Best Caliber for Tiny 10?

[Red Leg]

I have shot two grey or common duiker with a .300 Sherwood. It worked splendid, and it was fun to hunt with the little BSA Martini falling block rifle. Incidentally the rifle used to belong to Fred Everett, and his wife Sue used it on Zebra.

Otherwise I can think of few things better than a 9,3x62 with a 286gr solid at 2250-2300fps

Now that would be fun!

I have two single shot rook rifles that would be ideal as well. One is a lovely Steven Grant that is also built on one of the tiny Martini falling block actions. This one is in .380 Center Fire (.380 Long). The .380 Long Colt works beautifully in this little rifle.

The other is a Birmingham gun built by Laurenberg and uses the Westley Richards action. It is in original .44 Winchester Center Fire (.44-40)! Perhaps a stopping rifle for an enraged opossum? Either would be ideal in close cover for several of the Tiny 10.

 

[Ridgewalker]

“Enraged possum”! Pretty scary! Trying to get a possum out of a persimmon tree actually can be scary from my experience! Needle like teeth.

 

[Goose Cracker]

For those of you who hunt the Tiny Ten with a 375 and solids - do you load soft/solid/soft/etc in the mag or load all softs and carry a solid? If you carry the solid, how do you carry it? Cartridge belt? Again, I've been told that if I bring Aframes or TSXs I don't need solids for buff?

 

[Red Leg]

For those of you who hunt the Tiny Ten with a 375 and solids - do you load soft/solid/soft/etc in the mag or load all softs and carry a solid? If you carry the solid, how do you carry it? Cartridge belt? Again, I've been told that if I bring Aframes or TSXs I don't need solids for buff?

In the cartridge belt. Normally, there is plenty of time for a reload.

I use a magazine full of A-Frames or TSx's. I do not use a solid on buffalo.

 

[IvW]

I said .375 H&H with solid tips .... I didn't say .338 with solid tips .. I repeat again you can use the 338 with hard tips, to hunt those small animals .. Not knowing how to do it is something else ... power can be done. Read well...

NO NO NO "pants on fire"

YOU SAID

.338 win. mag. with bullets of 200 grains

You never mentioned use a 375.....

And then said.

Exactly recommending a bullet which does not exist, except in target format which is even a worse idea.....

At 2,200 feet / sec or less with the hardest tip, because solid at 338 there are no 200 grains.

Stick to hunting an impala with head or neck shot for the meat....

So I will ... in the first hunt in Africa, after I managed to catch an antelope, if I can find it, I will try to catch a little .... ha ... I calculate that in 7 days hunting I can find one.

 

[IvW]

For those of you who hunt the Tiny Ten with a 375 and solids - do you load soft/solid/soft/etc in the mag or load all softs and carry a solid? If you carry the solid, how do you carry it? Cartridge belt? Again, I've been told that if I bring Aframes or TSXs I don't need solids for buff?

Depends on which one you are hunting at the time. As an example if you are slow stalking in a thick area known to have resident red duiker you will have a solid chambered rifle in hand ready to take the shot. If you are out hunting in more open area and a common duiker or stein buck is spotted you will have enough time to take a solid from your cartridge holder and chamber before starting the stalk.

Blue duiker in particular are hunted best with shotgun, unless chanced upon with luck.

 

[IvW]

I've been told that if I bring Aframes or TSXs I don't need solids for buff?

Very good advice....whoever gave it......

 

[Nyati]

I shot two Steenboks with a .22-250, just behind the shoulder, bullet just went through.

Then I shot a Duiker with a .243 at night, with a spotlight, shot placement was not great, and the bullet made a huge exit hole.

 

[norfolk shooter]

How about a 30-30 with soilds?? I still need to get one as my woodland Muntjac rifle but thats part of the reason why I fancy one. Heavy bullet going slow = less meat damage = more for my little tummy.

Now as has been pointed out by @Scrumbag muntjac an the T10 are very similar so I guess it should be ok

 

[norfolk shooter]

I have shot two grey or common duiker with a .300 Sherwood. It worked splendid, and it was fun to hunt with the little BSA Martini falling block rifle. Incidentally the rifle used to belong to Fred Everett, and his wife Sue used it on Zebra.

Otherwise I can think of few things better than a 9,3x62 with a 286gr solid at 2250-2300fps

I cant believe I forgot about the 300 Sherwood. And its British

 

[Red Leg]

How about a 30-30 with soilds?? I still need to get one as my woodland Muntjac rifle but thats part of the reason why I fancy one. Heavy bullet going slow = less meat damage = more for my little tummy.

Now as has been pointed out by @Scrumbag muntjac an the T10 are very similar so I guess it should be ok

Most are considerably smaller. But a solid centered on one these little fellows from a 30-30 would work.

 

[norfolk shooter]

This may sound nuts but how about a 30-30 with a cast lead bullet. Mind you all said and done if you screw up the chest area you can always just go with a cape mount.
Also considering the vast topography the T10 can be found in and the fact that somtimes it may just be a fleeting glimpse one sees, I dont think one rifle can cover it all.
Yes @IvW is on to a good thing with the deployment of a combination gun. But what about the far distant Klippy halfway up a mountain or hill.
I'm yet to make a start on the little chaps but will next time I'm on the Dark Continent

 

[JLF]

And exactly which 200 gr solid 338 caliber bullet at what speed are you suggesting from the 338 WM?

If you can't read, it's not my fault ... I never mentioned a. 338 with solid tips, if with hard tips, things that are very different ... I mentioned .375 with solid tips ... read well ... tuna head

 

[K-man]

If you can't read, it's not my fault ... I never mentioned a. 338 with solid tips, if with hard tips, things that are very different ... I mentioned .375 with solid tips ... read well ... tuna head

And Ignore..... Not worth the bandwidth...and it's free....

 

[fourfive8]

Trying to think of what I have or have had in the safe that would be ideal??? Based on pelt damage to such as bobcats, coyotes, foxes and the like I'd say maybe a 22 Hornet with a solid not going too fast or a 222 with a solid not going too fast- certainly nothing over about 2000 fps and likely closer to 1700. This would give some range without doing too much damage I'd think. Those are the ones off the top of my head that would likely work the best given the rifles I've had experience with for not doing damage to comparable sized animals. The 300 Rook does come to mind as has been mentioned. The 300 Sherwood would be in that same category, as reported, does very well so could expect similar results from most of that class of cartridge... as would be a Martini Cadet in 310 as would be old US lever calibers such as 32-40 and 30-30 using fairly slow cast as has also been suggested. But all things equal--- speed is the enemy if concerned about damage, no matter the caliber.

 

[R.M.C.]

For nothing but the tiny ten I'd say a .223 or 22-250 with heavy triple shocks in it. Usually doesn't do much to fox hides.
For short range: 12 gauge with #4 buckshot lol

 

[Buckdog]

you guys and all your "Special and Unique calibers kill me. the answer is very simple I shoot the damn thing with whatever gun is in my hands when the target appears. end of story very simple. you dont play around trying to reload to a solid or some such non sense you just aim and shoot. If you have alot of gun in your hands as is likely in africa then you shoot back in the guts. and yes it will pretty much cut in 1/2 if its a high velocity rd inside 200yds. IF they are way out there 350yds plus rd will be slowed down enough to just shoot behind the shoulder and not exploded. And FYI I have shot plenty of them most with 300WM and a few with 12 Ga. from range of 30 yds to 420yds. who wants to be carrying a "pea shooter" in africa duh thats dumb carry enough gun to kill whatever target of opportunity pops up and you will be happy all day.

 

[Red Leg]

If you can't read, it's not my fault ... I never mentioned a. 338 with solid tips, if with hard tips, things that are very different ... I mentioned .375 with solid tips ... read well ... tuna head

“Tuna head.“ We are usually pretty polite around here - particularly with members who deal with a foreign language. For instance, in your case, you know absolutely nothing about hunting Africa. Yet, I and others have taken the time to respond to your uninformed assertions. Now you decide to start calling people names - including a PH who actually hunts Africa?

I am putting you you on ignore. I really don’t care what you think or believe any longer. Perhaps you won’t lose any other correspondents - you clearly could benefit from their experience.

 

[Red Leg]

you guys and all your "Special and Unique calibers kill me. the answer is very simple I shoot the damn thing with whatever gun is in my hands when the target appears. end of story very simple. you dont play around trying to reload to a solid or some such non sense you just aim and shoot. If you have alot of gun in your hands as is likely in africa then you shoot back in the guts. and yes it will pretty much cut in 1/2 if its a high velocity rd inside 200yds. IF they are way out there 350yds plus rd will be slowed down enough to just shoot behind the shoulder and not exploded. And FYI I have shot plenty of them most with 300WM and a few with 12 Ga. from range of 30 yds to 420yds. who wants to be carrying a "pea shooter" in africa duh thats dumb carry enough gun to kill whatever target of opportunity pops up and you will be happy all day.

Shooting which of the tiny 10 at 350 yards? Just curious. I must be hunting them in the wrong areas. Of the ”many” that you have killed, how many Suni, Blue Duiker, red duiker, and Dik Dik have you actually leveled with your “enough“ gun of choice in Africa?

 

[Fastrig]

Now that would be fun!

I have two single shot rook rifles that would be ideal as well. One is a lovely Steven Grant that is also built on one of the tiny Martini falling block actions. This one is in .380 Center Fire (.380 Long). The .380 Long Colt works beautifully in this little rifle.

View attachment 360851

The other is a Birmingham gun built by Laurenberg and uses the Westley Richards action. It is in original .44 Winchester Center Fire (.44-40)! Perhaps a stopping rifle for an enraged opossum? Either would be ideal in close cover for several of the Tiny 10.

View attachment 360852

Sweet rifles!! I’ve got a nice Winchester 1873 replica chambered in 357 magnum, shoots 38 cal cowboy rounds nicely. Bet either round would work great on the Tiny Ten inside 80 yards or so....hadn’t thought of that until I saw your post.