Recommended Duiker Medicine

[mdwest]

My wife will be hunting a couple of the little guys on our next safari. The only rifle she will be taking on this trip will be a .308.

We're taking 168gr Barnes TTSX (factory loaded Barnes Vor-TX) for the bigger boys..

I was wondering if this might be too much for the little guys though and potentially mess up the capes too much?

Any other recommendations in .308 if the TTSX isnt a good option?

 

[Red Leg]

Solid.

 

[mdwest]

Roger on the solids..

Im having a little difficulty finding one in .308 though.. any recommendations? Factory loads are preferred, but I can roll my own too as an option if projectiles only is the best solution..

The barnes banded solids in 308 dont seem to be in production anymore..

Other solids I have found like the Cutting Edge 165gr .308 copper solid claims to be an "expanding" hunting bullet.

 

[IdaRam]

I think most of the solid loaded ammo you will find will be 140 to 150 grain projectiles, but with some internet searching you may find something heavier. If the lighter bullets shoot close to same point of impact as your TTSX’s, and shoot accurately from your rifle, they will work just fine. Same POI may be a bit much to expect, but only one way to find out.

 

[Divernhunter]

You will be fine. I used a 30-06 with cup and core bullets and a 257W with 100gr Barnes TTSX. Shot and dropped on the spot for both and little damage done to the hide.

 

[Bullthrower338]

I have shot the little guys with 300 gr a-frames in a 375 and 30 cal peregrine plainsmasters both with very little damage. I shot a steenbok with a 180 peregrine through the front right shoulder exiting rear left hind quarter at 225 yards. I expected to find a fist sized hole when I walked up on him but to my (and my Taxidermist’s) surprise there was a small exit through the hide. Quite an impressive bullet.
As IdaRam said, most solids will be of the 150 grain class FMJ in production ammo. Woodleigh manual shows a 180 gr hydro that might be fun to play with!
Cheers,
Cody

 

[ChrisG]

I believe that Cutting Edge Bullets makes a solid. If not, try a 110 grain FMJ made for a .30 carbine. Should punch a clean hole right through. Just don't expect the little bugger to collapse on the spot.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Shot one in Sept 2017 using 375 H&H 300gr Hornady DGS at maybe 20 yards. It ran another 20-25 yards. Very little damage.
Good luck getting your duiker!

 

[Shootist43]

Duiker are tiny little things. To avoid excessive damage you need a bullet that does not expand. Have you thought about one of Federal's offerings from the Lake City Armory. A plain old NATO 7.62 should do the job nicely. They are cheap and readily available.

 

[ChrisG]

Here is the issue with using Spitzer FMJ ammunition. They do not penetrate in a straight line and more often than not, they tumble and break apart causing almost as much damage as a soft point would have. The bullet needs to round nose or flat point to ensure it just punches a hole. Below is an example of what a .308 147 grain NATO FMJ does when hitting gel.

 

[Areaonereal]

A TTSX will do terminal damage, i shot mine with a 180 accubond and minimal damage to hide.

 

[IdaRam]

Your mileage will vary considerably with soft point ammo on the little guys. As a point of reference I shot jackal with 300 gr A-Frames and 300 gr Accubonds from a .375. The AB’s consistently leave softball size holes in the exit side. A bit surprising to me, the one I shot with an A-Frame was almost as bad. I did smack the shoulder bone on entry and I’m sure that was a factor. Point being, if you shoot any of the small stuff with softs, be very careful with your shot placement.
I have never shot a TTSX so I don’t know what the result might be.

 

[fourfive8]

Impact vel has a lot to do with outcome of any bullet impact. Anecdotes make good stories but....?? I'd go about it just like coyote hunting and wanting to keep pelt damage to a minimum. It would pay to be particular about location of hit and track through animal. Soooo that requires an accurate rifle-ammo combo and an accurate shooter.

The best assurance for minimal damage would be to use a tough, non-expanding (even an FMJ) bullet loaded down to a lower velocity while maintaining top accuracy and adequate ballistics for point blank hold on expected duiker range- maybe a 100 yards or less. Of course if the 308 is to be used for other larger plains game then some range time and re-sight-in effort should be planned for when changing ammo. Hit a small animal in the wrong place, at the wrong angle with a high vel expanding type bullet- don't be surprised at the outcome.

 

[Shootist43]

In something as small and lightly framed as a Duiker I thought the NATO round would just punch straight through providing no major bones were hit. But I've been wrong before.

 

[mdwest]

Just found a source for 168gr FMJ 7.62 NATO. I'm going to grab a few boxes and see where they print compared to the 168gr TTSX.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Bert the Turtle]

A NATO FMJ is going to flip as it transits the animal. It is the shape that is the problem: little weight in the front and the pointy nose renders it unstable in flesh. It is going to turn base forward as it transits the animal. On a duiker, there is a good chance it will exit while it is going sideways, leaving a bigger tear in the offside hide than any TSX would.

I've never shot anything as small as a duiker with a TSX, but every animal I've seen a TSX exit on shows a small round hole. If I were rolling the dice, I'd take a TSX over a NATO FMJ every time.

A solid is probably ideal IF you choose one that maintains terminal stability. ATF is making that hard to find in 308. There is a 220g Woodleigh available on Midway. Another option is the load a FMJ round nose intended for 30 Carbine. That is a short stubby bullet, almost a ball and has a better chance of staying front forward than does a NATO FMJ 308. If it does flip, it isn't as long as the 308 round and will do less damage.

All told, if it were me, I'd shoot the TSX and let the taxidermist sort it out. Put the exit wound side facing the wall if there is a problem, or better yet have him make a diorama with a plant or something covering the exit wound if it is a real problem.

 

[Buckdog]

I have shot them with a 12ga shotgun and #4 buck works quite well. I have also shot little guys with a 300win mag. the 300 does serious damage but as my taxidermist dennis harris told me to I just shot them center mass with the 300 blows big hole out the other side and doesn't mess up the front end for shoulder mounts. if you wanted life size mounts then I would use solids or shotgun on a duiker. so thus I would assume a 308 will blow a pretty big hole center mass with regular lead bullets and do the job. I do not like or use mono metal bullets unless they are solids for DG.

 

[TXHUNTER338]

Hell , i finally gave up and just used a 12ga. with #2's

 

[Rolf_T]

Used a TSX in 223 last time, and messed up upon exiting the opposite shoulder, and had to get another cape. A fistsized hole is not any taxidermist’s dream scenario.

 

[Royal27]

Solid would be perfect world of you can find one that has the same POI as the ttsx you are going to shoot.

If not, use that ttsx and don't worry about it. Hit them begond the shoulder and watch them drop. Unless you're going to do a full body mounts who cares if you blow a hole in one? And even if so, thread and a needle are cheap.