone have any suggestions or things that have worked well? Just stick with the aframes and hope for the best?

Thanks!

 

[Pheroze]

Woodleigh has a 30 cal Hydro that may be the ticket.

 

[enysse]

Maybe FMJ but ask if the outfitter has a gun for the smaller animals like .223 or .243.

 

[Ray B]

I have used surplus military 173 gr FMJBTs at reduced velocities on coyotes and they would put two small holes in the pelt. But it had to be a precise hit to put them down without a chase.

 

[Matt_WY]

I am new to these little guys with the exception of my one steenbuck, but my understanding was that 243 and 223 weren't good options because the bullets were going so fast (ca. 300 fps) that you got hydrostatic shock and blew the little guys up. Not correct?

I have been googling and have found one option.... 30 cal Lapua FMJBT 200 gr. That's big enough that I can probably load it down to 2650-2750 fps no problem. So there's a possibility.


But I appreciate hearing from all of you out there with actual experience instead of me just making crap up!

 

[ActionBob]

22 hornet is a great option. And at close range so is a shotgun.

I used a 30-06 with round nosed solids with mixed results. Decent on a klipspringer but the exit hole was still a good 3/4 inch. I think the bullets tended to tumble and actually cut a vervet monkey about in half. Went to having a 12 gauge ou and the rifle handy.

For the 300 I would load heavy stout bullets as reasonably slow as you can. Like on the slow side of 30-06 velocity. My PH recommended 220 grain remington core lokt softs in my 30-06 for everything from zebra to Genet. I should have listened instead of the solids.

 

[ActionBob]

I am new to these little guys with the exception of my one steenbuck, but my understanding was that 243 and 223 weren't good options because the bullets were going so fast (ca. 300 fps) that you got hydrostatic shock and blew the little guys up. Not correct?

I have been googling and have found one option.... 30 cal Lapua FMJBT 200 gr. That's big enough that I can probably load it down to 2650-2750 fps no problem. So there's a possibility.


But I appreciate hearing from all of you out there with actual experience instead of me just making crap up!

Don't know if possible as I'm not a hand loader... but I'd try for 2550 fps.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Don't know if possible as I'm not a hand loader... but I'd try for 2550 fps.

Agreed. I haven’t hunted the tiny ten, but on coons and groundhogs a 180 grain hot core from my 30-06 at 2500fps makes a small exit hole. A hot 150 grain load rips them apart.

 

[Buckdog]

I have shot quite a few small guys with your exact same gun/load and basically the 300 will blow them apart at 300yds or less. 350 to 425yds and it has slowed down enough that it just a nice entrance and exit wound and doesn't blow them up. My taxidermist (Dennis Harris) just told me to aim center mass and cut them in 1/2 as I didn't want any full body mounts. Some little guy jumped out of the brush at like 30 yds and ph said oh shit shoot him, 300 literally cut it in 1/2. cantt even remember which kind it was sadly they aren't that spectacular of a mount compared to bigger critters. shotgun works inside 50yds too but found that sometimes that takes 2 or three shot to stop those tough little buggers and if you use bird shot that screws up the hide too. My friend did that to a caracal dennis wasn't happy. I don't think it would be wise to go around with FMJ rounds in the gun because you just never know in Africa what will pop up for target of opportunity.

 

[Ridgewalker]

I have handloaded the 30-06 for years using 110 grain carbine FMJ bullets to take bobcat, turkey and even dusky grouse without much damage. It is just under 2,000 fps. At 100 yards it shoots 3” below my 180 elk load.
Hodgdon’s website on 300WM has 150 grain loads using Trail Boss that they indicate at a 1,300 to nearly 1,700 fps. Haven’t tried this yet.
Also on 300WM I have used their H4895 at nearly 70% loading using a 165 grain bullet for 2,079 fps. This is per their spec of no less than 60% H4895. This shot 3” below my 200 gr elk load at 100 yards.
Hope this helps give you some ideas! Best of luck!

 

[Red Leg]

So which tiny guys? You will cut the smaller cats, say a genet, in half with a fast stepping .223 or .243 much less a .300. Velocity in a .300 is the problem. I used 300 gr hydros from a .375 successfully on critters down to a suni. I would not have used one on a blue duiker. I would think the .30 cal hydro loaded below 2700 fps would work on most things you will see - jackels, common duiker, etc. If you do get an opportunity at a genet, borrow the PH's .22 or shotgun. He will have definite ideas about what works in his area. As ActionBob notes, a .22 Hornet would be ideal for many of these animals.

 

[Matt_WY]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Not planning to take a second rifle as I'll already have the bow and one rifle and it's not a dedicated tiny ten hunt -- I'm sure they will be targets of opportunity and I likely won't get the chance to swap rifles. I was originally thinking I would just keep 2-3 FMJ loads in my belt so I can swap out a cartridge if desired, but sounds like that may not even be worth it. As @Buckdog says, bmaybe just shoot a little back and plan on them bing cut in half (similar to my original steenbuck.) We'll see. Maybe I'll get a few FMJ bullets to play with in the meantime and see how slow I can get them to go.

 

[Dr Ray]

Woodleigh has a 30 cal Hydro that may be the ticket.

Smart thinking Pheroze

 

[MMAL]

Cutting edge bullets makes the ESP Raptor bullet in .308. It can be loaded as a hollow point OR flip it around and load it as a solid. A .308 solid would leave a small hole and I believe be perfect for the tiny ten.

 

[Major Khan]

For animals of this miniscule size , you need non expanding bullets.
Perhaps , these ?
https://geco-munition.de/en/ammunit...Product/show/geco-target-fmj/300-win-mag.html

Personally speaking , for animals of this size , l would highly recommend a .243 Winchester calibre rifle , or if you can get close enough , a shot gun loaded with triple A cartridges ( English triple A , not American. )
They appear to be similar in size to our Indian mouse deer.

 

[fourfive8]

Use a heavy, tough or solid type bullet going slow. Velocity is your enemy for minimal damage. The problem becomes accuracy and having to sight in again for the different ammo. Or know where to hold if mixing game and ammo- which may be easier said than done. Another vote for an accurate Hornet for the smalls.

 

[enysse]

I have had no problems with soft bullets in a .243 or .223. Most of my small stuff was whole mounts and it didn’t wreck the capes and knocked the animal over dead right there on the spot. Genets are best taken with bird spot from a shotgun.

 

[Tra3]

Ok, I’m curious: would plugging the tip of a downloaded Barnes bullet work?

 

[fourfive8]

Ok, I’m curious: would plugging the tip of a downloaded Barnes bullet work?

Reducing the velocity enough would be the key. A plug may simply act as a wedge and accelerate the initiation of petal expansion. Hard to say. Testing into media may shed some light. The easiest to set up is plastic milk jugs filled with water. The most revealing would be wetpack of water saturated, bundled phone books.