Hornady DGX not performing......

fourfive8 · May 7, 2017

Me too!!

I would suggest either A Frame or TSX for all around. I have also had very good luck with the North Fork Cup Point Solid.

And Shanon 1966, the buffalo is a large, tough, "hard" critter while the leopard is of course a lot smaller and softer…. but tenacious if wounded. I think the A Frame or TSX would be good choices if using one bullet for both the buffalo and leopard.

Dr Ray · May 9, 2017

Jono Joseph said:
We have had them preform badly too from 375H&H to 500NE
Not what you want to see from a premium brand

I have not used the Hornady super fast cartridges. Has any one used such in deer and if so how did they perform compared to ordinary spitzers etc?

Dr Ray · May 9, 2017

Royal27 said:
Looks about right. ..

And Martin, I've seen examples of DGS falling apart too....

I think Hornady needs to be advised so they can do something about it. Failures like that can lead to the hunter &/or others being killed!

Jono Joseph · May 10, 2017

Dr Ray said:
I have not used the Hornady super fast cartridges. Has any one used such in deer and if so how did they perform compared to ordinary spitzers etc?

To be honest i have not seen the results from plains game with the smaller .30 calibers or i cannot remember them. Too many to remember
If they preform the same as the bigger calibers that would be disappointing.

johnnyblues · May 10, 2017

Dr Ray said:
I think Hornady needs to be advised so they can do something about it. Failures like that can lead to the hunter &/or others being killed!

I ve spoken to them. They don't believe any reports. The bullet is just great the way it is according to them.

Dr Ray · May 10, 2017

Jono Joseph said:
To be honest i have not seen the results from plains game with the smaller .30 calibers or i cannot remember them. Too many to remember
If they preform the same as the bigger calibers that would be disappointing.

That's enlightening. Thank you. I keep hearing conflicting reports and I appreciate your opinion. Once agin thank you.

Royal27 · May 10, 2017

Dr Ray said:
I think Hornady needs to be advised so they can do something about it. Failures like that can lead to the hunter &/or others being killed!

You here almost as many stories about them being advised as their bullet failures. Too bad their bullets aren't as consistent as their "first time we've ever heard about it " answer.

Ridgewalker · May 10, 2017

Dr Ray, I used their 165 Interlock out of a 30-06 on a number of elk and it seemed fine. In my 243 I had used Sierra 85 gr Game Kings on a number of whitetails, mulies and antelope and it worked fine, but I ran out so picked up some 87 gr Hornadys. On an antelope at 400+ yards it blew up on the skin. So I only use them on varmints now.
A friend in the outdoor industry told me Hornady tested their ELD-X bullets on plains game initially and had trouble with them being too frangible, so added the Interlock or thickened an area before production started.
Plains game typically have much thicker/tougher skin than even our elk have. Personally I'd recommend a "tough" bullet. Still, I plan to experiment with the ELD-X in my 30-06 and 300WM.
Good luck in your decision!

Dr Ray · May 10, 2017

Ridgewalker said:
Dr Ray, I used their 165 Interlock out of a 30-06 on a number of elk and it seemed fine. In my 243 I had used Sierra 85 gr Game Kings on a number of whitetails, mulies and antelope and it worked fine, but I ran out so picked up some 87 gr Hornadys. On an antelope at 400+ yards it blew up on the skin. So I only use them on varmints now.
A friend in the outdoor industry told me Hornady tested their ELD-X bullets on plains game initially and had trouble with them being too frangible, so added the Interlock or thickened an area before production started.
Plains game typically have much thicker/tougher skin than even our elk have. Personally I'd recommend a "tough" bullet. Still, I plan to experiment with the ELD-X in my 30-06 and 300WM.
Good luck in your decision!

To all of you who contributed I really thank you for your knowledge, experience, and time.
This us much appreciated.

Rule 303 · May 13, 2017

Dr Ray said:
I have not used the Hornady super fast cartridges. Has any one used such in deer and if so how did they perform compared to ordinary spitzers etc?

Dr Ray,
I use the Hornady 140 grain Interlock in my 270 Win. Muzzel velocity is 3100 fps out of a Steyr Prohunter. I will add this is a safe load in this rifle.

They are very effective on pigs and Deer. However I would not want to use them on an Elk unless a broad side shot. Penetration even out to about 120mts - have not had the chance to take game past this - is what I would call shallow. On a medium sized pig - top of shoulder about 18 to 20' - the projectile is makes just past center of chest and not much left of the bulk of the projectile. I would like to test their 150 grain interlocks in 270 as they are a flat base, might hold together better.

My conclusion is they 30cal and under bullets are good for deer (Up to and including Red deer), pig sized game but not as good as the Rem Coreloks or other bonded core bullets.

colorado · May 15, 2017

The title is redundant. DGX = Not performing. Hornady's DGX bullet failure reports are legion. Yet people still put their reputations on the line advertising them. Hornady should do better, or just load their ammo (their brass is good) with A-Frames, Woodleighs or North Fork Soft Points and give up on making bullets.

brettp · May 16, 2017

Two comments here.

1) here is a picture of a 500gr partition recovered from a big old dagga boy that I took with my 458 Lott a couple of weeks ago in the Caprivi. He had a solid inch of dried mud on his hide where the bullet entered. Needless to say, the performance was excellent and the follow up shots were appropriate but not strictly necessary (this shot went right through the engine room). I couldn't be happier with these.

2) while I don't have any pictures of recovered billets, I have taken two Buffalo and a brown bear with 400gr DGX's from my 416 Ruger. Effectiveness was outstanding. Both buffalo expired quickly and the brown bear died in his tracks. These were 2009 vintage rounds.

Rule 303 · May 16, 2017

Brettp, I think the message is clear. The Hornady DGX and DGS do work, some of the time. However the amount of times they do not work reliably and as they should is high and hence their reliability and dependability when facing DG is questionable. Knowing this most, including myself, will not use these bullets on DG. If somebody has had good success with them and wants to use them then that is their choice.

brettp · May 16, 2017

Rule 303 said:
Brettp, I think the message is clear. The Hornady DGX and DGS do work, some of the time. However the amount of times they do not work reliably and as they should is high and hence their reliability and dependability when facing DG is questionable. Knowing this most, including myself, will not use these bullets on DG. If somebody has had good success with them and wants to use them then that is their choice.

Can't disagree. That's why I used partition and nosler solids on my last DG hunt.

Jono Joseph · May 16, 2017

I always ask my client to bring
a premium brand bullet when hunting, especially DG
rather spend a few extra shillings than loose an expensive Buff.

Newboomer · May 21, 2017

I have 2 boxes of Hornady DGX 300 gr. After reading this thread I'm relegating them to punching paper. I'm planning a DG hunt for next year. I'll take my 375 H&H and Barnes 350 gr TSXs, thank you very much. I just returned from my first plains game safari. I took kudu, gemsbok, waterbuck, springbuck, zebra, impala, blue and black wildebeest, and nyala. I used a 7mm Rem mag with 160 gr Barnes TSX. All but the blue wildebeest and gemsbok were one shot kills at ranges of 80 to 350 yards. The farthest any animal traveled was less than 100 yards and we found them dead. All shots were through and through. The only slug recovered was from the impala and it was a perfect 4 petal mushroom. It weighed 160.3 grains. It picked up 0.3 grains of tissue. He was shot head on at 180 yards and the slug was recovered from just under the skin in the right hind quarter. After this hunt, I am a firm believer in Barnes TSX. They really work and don't tear up a lot of meat. A 7 mm entry hole and about a 1 inch exit. Flattens them right in their tracks.

otsego44 · May 26, 2017

In 2015 I took a Hartmann's Zebra, Waterbok, Gemsbok, Red Hartebeest, Blue & Black Wildebeest all with Hornady 270 gr. .375 H&H. Although all but the Zebra were one shot kills (took two shots, first one behind shoulder), the bullets came apart pretty bad, some came totally out of their jackets. My point, is although they all died very fast, I don't think I want to use them again on next years trip. Eland, Kudu, Gemsbok, and Zebra will be the bigger animals on the list. The lot of these rounds (and the 12 more boxes I have) were 2014. I'm thinking of Federal A-Frames, they seem to be a lot more stiff. Your thoughts are very much appreciated. Thanks group.

Royal27 · May 26, 2017

otsego44 said:
In 2015 I took a Hartmann's Zebra, Waterbok, Gemsbok, Red Hartebeest, Blue & Black Wildebeest all with Hornady 270 gr. .375 H&H. Although all but the Zebra were one shot kills (took two shots, first one behind shoulder), the bullets came apart pretty bad, some came totally out of their jackets. My point, is although they all died very fast, I don't think I want to use them again on next years trip. Eland, Kudu, Gemsbok, and Zebra will be the bigger animals on the list. The lot of these rounds (and the 12 more boxes I have) were 2014. I'm thinking of Federal A-Frames, they seem to be a lot more stiff. Your thoughts are very much appreciated. Thanks group.

Aframe, TSX, Northfolk - any true premium bullet that shoots well from your rifle.

otsego44 · May 26, 2017

Royal27 said:
Aframe, TSX, Northfolk - any true premium bullet that shoots well from your rifle.

I realize this tread is primarily about DG, I felt the need to post my experience.

Royal27 · May 26, 2017

otsego44 said:
I realize this tread is primarily about DG, I felt the need to post my experience.

totally agree - your data points are appropriate and valid.

Hornady DGX not performing......

fourfive8

Dr Ray

Dr Ray

Jono Joseph

johnnyblues

Dr Ray

Royal27

Ridgewalker

Dr Ray

Rule 303

colorado

brettp

Rule 303

brettp

Jono Joseph

Newboomer

otsego44

Royal27

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Royal27

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