Gun choice for Tiny 10 and small night cats

[JP50]

Theses were taken with a 30-06 - using 150g super hammer head (bonded) bullets- also took Oribi - Vaal on same trip with minimal damage to the capes- by taking a larger calibre it gives you the opportunity to take something larger if the opportunity arises- as also took mountain zebra / oryx with same bullets.

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

I'm going to be doing more tiny 10 and night cats in the next few years. I've thought about adding a barrel to my Blaser R8 or K95. I have two R8's and one K95 and could always setup one gun for little stuff and have the tracker carry it in case we run into something. My mind keeps going to the 22 Hornet. I've got a 257 Wby barrel but that's too fast for the fragile stuff. I could always shoot solids from my big game rifles and usually have some solids when hunting other things in case something pops up. That's a good practice in general as you never know what the Bush will offer each day.

If you were going to take a dedicated gun/caliber for the little stuff, what would you take?

.22 Hornet double rifle with quick release scope.

 

[Inline6]

Well... I'm going to be vote that everyone hates! 6.5CM with Hornady 129SST superperformace ammo (@2850). Shot some really big animals to steenbok (at 45 yards). The Duiker was taken at 120, about a nickel size hole in both little guys. You would also have plenty of gun for anything you want to take. We did push the limits of the 6.5CM this trip, it handled the tasks small and tall.

Just a different option.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Well... I'm going to be vote that everyone hates! 6.5CM with Hornady 129SST superperformace ammo (@2850). Shot some really big animals to steenbok (at 45 yards). The Duiker was taken at 120, about a nickel size hole in both little guys. You would also have plenty of gun for anything you want to take. We did push the limits of the 6.5CM this trip, it handled the tasks small and tall.

Just a different option.
View attachment 620725View attachment 620726

Very surprised, not regarding the caliber, but the SST. They are considered on the soft side, so one would expect a larger exit hole. Just when we think we understand things....
Great Steenbuck and Common Duiker.

 

[JP50]

Use what calibre you feel comfortable with- in post no#61, I posted photos of a Klipspringer and a Steenbok taken with a 30-06 recently- I had forgotten I had taken a duiker previously with a 300 win mag, again very little damage , you would not notice on the finished taxidermy

 

[Ridge Runner]

22 Hornet

Glad to know you like the 22 Hornet as this is the caliber I plan using on the smaller cats and critters up to badger and jackal.

FYI my results of range days 1 & 2 with factory ammo.

I am working on load development for my 22 Hornet. Regrettably I didn’t take photo's or do ballistics of my first range day with it shooting factory ammo, 45 grain soft points.

The end result was putting 2 plastic gallon jugs filled with water on the ground one behind the other a few inches and right of the 25 yard target, (NRA Silhouette B-27 with a Shoot-N-See 8 inch target covering the silhouette's center mass), the first shot into the jugs was under a inch of high and left of center mass. Both water jugs exploded as if I used a handgrenade, sending roughly a 1 inch x 3 inch chunk of plastic into the center mass of the 8 inch S-N-S target roughly at a high angle 30 inches left and 40 inches high to the jugs location. Another second smaller chunk of plastic 1/2 +/- wide and 2 +/- inches long was lodged 6 o'clock low center in the black outline of the silhouette. Other much smaller shards of plastic littered the ground as far as -4 feet away from the water jugs location.

Apples and Oranges per se

My second range day I used Hornady 35 grain V-MAX factory loads; when I purchased all three boxes of ammo I thought both brands were the same bullet weight. I shot 5 rounds through my chronograph to get an average MV of 3000 fps.

On paper target at 50 yards, with 50 yard zero from range day 1 using 45 grain bullets, the Hornady 35 grain V-MAX were clustered with lowest bullet hole 1 1/2 inches high and the highest bullet hole 2 1/8 inches high over the "X" ring.

Reloaded: For future testing: Sierra 45 grain soft points and unknown brand 45 grain FMJ HP bullets down loaded, according to the reloading manuals, to MV 2600 to 2700 fps.

Questions:

1. What type and weight bullets do you recommend?

2. At what velocity(ies) do you recommend?

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Glad to know you like the 22 Hornet as this is the caliber I plan using on the smaller cats and critters up to badger and jackal.

FYI my results of range days 1 & 2 with factory ammo.

I am working on load development for my 22 Hornet. Regrettably I didn’t take photo's or do ballistics of my first range day with it shooting factory ammo, 45 grain soft points.

The end result was putting 2 plastic gallon jugs filled with water on the ground one behind the other a few inches and right of the 25 yard target, (NRA Silhouette B-27 with a Shoot-N-See 8 inch target covering the silhouette's center mass), the first shot into the jugs was under a inch of high and left of center mass. Both water jugs exploded as if I used a handgrenade, sending roughly a 1 inch x 3 inch chunk of plastic into the center mass of the 8 inch S-N-S target roughly at a high angle 30 inches left and 40 inches high to the jugs location. Another second smaller chunk of plastic 1/2 +/- wide and 2 +/- inches long was lodged 6 o'clock low center in the black outline of the silhouette. Other much smaller shards of plastic littered the ground as far as -4 feet away from the water jugs location.

Apples and Oranges per se

My second range day I used Hornady 35 grain V-MAX factory loads; when I purchased all three boxes of ammo I thought both brands were the same bullet weight. I shot 5 rounds through my chronograph to get an average MV of 3000 fps.

On paper target at 50 yards, with 50 yard zero from range day 1 using 45 grain bullets, the Hornady 35 grain V-MAX were clustered with lowest bullet hole 1 1/2 inches high and the highest bullet hole 2 1/8 inches high over the "X" ring.

Reloaded: For future testing: Sierra 45 grain soft points and unknown brand 45 grain FMJ HP bullets down loaded, according to the reloading manuals, to MV 2600 to 2700 fps.

Questions:

1. What type and weight bullets do you recommend?

2. At what velocity(ies) do you recommend?

I've only started using the Hornet for the last year, so still working through what works. Currently, I'm shooting the Game King in there over 11.2gr.
Surprisingly, it doesn't exit on a Common Duiker or a Steenbok at 70 yards.
Also leaves small exit holes on the Caracal which is great.
Recently had a hunter use Barnes TSX on Blue Duiker and Common Duiker which I was very impressed by the performance.
I like the 45gr. Even at the lower velocities, they get in there.
Very impressed with the round.

 

[RESERVE RANCH]

After multiple Safaris, using every sort of rifle and shotgun I have settled on the Tikka model 12-70 which is a 222 over 12 gauge. This covers short and long range quickly and easily. These guns are available on the secondary market at a very reasonable price +/- $1000

JES

 

[IvW]

If I could afford it I would get a Blaser BD 14.
1 set of barrels with 3 cartridge options.....
Mine would be 20ga/22 Hornet/6.5×57R.....

The ultimate Tiny ten rifle....

 

[AZDAVE]

@Inline6 I have used the 120 1n3 130 gr CX bullets with great results in the 6.5 Creedmoor and Grendel.

@KMG Hunting Safaris Marius in the hornet I have used the 52gr and 55gr FMJ bullets in small furbears here in the state at 150 and under and just leaves a nice .223 hole in the kritters and doesn't blow up anything. but required a proper shot placement Would make a neat hole in a tree'ed caracal vs extra taxidermy work from to tight a pattern 12 ga

 

[Ridge Runner]

@Inline6 I have used the 120 1n3 130 gr CX bullets with great results in the 6.5 Creedmoor and Grendel.

@KMG Hunting Safaris Marius in the hornet I have used the 52gr and 55gr FMJ bullets in small furbears here in the state at 150 and under and just leaves a nice .223 hole in the kritters and doesn't blow up anything. but required a proper shot placement Would make a neat hole in a tree'ed caracal vs extra taxidermy work from to tight a pattern 12 ga

Apologies to the OP for the temporary destraction of going off topic a bit.

@AZDAVE,

What velocities are you shooting the 52 gr and 55 gr FMJ?

What bullets are you using 22 Hornet or .223/5.56 in .224 diameter?

What is your or the KE of the 52 and 55 gainers at 150 yards?

Much appreciated for any info you can provide.

 

[AZDAVE]

Using Hornaday .224 FMJ the 52's, I have no idea as I bought them at a gun show 15 years ago and they were in a big bin and I just bought them by the pound.

In a K-hornet NEF handi rifle
55gr 2360 FPS ME at muzzle is 680 ftlbs and at 150 425 ftlbs

22 Hornet Ruger 77/22hornet
52gr 2405 fps ME at muzzle is 668 ftlbs and 150 422 ftlbs

55 gr 2298fps ME at the muzzle is 645 ftlbs and 150 404 ftlbs

Mostly shoot 40-45 gr in both rifles for the last several years, since I shot all the 52 gr.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Using Hornaday .224 FMJ the 52's, I have no idea as I bought them at a gun show 15 years ago and they were in a big bin and I just bought them by the pound.

In a K-hornet NEF handi rifle
55gr 2360 FPS ME at muzzle is 680 ftlbs and at 150 425 ftlbs

22 Hornet Ruger 77/22hornet
52gr 2405 fps ME at muzzle is 668 ftlbs and 150 422 ftlbs

55 gr 2298fps ME at the muzzle is 645 ftlbs and 150 404 ftlbs

Mostly shoot 40-45 gr in both rifles for the last several years, since I shot all the 52 gr.

Thanks for the information @AZDAVE.

 

[Safari Dave]

I tried to use a solid from a .416 Rigby a while back to take a fairly small animal (baboon).

The bullet hit the humerus, so I might as well have used a hand grenade.



A guy that I shared camp with a few years ago, used a 12 gauge shotgun with impressive results.

With tungsten #6 pellets, night cats and the tiny 10 within 100M should not be a problem. Just make sure you have patterned it well and really know what it can do.

You might have to "sideswipe" something at very close range, to avoid pelt damage.


If you just want to use a rifle.... .22 WMR, .222 Remington, .223 Remington, .22 hornet, etc. should be fine. I would try to avoid "varmint" bullets in the centerfire rifles, because they almost explode on impact.


Where I live, the .22 WMR reigns supreme, even though it is not legal for "big game", even though one shot kills (head shots) on 300 pound feral hogs, probably occur every day.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

.223 fmj mil surplus ... if it can be imported. Ideal for killing most dinky things. Not so great for killing humans though.

 

[BryceM]

I used a .375 H&H last month with solids on a klippie. He went about 5 yards. Little tiny hole on both sides of the shoulder.

This gives the advantage of being a PG rifle, DG rifle, or tiny 10 rifle all in one.

A .223 or .243 with a TSX or similar would be OK, but hitting bone could result in a bit of a mess. My daughter used a .22-250 with lightest available TTSX's on a pronghorn with no big holes.

 

[ActionBob]

I brought a Ruger 77/22 22Hornet with a Swarovski Z5i 3.5-18x44 with a Leica Calinex clip on thermal. And a little titanium suppressor. Used it on Red Duiker in the day, without the thermal of course. Sharpe’s Grysbok, genet, porcupines, side striped jackal, black backed jackal, civit, and white tailed mongoose.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I brought a Ruger 77/22 22Hornet with a Swarovski Z5i 3.5-18x44 with a Leica Calinex clip on thermal. And a little titanium suppressor. Used it on Red Duiker in the day, without the thermal of course. Sharpe’s Grysbok, genet, porcupines, side striped jackal, black backed jackal, civit, and white tailed mongoose.View attachment 620815View attachment 620816View attachment 620817View attachment 620818

Now please tell us 22 Hornet fans what bullet weight and type, velocity(ies), manufacturer, you used. So we can gain confidence in using this caliber.

I'm using this exact firearm: Ruger Model 77 22 Hornet. Different scope. For some of these same critters.

 

[ActionBob]

Now please tell us 22 Hornet fans what bullet weight and type, velocity(ies), manufacturer, you used. So we can gain confidence in using this caliber.

I'm using this exact firearm: Ruger Model 77 22 Hornet. Different scope. For some of these same critters.

I used factory Remington 45 grain softs. Really worked great on the small antelopes shot back a bit avoiding the shoulder. For the smaller critters even the 22 Hornet might be better to use a solid. I hit the white tailed mongoose in the right eye and about took off the ear. I plan to do some experimenting at home.

Those pesky back ground squirrels in Texas may prove useful yet

 

[ActionBob]

Does anyone know anything about converting a 22 Hornet to a 22 K Hornet?