Just got back from my second safari, this one with Infinito Safari's, and am now entertaining the thought of pursuing the tiny 10. Or should I say tiny 8 as I already have a Steenbuck, and Mountain Reedbuck. Problem is the 300wsm really makes a mess of the animal and need an excuse to buy another rifle. What would you use? I do have a .243 that might be really good for this.
Thanks.
By the way, hunt report on the way.

Have used a .243 on these guys as well. Still puts a big hole in them. I would try a hard bullet or go with a .223 or .22 Hornet next time.

I used a 243. Don't know if there issues with bringing 223 ammo

On my way to Mozambique for Suni, Oribi, red duiker, and blue duiker (among other things) in about a month. I'm using my .375 with North Fork Flat Point solids. The only thing I changed from my DG setup was the scope. I changed from a 1-4x to a 3-9x40.

I've shot steenbok, klipspringer and common duiker with the .375 using solids and they were both dead and in reasonable condition. I killed a vaal rhebok with a Barnes TSX from my .300 WSM a few years ago and it left a pretty ragged exit but still not too bad. I would have struggled to hit the vaallie with a .375 (though it could be done by someone more skilled than me).

I vote for the 243 with TSX.

That .22 Hornet double Bailey Bradshaw built would be perfect for that pursuit.

375 H&H with solids.

Shot a Red Duiker a couple weeks ago with a .25-06 and soft points, it was pretty hard on the little guy.

Not sure if a TSX would be better or not, but that would be the only soft point I'd use. FMJ's in the small calibers would seem the better choice.

quote:

Originally posted by Sevens:
375 H&H with solids.

My thought as well-

After several trips to Africa, personally, I am more comfortable with a 300 Mag Plus caliber in my hand at all times-

The 375 with solids truly works well on the little guys ,
with little ill effect on pelts-
unlike the smaller faster expanding rounds

Having shot most of the "TINY 10" with several guns I think you'd far better off with a solid in larger calibers for most of them. One caliber size hole in and the same going out. Expanding bullets at high velocity will even in smaller calibers cause a huge amount of damage. Shotguns are best for the really small guys like the Suni and blue duiker. The exception is of course the Mountain reedbuck and Rhebok which might be taken at long range. These are not so small and 300 magnum with controlled expansion bullets worked well for me with minimum damage.

Mark

.30 with Barnes Solids.

quote:

Originally posted by jaegerfrank:
.30 with Barnes Solids.

As long as the 30 wasn't a magnum I think the velocity would be great.

A 30-06 with 220 grain solids would probably be ideal.

Not that you'd need that much bullet, you are doing it to slow it down.

Tradition rules! Scoped 375 Holland with solids....

+1

quote:

Originally posted by umzingele:
Tradition rules! Scoped 375 Holland with solids....

I"'very taken a few of the little guys. I'm on the lucky side that I haven't experienced any pelt damage on my animals. Below is what I used on them:

Common duiker - 300 Win Mag with 180 gr TSX at about 30 yards
Oribi - 375 H&H with 300 gr Barnes RN solids at 180 yards
Vaal Rhebok - 300 Win Mag with 180 gr TSX at 429 yards
Blue Duiker - 22 LR with a suppressor at about 35 yards

Also, took a mountain reedbuck with the 300 Win Mag and 180 gr TSX at 125 yards although some do and some don't count this species as part of the Tiny 10.

My next trip will likely add another one, or two, and I'll probably use some of the same medicine. The 375 with solids did an excellent job as did the 300 with the TSX. The key is to not hit something solid like the shoulders. All my shots were behind the shoulder much like our North American critters.

Good luck!

As these are normally shot at short range, may I suggest you use your 243 with reduced loads??

Far less damage would be caused.

I would consider any of the varmint calibers for the tiny ones. .223, 22-250 would be good choices. Solids from any caliber would work well also and probably better. My first was a steenbuck shot with a 7 STW and a 150 gr. Barnes XLC. PH told me to aim for the guts to prevent damage. At 100 yards it zipped him open gutting him on the fly. He still looks good after the taxidermy patched him up. In 2012 I took a klipspringer at 131 yards through the base of the neck coming out the back of the neck with a silver dollar chunk removed. That gun was a 308 Win and 165 Hornady SP. Again, taxidermy fixed it up and it looks fine. I also took a vaal rehbock that year with the same 308 Win load without much of an issue due to the heavy hair that covers up the damage. This year I used the 340 Weatherby and 250 gr Barnes TSX on a civet at 30 yards. I tried the gut shot again and got the same results as the steenbuck. Ripped him crotch to brisket and he ran 20 yards with guts dragging. Decided to go for a shoulder shot and the 340 on a jackal at 75 yards. Results were clean entrance and a 1/2 dollar exit through the shoulders. I think the minor damage just gives the mounts character.

Have used my Bradshaw double in .22 K-hornet to take Damara dik-dik and red duiker with great success. No shot over 60 yards.

Only issue is not enough kilojoules for some country's regs.

Regards

I caution hunters on over analysing pelt damage on the small animals. So often I have seen a hunter "aim a little further back" to save the cape, only to wound the animal and end up shooting it again anyway.
I second the suggestion of a tough bullet in whatever rifle you would normally have used.
Those vaalies are small and often shot at extreme range in high winds, so don't skimp on power too much.

I've seen hunters using .22 mag rifles for the small guys. Whatever you choose, make sure your PH has something larger to deal with any surprises along the way...

.375 solids make a LARGE tear on the off side on steenbuck. 300 mag with ttsx on a klip springer looks like a praire dog shot with a 22-250. This May we went on a small cat safari. Civet, serval, genet, porcupine, hyena and bushpig. Used a .223 solids and a 7x57 with heavy bullets loaded to 2250. All worked well-one shot kills and no damage. The .223 is not "traditional Africa" but the 7x57 is, especially in Boer country. But they both worked.

Tom

Some of the tiny guys are best hunted with a shotgun, like the Blue Duiker, Suni, and some of the other very small Duikers. Many you won't see until they take off, and hitting one running with any rifle is a low-percentage shot. Ask your PH...it may depend on the area in which they're found.

I would use a rimfire like a .22 le, .22 mag or a .17hmr

I used a winchester M-92 in .25-20 on a Duiker. It worked quite nicely and didn't cause much damage to the carcass at all. I used the Hornady 60 grain soft point.

I'd also think the .22 Hornet or .218 Bee would do nicely as well. Even the .22 Mag rimfire would be fine.

These animals aren't much bigger than a large jack rabbit for the love of pete.....

Don't forget Hornady GMX. Super accurate, not too big exits, and less violent than TSX.

22 hornet, 222 rem, 221 fireball...ect with a 45 grain or 50 grain TSX....

Ed

Interesting topic and one that I have given some thought too.

Off to Namibia later this year and while I will be hunting some much larger species, I hope to get an opportunity at a Damara Dik-Dik. Plan on only taking one rifle (9.3x62) and have considered bringing a handful of 275-gr. Norma Solids for this animal.

Would appreciate any insights on this or suggestions on a viable alternative.

I shot my Common Duiker at 10 yards with a 9.3x62, 283 Nosler partition. Exit damage was minimal.
If I was specifically hunting tiny ten......
For the really little guys the Rimfires would be fine but they would be a bit light for the largest that may go 50 pounds.
A Hornet or Bee with 50-65 grain bullets to get the velocity down would be better for oribi and duikers.
If I had a choice of any cartridge I would use a 6mm-223 with 75-85 grain bullets. It has more power than is really need but what if a record springbok jumps out.

Is there really a problem of bing attacked by lions while hunting dik diks?
Mark

375 with Solids or a 22 hornet. Blue duiker with a shotgun as they are usually hunted with dogs. also....Mtn Reedbuck and Vallies are not included in the tiny ten

I have taken 2 steenbok and a african wild cat. I used a shotgun on the wildcat and a 308 with PMP ammo on the steenbok. I'd not shoot the PMP ammo again at anything even a steenbok.

Made a big damn hole.

Its more about the speed than it is about the caliber.

Use the biggest slowest bullet you can shoot accurately. The bullet should be a mono metal bullet.

We have taken the Mini 10 many times over and the least damage has always been with slower bigger bullets that dont fragment.

For the suni,red and blue duiker you may end up shooting a shotgun in the thick stuff so get your shooting skills honed on moving targets. You can roll tyres along a slope with a peice of board in the middle to see how you are doing on the target. Most people shoot behind without knowing it.

Good luck.
Ian

quote:

For the suni,red and blue duiker you may end up shooting a shotgun in the thick stuff so get your shooting skills honed on moving targets

Throw in a Dik Dik and a Grysbok and I'll second you on that one.

All the tiny ones make for great full mounts but if you are intent on using a rifle, shoot further back and be happy with a shoulder mount.

300 Blackout subsonic (1050fps) with 180-220gr bullets would be a good choice. I've killed lots of warthogs and Jackals with a subsonic .375H&H using 350gr bullet out to 100yds. Minimal tissue damage and they are dead.

I agree with solids from a bigger caliber and have had great results shooting a 250 grain Barnes solid out of my 338 RUM. Shoot a little farther back than tradional heart shot and you'll have a pencil sized hole on both sides. No problem for any taxidermist. Velocity also does not seem to be a concern.

A nice trim lightweight 7x57 with 175gr cartridges loaded to about 2350fps will work wonders on all the tiny ten, as well as mountain reedbuck. For vaalies the distances might be 80yards or 500 yards in howling winds so a good flat 270 load or 7mm is more than enough. I personally use my 257Wby for vaalies.

A good taxidermist can fix a lot of things.

While a .223 may not be the ideal caliber to some, the discontinued Ruger African in .223 sure looks the part for a tiny safari!!!

quote:

Originally posted by MD375:
A nice trim lightweight 7x57 with 175gr cartridges loaded to about 2350fps will work wonders on all the tiny ten, as well as mountain reedbuck. For vaalies the distances might be 80yards or 500 yards in howling winds so a good flat 270 load or 7mm is more than enough. I personally use my 257Wby for vaalies.

A good taxidermist can fix a lot of things.

Its more about the speed than it is about the caliber.

Use the biggest slowest bullet you can shoot accurately. The bullet should be a mono metal bullet. (this is a quote from Ian, above.)

I have a 325 WSM with solids. Will that work on dik dik?

I have shot about 5 or 6 little guys with the .22 hornet, all without much damage.