Tiny 10 Specific Calibers

[Il luccio]

@ActionBob & @skydiver386

In the spirit of digressing, she’s a scientist and I have now introduced the concept of handloading and this is the current conversation:

“Omg you can fill your own shells?”
“What is the benefit of it? Besides the fun”
“Do you think we could bring custom ammo to Africa?”

I think I’ve created a monster

 

[skydiver386]

@ActionBob & @skydiver386

In the spirit of digressing, she’s a scientist and I have now introduced the concept of handloading and this is the current conversation:

“Omg you can fill your own shells?”
“What is the benefit of it? Besides the fun”
“Do you think we could bring custom ammo to Africa?”

I think I’ve created a monster

Mine likes rifles and expensive hunting trips.

Whether this is actually cheaper than expensive jewelry, shoes and fur coats has yet to be determined.

 

[tinktink12]

Mine likes rifles and expensive hunting trips.

Whether this is actually cheaper than expensive jewelry, shoes and fur coats has yet to be determined.

You got that right!

 

[Flbt]

This has probably come up in bits and pieces in other threads, but in short: I’m looking to find a good Tiny 10 specific rifle for my girlfriend that will 1) allow her to take all of the tiny 10 and other PG up to impala and 2) be something that would provide her a good rifle to learn to shoot accurately

Ideally it would be 1) cheap to shoot 2) low recoiling 3) possibly larger than .23 cal

More context if you need it below.

My Girlfriend and I are planning to go on Safari at some point in the next 2-3 years as we will be visiting South Africa for a wedding/vacation. She has some interest in hunting larger PG, but she is much more intrigued by the little guys. She has some experience hunting and she is interested in hunting whitetail more and getting better at shooting and hunting in general. I’d like if I could to buy one gun for her to get comfortable learning to shoot AND improve her skills AND actually hunt with.

There’s a lot to factor in. Honestly, I think it probably is not something that really exists, but running it by people with more experience seems like a good idea!

Do you think a 350L would work?
The 170gr sp would be good for at least deer size.
The 145-47 gr fmj should be good for little stuff?
The ones we have are accurate and very easy to shoot.

 

[Hedge774]

I don’t think you would be the odd one out. I think that tends to be the case it seems. Best gun is always relative to the person shooting it. There is always some tradeoff and a compromise somewhere unless you own all of the guns, which could be a strategy as well… a drilling or combo would be very cool, but probably relatively difficult to come by and justify. A man can dream though.

Merry Christmas to you as well.

I have my Grandfather's 22lr/.410 O/U. That would be a fun Bush gun! No DG, of course.

 

[ActionBob]

luccio, post: 1532211, member: 133545"]
@ActionBob & @skydiver386

In the spirit of digressing, she’s a scientist and I have now introduced the concept of handloading and this is the current conversation:

“Omg you can fill your own shells?”
“What is the benefit of it? Besides the fun”
“Do you think we could bring custom ammo to Africa?”

I think I’ve created a monster
[/QUOTE]
Oh now you had better get her all the best reloading equipment! This opens up all kinds of new possibilities!

And yes you absolutely can bring custom ammo to Africa Do try to have the correct headstamp though.

 

[ActionBob]

Mine likes rifles and expensive hunting trips.

Whether this is actually cheaper than expensive jewelry, shoes and fur coats has yet to be determined.

Mines likes expensive everything Seriously she has great taste.

She has great taste in guns, hunting trips, non hunting trips, handbags, sunglasses, Jewelry, especially Diamond Jewelry. Don't get me started on shoes! Clothes, furs, houses, house plants, vehicles......

 

[Longfeather1]

Back to the original question, how about a 5.7x28 for the tiny ten?

 

[Hedge774]

I guess if a 22 WMR works, so would the 5.7. Theoretically. In a rifle. At less than 100 yards for me.

 

[IvW]

A caliber that makes zero sense to take to Africa......

 

[sureshot375]

A lot of great advice here already.

If I was going for tiny 10 only I would take a .22wmr. Speed is not your friend with these little critters.

A .22 wmr is also fine for impala at reasonable distance.

 

[Bigry]

I took the advice from Phillip Glass on this. I got a Tikka t3x and am loading the 70 grain Barnes in it. My trip I have planned for May will be for several of the tiny 10. My last trip over I shot a Duiker with my 280 ackley 150 grain Barnes ttsx and it nearly blew it in half. I will definitely report back afterwards.

 

[Rimshot]

I'm with @IvW on the combo gun being the most ideal tool, but admittedly expensive and hard to come by here in the US. I had a great time using my 22 hornet/6.5x55/20ga drilling and being ready for anything, shooting targets of opportunity. Sometimes wish the "big rifle" was more than 6.5mm but it's fine on medium plains game. I think the 22 hornet requires handloading to get full potential, but when you do it's a reliable 200 yard gun on tiny 10 and ground birds. By using the proper bullets (lead soft point spitzers, not plastic tipped!) I got quick kills and small exits. I even brought a few TSS shotshells for tiny 10 close encounters, but I only got to shoot birds with the shotgun this trip.

@tinktink12 makes an important point about gun fit. I took a Savage Lady Hunter and put a .358 win barrel on it, and my wife can't be convinced to shoot anything else now. We've been on 2 trips and everything is down with the first shot from it. Even though it's low velocity, it messed up the cape on a couple of tinys I shot 3 years ago with it, so I don't recommend the 358! Wife has no interest in the tiny 10 though, so it's perfect for her uses.

 

[Hedge774]

After reading this thread, I added two Tiny's to my April safari and purchased a "Tiny Rifle". The Tikka 223 was on sale for $649 @ Eurooptics as someone pointed out before. Very slick, handy, pointable rifle. I'll let you know about shootability soon!

 

[Hyde Hunter]

I have your answer. Tried and proven, and proven again. I had the same question a number of years ago. As a rancher I have the ability to hunt and shoot a lot including specific testing on animals on the hunt. A few safaris ago I needed to take my double plus a light caliber for the Tinies and cats. After much testing (many threads here on AH) I found the Barnes 5.56 in 70g TSX the be the best for putting animals down but not tearing up even the smallest of cats. I have it in a Ruger American Ranch but would love a Tikka T3X to play with in this caliber. Scores of deer, dozens of springbuck, and many others have fallen to my perfect little setup!
You will get a lot of opinions here. Some will work some will greatly disappoint you. Mine will work for certain.
Happy Safari Planning!

listen to Phillip he knows what he is talking about

 

[wildwilderness]

The obvious choices have all been mentioned.

If you reload your own rounds then you can make anything work. Choosing the right bullet and velocity is key.

From a modern cartridge standpoint I think a 6mm ARC would fit quite well.

For something a bit older a 257 Roberts would fill in nicely as a multipurpose hunting cartridge.

 

[tinktink12]

I used 257 Roberts for my Tiny’s in SA. worked well. When I go in June I will use the Fur Hammer bullets hand loaded in my 257 rather than the Barnes X.