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Currently shooting Woodliegh 480grn softs and solids out of my 1905 Gibbs 450 3 1/4NE, but have not shot anything bigger than a pig with this load. The gun and I are going to Zim for Buffalo and Tuskless and I am thinking of trying Hornady's DGX and DGS bullets as they appear to be of stouter construction. Would someone with field experience with these bullets please toss some advice my way as whether I should stay with the Woodlieghs are go with the Hornadys
Thanks
I would stick with the Woodleigh softs and solid...they are proven bullets.
Zephyr
I used Hornady 450 NE 3 1/4" last year both DGS & DGX for cape buffalo...
First buffalo was dead on it feet with the first shot and PH had me put in followups to make sure the bugger was dead. shot at about 40 yards
Second Buffalo was hit hard and we followed up and the 450 NE Solids blew holes right through the buffalo. He looked like a pin cussion and again the PH had me put in a follow up shot...shot at about 100 yards...and then 15 feet...bugger just stood there and let me fill him with holes...
In fact i am purchasing more Hornady ammo for other rifles ... these performed very well...
For the record, I really like Hornady ammunition, it's super affordable, accurate and has worked very well for me. It's just that I think the Woodleigh are fine too and wouldn't change unless it shot poorly through my rilfe. Because accuracy is super important.
Considering what safaris cost these days (as well as funerals), price should not be a consideration when selecting DG ammunition. Woodleighs are bonded, Hornadys are not. That is important. Shoot both in your rifle to see which prints closest to the point of aim. Chronograph both as well. If both perform equally well, I would select the bonded Woodleighs over the non bonded Hornadys.
I used Woodleighs in my 375 and 416 and found that they worked very well. Also met another hunter who shot a wilderbeast with his 375 ruger using 300 gn Dgx ammo. Took him 5 shots to kill it. Showed us a couple of the recovered projectiles and all where in missing copper jackets and had broken into pieces.
+1 with the softs but not sure if it matters which one in the Fmj.Quote:
Originally Posted by .416 Rigby
I've been using Hornaday factory loaded 458 Lott (500gn), both D.G.S and D.G.X, for the last three seasons and am very pleased with the results.
Even at Lott velocity, and even at close range, the softs perform admirably on buffalo.
The solids are very good and are my preference over the Woodleigh solids.
I have no way of proving it, measuring it or quantifying it but the semi-flat nose (meplat) on the Solids appears to transfer energy to the target better than standard round noses.
This is my opinion only, based on my observations.
I could chronical anecdotes of several dozen buffalo I have taken, most in extremely poor shooting oportunities/circumstances and have yet to be dissapointed with these bullets.
For buff I would use the softs backed up with some solids, and for "phunts.... solids all the way !
It does matter. A non-bonded solid which strikes heavy bone can have the lead core squeeze out from the base of the bullet like toothpaste from a tube. Have seen it happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by classicsafari