Rank the Solids

And yes, I will use Hornady without any iota of doubt. Of course, the new ones.

What you want to use is likely irrelevant. What you get to use will depend on your doubles regulation.

You can take comfort in the knowledge that most solids are pretty good these days. Use the solid that regulates the best in your rifle and you will be fine.

I also have not shot an elephant yet, but its on my short list for 2026 (fingers crossed) and also on the books for the fall of 2027...but have spoken extensively with several PH's and friends who have taken multiple elephants. When I was just in Zimbabwe hunting with Dalton & York, spoke to a few of their PH's too on the subject. I brought a couple different ones to try out on hippo too.

I have not heard any of them say anything negative, all positive, in regards to the following:
CEB BBW,
Northfork,
and rave praise of the Swift Breakaway and Woodleigh Hydros.

The D&Y gents seem to adore and try to run the Swift Breakaways, but sang praises of the rest of the list above. Think availability for PHs will also impact what they run, leading to why I think we see less CEB loads from them than Northfork, Woodleigh, and Swift.

I do think the Swift Breakaways and Woodleigh Hydros come available at times. Swift just had some of the breakaways released as Midway had them in several dangerous game calibers recently, and Raven had the Woodleigh Hydros. I bet Swift will have more selection available between now and SCI as well.
As far as Ranking...for me when I finally get the chance to pull the trigger on an ele...so hard as I really, really like both CEB and Northfork, but also really, really want to try the Swift Break Away and Woodleigh Hydro. The CEB and Northfork both shoot wonderfully and same POI through my Heym 450NE, and will try the Breakaways and Hydros...if they do the same, I may bring more than one type. Hunt with one, but take insurance shots with another for educational purposes.

Several really stellar choices. The only option I have heard folks and PHs alike dissuade use are the Hornady DGS (well DGX as well on buff). I know this is a hot topic at times, folks seem almost triggered, but expect that is from fact that folks seem to have varied experiences, and do understand that improvements were allegedly made in the more recent versions, so could exist as a hold over. My PH this last trip said they are still seeing issues with recent manufactured dangerous game bullets from Hornady and are strongly urging client to please not bring them for dangerous game.

Accordingly, I would try them all out for your particular gun and loads you develop. Great practice and fun in both rolling your own and shooting your double. Come up with your own sweetheart or short list based on your personal experience, and then consider asking the outfit you will hunt with, if they have any material preference for or against any particular solids, since you will already be placing a great amount of trust and money into their judgment on the hunt. ****And please share what your learn through it all....especially results with photos, we love those.

Barnes TSX and Banded Solids are what I have used successfully. I like the Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer and Trophy Bonded Bear Claw but can't seem to find any.;

Hunter-Habib said:

My personal favorites are the :

Monometal Construction
Northfork flat point solids
Cutting Edge Bullets Safari Solids
DZOMBO Mark 6
Flat nosed Barnes Banded Solid (available only in .410, 474, .510, .585 & .620 calibers)

Lead Cored Construction
Wim Degol Vor Mantel
Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer (available only in .375, .416, .458 & .474 calibers)

Hornady Dangerous Game Solids are my least favorite. The steel jackets are not sturdy enough to properly resist distortion when striking heavy bone. This has been proven time & again in the last few years.

Swift Break Away Solids are excellent but practically ALWAYS listed by Swift as “Unavailable”.

Woodleigh round nosed steel jacketed FMJ solids are also magnificent, but (as per Woodleigh’s website) haven’t been produced since the 2021 fire at the Woodleigh factory.

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Swift usually has small piles of their bullets available at the SCI show in Nashville. Some calibers and weights sell out quickly, but if you can find someone who is going Wednesday, they could pick some up for you.

I've kept an eye out for the Swift A-Frames and Breakaway Solids to try in my 450 Rigby's, but Bill said they sold out by noon on Wednesday and I didn't get there till Friday.

Wildwillalaska said:

I also have not shot an elephant yet, but its on my short list for 2026 (fingers crossed) and also on the books for the fall of 2027...but have spoken extensively with several PH's and friends who have taken multiple elephants. When I was just in Zimbabwe hunting with Dalton & York, spoke to a few of their PH's too on the subject. I brought a couple different ones to try out on hippo too.

I have not heard any of them say anything negative, all positive, in regards to the following:
CEB BBW,
Northfork,
and rave praise of the Swift Breakaway and Woodleigh Hydros.

The D&Y gents seem to adore and try to run the Swift Breakaways, but sang praises of the rest of the list above. Think availability for PHs will also impact what they run, leading to why I think we see less CEB loads from them than Northfork, Woodleigh, and Swift.

I do think the Swift Breakaways and Woodleigh Hydros come available at times. Swift just had some of the breakaways released as Midway had them in several dangerous game calibers recently, and Raven had the Woodleigh Hydros. I bet Swift will have more selection available between now and SCI as well.
As far as Ranking...for me when I finally get the chance to pull the trigger on an ele...so hard as I really, really like both CEB and Northfork, but also really, really want to try the Swift Break Away and Woodleigh Hydro. The CEB and Northfork both shoot wonderfully and same POI through my Heym 450NE, and will try the Breakaways and Hydros...if they do the same, I may bring more than one type. Hunt with one, but take insurance shots with another for educational purposes.

Several really stellar choices. The only option I have heard folks and PHs alike dissuade use are the Hornady DGS (well DGX as well on buff). I know this is a hot topic at times, folks seem almost triggered, but expect that is from fact that folks seem to have varied experiences, and do understand that improvements were allegedly made in the more recent versions, so could exist as a hold over. My PH this last trip said they are still seeing issues with recent manufactured dangerous game bullets from Hornady and are strongly urging client to please not bring them for dangerous game.

Accordingly, I would try them all out for your particular gun and loads you develop. Great practice and fun in both rolling your own and shooting your double. Come up with your own sweetheart or short list based on your personal experience, and then consider asking the outfit you will hunt with, if they have any material preference for or against any particular solids, since you will already be placing a great amount of trust and money into their judgment on the hunt. ****And please share what your learn through it all....especially results with photos, we love those.

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I haven’t heard anything negative about cutting edge solid’s performance but I have heard reports of feeding issues. Was your PH referencing Hornady’s DGS or DGX? They’d see much more DGX. I don’t think their DGS is best solid (it’s an old design) but I haven’t heard of any failures recently more than any other solid. DGX on the other hand is a very soft soft point. It might be better than non-bonded version but it’s not in the same category as swift. I haven’t had a PH yet that wants to see them, but haven’t heard any complaints about DGS.

skydiver386 said:

Swift usually has small piles of their bullets available at the SCI show in Nashville. Some calibers and weights sell out quickly, but if you can find someone who is going Wednesday, they could pick some up for you.

I've kept an eye out for the Swift A-Frames and Breakaway Solids to try in my 450 Rigby's, but Bill said they sold out by noon on Wednesday and I didn't get there till Friday.

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Hopefully they have some at DSC as I’ll be there when the doors open. I can’t make SCI until Thursday afternoon.

I’ve had great success with the older Barnes flat-nosed solids. Have done great on hippo and elephant for me.

I would stay away from Nosler solids. Shot a buffalo with a 500 grainer out of a 458 Win and didn’t get a pass through and it deformed. Luckily the bull was dead on his feet from the swift Aframe and it wasn’t an issue for us. Here is a pic of the Nosler solid.

Russ16 said:

Hopefully they have some at DSC as I’ll be there when the doors open. I can’t make SCI until Thursday afternoon.

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Yep. I'm beginning to think they call them Swift Bullets because you better be Swift at grabbing them when they're in stock!

I have shot elephant with CEB and northfork solids in my 500/416. Have used both on my 9.3x74 on eland and sable (2nd) shot on both following up a a frame. All were complete pass through on elephant, eland, and sable. You can’t go wrong with either

375Fox said:

I haven’t heard anything negative about cutting edge solid’s performance but I have heard reports of feeding issues. Was your PH referencing Hornady’s DGS or DGX? They’d see much more DGX. I don’t think their DGS is best solid (it’s an old design) but I haven’t heard of any failures recently more than any other solid. DGX on the other hand is a very soft soft point. It might be better than non-bonded version but it’s not in the same category as swift. I haven’t had a PH yet that wants to see them, but haven’t heard any complaints about DGS.

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Made negative reference to both, including deflection problems seen with DGS, but real disfavor for DGX and impression was they saw more of them than solids.

Any CEB users seen one swell this dramatically? 470 Gr Raptors from my 450NE on two different hippo. The swollen one that broke at an angle was a close quartering shot on land and crashed through the shoulder.

For Swift, I’d sign up for stock notifications too. And with their vendors. I have a couple 450/400’s that I need to work up loads for. Won’t mess with the Westley Richards until JJ gives me more direction and have exact bore diameters. But my new 89b I know what I want to try.

Midway just got in a bunch of 400gr .410 A-Frames a couple days ago and had Breakaway solids on sale to $125bx (I might have gotten the last couple boxes but worth checking).

As we approach SCi, Seift will have more stock if you wanted to get them before Nashville, bet there will be a chance or two.

375Fox said:

What year were these from? I’m not a hornady fan, but I’ve heard nothing but good things about their DGS solid recently.

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Just 15 months ago. These are the "new and improved" version.

Here’s a Cutting Edge 400 grain .416 BBW #13 solid after it penetrated 4+ feet of a hippo, including about 15-18” of spine on a hard quartering away angle at about 40 yards. We found the bullet against the back of the skull.

In conversations with @michael458 I recall him telling me the best solids he tested were these Cutting Edge Solids and the Northfork solids. He also helped me solve the feeding issue to which @375Fox referenced.

Fatback said:

I’ve had great success with the older Barnes flat-nosed solids. Have done great on hippo and elephant for me.

I would stay away from Nosler solids. Shot a buffalo with a 500 grainer out of a 458 Win and didn’t get a pass through and it deformed. Luckily the bull was dead on his feet from the swift Aframe and it wasn’t an issue for us. Here is a pic of the Nosler solid. View attachment 733722

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Would have never imagined this happening with Nosler solid

I'm very happy with CEB solids. Very accurate and easy to load for. Successful on elephant in 2023, and sharpe grysbok last month. Runs the whole range in size!

Had good performance from TBSledgehammers back during hunts in the 1990s. No samples as either did not find or was a pass thru. And yes that was before Federal starting “improving” them.
Greatly prefer flat nose.

uplander01 said:

Would have never imagined this happening with Nosler solid

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Me neither. Especially on a buff at 20 yards that was broadside. I’ll never use them again. Love Partitions and Accubonds but will stay away from their solids.

steve white said:

Cart before the horse....your new to you double may have limits concerning, A. what it was regulated with, B. whether or not it can stand mono metal solids. You may have to choose a modern weapon that will shoot monos, or get someone like JJ Perodeax to re-regulate it, or both. All part of the adventure! Good luck.

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Should have no worry about using Cutting Edge Bullets in a modern double rifle Michael and Sam did a experiment with a barrel to see if there was any effect on the barrel using CEB solids. Sam took the barrel and turned it down on a lathe to see just how thin it would be before something happened. I cannot remember exactly how thin but it was much smaller than any barrel made on a gun. Infact I was quit shocked just how thin the barrel was.

Mysefl I wouldn't worry at all. I know Sam's Sabatti double just by shooting is regulated with Cuttting Edge Bullets.

Congrats on the double rifle and elephant hunt plans that's the pinnacle, brother. Stocking up early is smart good solids vanish quick.

Real world rank from PHs and hunters who've dropped elephants brain/body shots, doubles/bolts

1. Woodleigh Hydro Solids Gold standard for many pros Kevin Doctari Robertson loves am. Straight, deep pen with hydrostatic shock flat nose stabilizes perfectly. Scarce lately factory issues, but hunt am down worth the hassle.
2. North Fork Cup Point or Flat Point Solids Killer straight line pen expands slightly forbigger wound channel without veering. Tons of elephant/buff reports; cup point rivets a bit for trauma. Reliable and available.
3.Swift Break Away Solids Newer, field tested on ele buff with great results polymer tip discards, concave nose flattens for energy transfer). Feeds smooth in doubles, barrel friendly. Positive reviews, but fewer long term elephant stories than Woodleigh NF.
4. Hornady DGS Most available affordable, steel jacketed FMJ style. Works fine plenty of ele kills, but some PHs say it can deform veer on heavy bone vs premium options. Good budget backup.
5.Barnes Banded Solids Monometal, super straight deep banded reduces pressure. Proven, but some prefer brass lead core for doubles.

Others worth grabbing Cutting Edge Safari Solids brass mono, insane pen, straight as laser rising fast. Peregrine or Rhino if you find am similar hydrostatic design.

For elephant Prioritize flat meplat nose for stability brain shots. Regulate your double with whatever you choose that's key.

Stock Woodleigh North Fork Swift first if possible Hornady as filler. You'll sleep easy with any top tier.