Why avoid Hornady DG bullets and ammunition?

[Shawn.54]

Funny thing is I live 45 miles from Cutting Edge the owner was my boss at a machine shop I worked at for a couple of years. I have never tried their products not sure why may have to pay them a visit.
I do use GS Custom in the 375 Ruger with great accuracy but no game taken was backup for my son with the 22-250 and never had to fire a shot. I will say that the 22-250 did not hit those deer with great force death was not blount force trauma but a very large hole "for a.224" in a strait line the petals did come off and went their own way leaving two slashes in the lung about two inches around the bullet hole which was around 1.5" diameter. The rest of the bullet continued on making almost as big a hole with about a .75" exit after penatrating 23" of deer. I think that little 40gr would have made it further than 5" into that lion but without the massive energy it would have achieved the same reaction.
The GS Custom HV is designed to shear the petals at high speed and continue its work as a flat metplat solid and at lower speed to open like a lead core.
I tried Barns X long ago and that left a bad impression.
So I'm always looking.
Shawn

 

[Shawn.54]

I started with 225gr ballistic tip and they came apart for sure in my 35 Whelen but both jacket and core always had enough energy to make exit hole.
And some very impressive knock downs but that was all I needed. The accubonds are not quite so messy.
I like exit holes they make my job of tracker easier.
Shawn

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

This has been a fantastic discussion, thanks to all who took the time to participate!

I am now looking at the Cutting Edge bullets a little differently. I was skeptical of the technology that relies on breaking apart, but it would appear to have some merit.

The cuts in the brass are no different than the grooves in a TSX in that this provides the "weak" point for the blades to come off at. The Raptors have been used extensively in the field and shown great results. @PaulT I believe when he was still guiding in Australia for the Asiatic buffs saw in excess of 100 buffalo taken with the CEB's.

My only concern, as I've thought and read is using them in heavy brush. The brush could cause them to start doing there thing before contact with the animal. In such hunting conditions, give me the North Fork bonded cores or the A-Frame.

 

[gizmo]

Really and truly IMO the A frame is the absolute most reliable DG bullet out there. I heard great stuff about the bear claws but have absolutely zero experience with or around them. Anytime the conversation of DG bullets comes up with people who truly know what they are talking about ( I absolutely do not include myself into that category as I have a whole lot to learn) there is but 1 bullet that is mentioned every single time within the first two choices and that is the A Frame. I tend to trust what experienced PH's tell me who have years of field experience hunting dangerous animals around the world. On the same note every single time I've asked about their experience with Hornady DGX/S I get the same answer, "it's kak".

 

[Hank2211]

A Bear Claw (which is a bonded bullet because Federal says it is) looks identical to an A-Frame when recovered from large animals like buffalo. I have complete confidence in it. No idea what either would look like when fired at thin skinned game because I have no experience with that. Always used TTSX on thin skinned game. The only exception is when I used a cup and core bullet on a leopard and the bloody thing charged me from a ditch it had rolled into when it fell out of the tree. That was the last time I used a cup and core bullet in dangerous game, except for the DGX in .404 because that's all we could get up here. But I was under the impression that was a bonded bullet because Hornady says it is. Oh well.

 

[gizmo]

A Bear Claw (which is a bonded bullet because Federal says it is) looks identical to an A-Frame when recovered from large animals like buffalo. I have complete confidence in it. No idea what either would look like when fired at thin skinned game because I have no experience with that. Always used TTSX on thin skinned game. The only exception is when I used a cup and core bullet on a leopard and the bloody thing charged me from a ditch it had rolled into when it fell out of the tree. That was the last time I used a cup and core bullet in dangerous game, except for the DGX in .404 because that's all we could get up here. But I was under the impression that was a bonded bullet because Hornady says it is. Oh well.

I really do like the TTSX, my only experience with it thus far have been clients using it on deer, antelope, and exotics but wow what performance it gives. Most certainly and effective round. I've recovered several from animals and they almost always pretty much look like the advertisement pictures.

 

[IdaRam]

A Bear Claw (which is a bonded bullet because Federal says it is) looks identical to an A-Frame when recovered from large animals like buffalo. I have complete confidence in it. No idea what either would look like when fired at thin skinned game because I have no experience with that. Always used TTSX on thin skinned game. The only exception is when I used a cup and core bullet on a leopard and the bloody thing charged me from a ditch it had rolled into when it fell out of the tree. That was the last time I used a cup and core bullet in dangerous game, except for the DGX in .404 because that's all we could get up here. But I was under the impression that was a bonded bullet because Hornady says it is. Oh well.

Hi @Hank2211
I know you mentioned a Hornady employee told you at DSC that the DGX is a "bonded" bullet. It is my opinion, and only that, this employee may have simply mis-spoke. ???
Consider this; Hornady offers both "InterLock" and "InterBond" bullets. They are different.

Hornady does not refer to their "InterLock" bullets as bonded, but as the core and the jacket being "locked" together, not "bonded" together.
I do not have first hand, eyewitness experience inside Hornady's manufacturing facilities, so I cannot say definitively what is or is not the case, just that this is my understanding and semi-educated opinion.
Take it for what it's worth
And also please know I am not trying to spark a "discussion" that will add another 18 pages
My very best!

 

[Hank2211]

Hi @Hank2211
I know you mentioned a Hornady employee told you at DSC that the DGX is a "bonded" bullet. It is my opinion, and only that, this employee may have simply mis-spoke. ???
Consider this; Hornady offers both "InterLock" and "InterBond" bullets. They are different.
View attachment 192217

View attachment 192218

Hornady does not refer to their "InterLock" bullets as bonded, but as the core and the jacket being "locked" together, not "bonded" together.
I do not have first hand, eyewitness experience inside Hornady's manufacturing facilities, so I cannot say definitively what is or is not the case, just that this is my understanding and semi-educated opinion.
Take it for what it's worth
And also please know I am not trying to spark a "discussion" that will add another 18 pages
My very best!

Actually it was @Wheels who made that comment about a Hornady employee. You can be forgiven the error, given the 18 pages this discussion has lasted.

I hesitate to say that I will make one last comment, but if I was going to make a last comment, it would be that I won't use Hornady DGX or DGX bullets. I would also add, to each their own. But as someone who has been charged by buffalo and leopard, I will say this: if you don't have 100% confidence in your bullet, find another bullet.

 

[Michael Dean]

What I don't understand is why anyone would have a conversation regarding the use of any Hornady product. There are several products on the market that have proven positive results including A Frames, North Forks and AccuBond to name just a few.

Hornady refuses to accept and/or admit that it has a serious problem with one of their products, a product that people rely on to protect them from dangerous animals. If they refuse to acknowledge such a serious problem, what leaves you to believe that quality control is at the forefront of their other products.

Today, we have the luxury of choosing from an array of quality bullets and hunting products. I personally will not experiment with questionable products when there are so many products on the market with proven track records. Engaging in a conversation regarding the use of Hornady products is something I personally won't waste any time on debating. My time can be better spent on discussing the merits of wearing multi-colored socks.

 

[spike.t]

yeah but @IdaRam when you read hornadys description of the DGX features it kinda doesnt do whats written on the the box.....and anyway we now moving on with @Michael Dean excellent choice in a new subject .....far more interesting.....

"My time can be better spent on discussing the merits of wearing multi-colored socks."

Features:

1. Flat Nose
   The flat nose aids in expansion and straight penetration, reducing possible deflections.
2. Serrated Nose Section
   The serrated nose section of the jacket and the sidewall thickness profile give the ultimate combination of controlled expansion, weight retention and depth of penetration.
3. Copper Clad Steel Jacket
   The heavy copper clad steel jacket is 0.098” thick and penetrates deeply through hide, muscle and bone.
4. InterLock® Ring
   Patented InterLock® ring locks the core and jacket together, improving retained weight of the expanded bullet.

 

[Hank2211]

"My time can be better spent on discussing the merits of wearing multi-colored socks."

Let's start with the first example. What about these?

 

[spike.t]

well now @Hank2211 as my laptop is only black and white hard to tell if they multi coloured or not.......

 

[IdaRam]

Actually it was @Wheels who made that comment about a Hornady employee. You can be forgiven the error, given the 18 pages this discussion has lasted.

I hesitate to say that I will make one last comment, but if I was going to make a last comment, it would be that I won't use Hornady DGX or DGX bullets. I would also add, to each their own. But as someone who has been charged by buffalo and leopard, I will say this: if you don't have 100% confidence in your bullet, find another bullet.

Dang it! Sorry 'bout that and thanks for setting me straight.

 

[IdaRam]

yeah but @IdaRam when you read hornadys description of the DGX features it kinda doesnt do whats written on the the box.....

Agreed

 

[sheephunterab]

Well, technically...
Hornady's "Interlock" has been around for a long time. It is not "bonded". It is a "mechanical" lock, versus molecular.
The intelock is a ring of jacket material that protrudes inward radially inside the jacket and serves to better "lock" the lead core with the jacket material.
Think of it like this. Offroaders use wheels with bead locks to mechanically secure their tires to the rims so that when they let the pressure way down the tire doesn't come off the rim. The "interlock" is the bead lock. Bonding would be more like "gluing" the tire to the wheel with black max super glue, although the process is entirely different.
I hope that helps ???
And just a side note, Hornady's old RN Interlock bullets were very good bullets. Far superior, in my humble opinion , to the DGX. Just not sexy.
And, and, and... Hornady does make a number of very good products. Just thought I'd go on record saying that

Yup! Perfect explanation! Hardly a proprietary process and definitely not bonded. Hornady does make a bonded bullet but the the DGX and DGS ain't it.

 

[IA Monsterbuck]

Is this good? Sorry, I'm not much of a rifle hunter but do find this interesting. I read several comments about weight retention and it seems that this bullet lost nearly a third of its weight which doesn't sound like good performance?

 

[sheephunterab]

Accubonds are without question the most frangible of the bonded bullets and are often called Accubombs. They do have a reputation for extreme accuracy though, something not typically associated with bonded bullets. They do have a reputation for bang flop kills as well. Something often associated with more flangiblre bullets with well placed shots of course. That one actually has that classic mushroom shape that so many desire. Many I've recovered haven't but when placed well they kill

 

[1dirthawker]

my question to the users of hornady dgx bullets: would YOU bet your life on them? (DANGEROUS game expanding)

if so, more power to you. after reading about multiple failures on this forum, and seen a couple failures myself, AND having much better choices available, i gotta say "not for me!"

nothing makes a person a believer or change their ways quicker than a bad lesson or a near death experience. i can learn from others.

when the trigger is pulled, there is only the bullets integrity and ability to do its job that matters. its already been aimed, the bullet is away and it alone can determine what will happen next. will it fail (or work sometimes?) nothing makes me feel more comfortable in bear country that a gun that works sometimes. same with bullets.

i just wish that hornady would listen to the guys that use their product and put/make a better bullet in their ammo.

 

[sheephunterab]

In some chamberings absolutely it would be my first choice..

 

[1dirthawker]

calibers 9.3 and up