Hornady DGX Bonded

CAustin · Jun 12, 2018

Ridgewalker said:
Oops! I guess no one has tried the bonded version yet. They’re still really new and I personally haven’t seen any for sale.
Sorry. I guess this thread got a little miss guided on my part.

Even though the packages don’t reflect it the bonded versions have actually been on the shelves for about 2.5 years.
A lot of people do not trust Hornady ammo and they are all in that camp for a reason. I on the other hand am in the camp that has no problem using the ammo as I have been successfully using it for some time. Do I use other ammos???.......welll yes I do...Winchester Ballistic Silvertips and Federal Premium Cape Shok to name a couple.
It is interesting to me that on my previous 4 Dangerous game hunts, lion Cape buffalo,elephant and hippo, the 5 different PHs who were on the hunts were using Hornady ammo in either 500 NE, 470 NE, 505 Gibbs and the 458 Lott. Is that because it’s relatively cheap or is it because they have had success with the ammo? They all told me the latter was the case.
There will always be two sides to every story.

PHOENIX PHIL · Jun 12, 2018

CAustin said:
Even though the packages don’t reflect it the bonded versions have actually been on the shelves for about 2.5 years.

And just how do you know this Charlie?

CAustin · Jun 12, 2018

PHOENIX PHIL said:
And just how do you know this Charlie?

Phil I heard it from someone in a gun shop then this guy confirmed same, unsolicited by the way, at the Kansas City SCI show. A couple of other AH members were with me when Craig was giving his talk and out of the blue the subject came up.

PHOENIX PHIL · Jun 12, 2018

And why would they do that? Makes no sense

PHOENIX PHIL · Jun 12, 2018

@CAustin, the pics that @IvW posted earlier....I know the gent that took those along with a butt load of other independent testing. In other words he paid for it all to be done and on his time. He has no need to be paid for it.

So as much as I like Craig’s books of which I own more than a few, not so sure about his opinion on bullets which is paid for.

CAustin · Jun 12, 2018

PHOENIX PHIL said:
And why would they do that? Makes no sense

Thought the same thing at the time but the explanation was they were easing into the placement of the new product.
@Shootist43 And @Art Lambart II were there hearing the same. Sort of like the year end run of an automobile might have the transmission that is coming out in the new model year.
Anyway I didn’t hear it from Hornady and doubt that we will.

CAustin · Jun 12, 2018

PHOENIX PHIL said:
@CAustin, the pics that @IvW posted earlier....I know the gent that took those along with a butt load of other independent testing. In other words he paid for it all to be done and on his time. He has no need to be paid for it.

So as much as I like Craig’s books of which I own more than a few, not so sure about his opinion on bullets which is paid for.

Not sure where I said he, Craig B, offered an opinion on the bullets other than when the new bullets were going out on the shelves. The opinions are mine and professional hunters who took me on Dangerous Game hunts not his for the purposes of my comments above.

By the way I just read one of his books last month.

PHOENIX PHIL · Jun 12, 2018

CAustin said:
Thought the same thing at the time but the explanation was they were easing into the placement of the new product.
@Shootist43 And @Art Lambart II were there hearing the same. Sort of like the year end run of an automobile might have the transmission that is coming out in the new model year.
Anyway I didn’t hear it from Hornady and doubt that we will.

Then why would you trust it against your own common sense? 2 and 1/2 years? And why make the change in the first place? Maybe just maybe someone proved there was a better design.

And as far as a flat meplat goes on a solid, have you ever wondered just how much of a flat face there should be? Ever wondered if there was an optimal angle from there to the shank of the bullet?

The answer is yes to both. Takes putting some time and money into research and a little less into marketing to figure these things out.

CAustin · Jun 12, 2018

PHOENIX PHIL said:
the pics that @IvW posted earlier....I know the gent that took those along with a butt load of other independent testing. In other words he paid for it all to be done and on his time.

So what was the gent’s motivation Phil? Did he have an ax to grind for some reason?

rafaellinne · Jun 12, 2018

That is the last elephant I shot with the dgs (500NE) and the only male with that bullet. It worked. I shot for the shoulder. He turned and I shot the other shoulder. Then, I kept shooting his butt when he was going away. He didn’t go far. The only “ugly” bullet I think is from one of the butt shots. It worked, too. We found it inside the chest cavity.

PHOENIX PHIL · Jun 12, 2018

CAustin said:
So what was the gent’s motivation Phil? Did he have an ax to grind for some reason?

He loves hunting and has a particular love of solids. His motivation was simple and to find the perfect DG soft and solid. Both Cutting Edge Bullets and NorthFork Bullets benefitted greatly from Michael’s efforts in his homemade shooting / reloading building he put on his property in South Carolina. At one time there was a thread that ran over 300 pages, nearly 400 over at the other place.

He made his money outside of hunting. Shooting and hunting are just his passion. A hobby he took way beyond what most would.

Michael also developed the B&M calibers in so doing. And no, he doesn’t make money on those either. He’d give you the shirt off his back, quite literally if you’re serious about it like he is. Many including myself have learned much from him including @PaulT who hunted many buff in Oz with him.

CAustin · Jun 12, 2018

rafaellinne said:
View attachment 233165
View attachment 233166
View attachment 233167

That is the last elephant I shot with the dgs (500NE) and the only male with that bullet. It worked. I shot for the shoulder. He turned and I shot the other shoulder. Then, I kept shooting his butt when he was going away. He didn’t go far. The only “ugly” bullet I think is from one of the butt shots. It worked, too. We found it inside the chest cavity.

That bottom bullet looks like the one I recovered.......almost reloadable.
Some people absolutely will not use Hornady.....OK. Obviously you and I have had good success with the DGS. Thanks for sharing your pictures sir.

CAustin · Jun 12, 2018

PHOENIX PHIL said:
He loves hunting and has a particular love of solids. His motivation was simple and to find the perfect DG soft and solid. Both Cutting Edge Bullets and NorthFork Bullets benefitted greatly from Michael’s efforts in his homemade shooting / reloading building he put on his property in South Carolina. At one time there was a thread that ran over 300 pages, nearly 400 over at the other place.

He made his money outside of hunting. Shooting and hunting are just his passion. A hobby he took way beyond what most would.

Michael also developed the B&M calibers in so doing. And no, he doesn’t make money on those either. He’d give you the shirt off his back, quite literally if you’re serious about it like he is. Many including myself have learned much from him including @PaulT who hunted many buff in Oz with him.

Interesting to know. Passion drives many of us to hunt.

PaulT · Jun 13, 2018

I guess it is great that we have options and choices,
and opinions being what they are they will vary.

"one Man's meat is another Man's poison".

Our varied personal experiences form our views and if someone is confident and happy with their equipment, fantastic.

I totally understand CAustin's, and others, success with the Hornady's, I simply don't place the same confidence in them, but that then is only my opinion.

Paul Edwards · Jun 13, 2018

It's deja vu all over again...

Graham Hunter · Jun 13, 2018

CAustin said:
Even though the packages don’t reflect it the bonded versions have actually been on the shelves for about 2.5 years.
A lot of people do not trust Hornady ammo and they are all in that camp for a reason. I on the other hand am in the camp that has no problem using the ammo as I have been successfully using it for some time. Do I use other ammos???.......welll yes I do...Winchester Ballistic Silvertips and Federal Premium Cape Shok to name a couple.
It is interesting to me that on my previous 4 Dangerous game hunts, lion Cape buffalo,elephant and hippo, the 5 different PHs who were on the hunts were using Hornady ammo in either 500 NE, 470 NE, 505 Gibbs and the 458 Lott. Is that because it’s relatively cheap or is it because they have had success with the ammo? They all told me the latter was the case.
There will always be two sides to every story.

Graham Hunter · Jun 13, 2018

Been on the shelf for two years? I sell Hornady and receive frequent updates on new Products and all updates. Was only told about the bonded last year at Shot Show.

CAustin · Jun 14, 2018

Graham Hunter said:
Been on the shelf for two years? I sell Hornady and receive frequent updates on new Products and all updates. Was only told about the bonded last year at Shot Show.

Ok that’s when you heard about it. That doesn’t change what I heard or when I heard it or the explanation given at the time. What I have offered in the thread is done so in good faith.

I’m glad you sell Hornady ammo sir. Despite detractors many people buy the ammunition and use same for many purposes. As noted in this thread there are a few of us who have been successful on DG hunts with the DGS rounds and I have also used the DGX rounds without problem.

CAustin · Jun 14, 2018

rafaellinne said:
View attachment 233165
View attachment 233166
View attachment 233167

That is the last elephant I shot with the dgs (500NE) and the only male with that bullet. It worked. I shot for the shoulder. He turned and I shot the other shoulder. Then, I kept shooting his butt when he was going away. He didn’t go far. The only “ugly” bullet I think is from one of the butt shots. It worked, too. We found it inside the chest cavity.

By the way sir nice elephant. What model rifle is the double you have shouldered?

CTDolan · Jun 14, 2018

I’ve put DGS solids through some pretty rigorous testing and they’ve held up well.

Most of the “failures” seen with today’s metal jacketed solids are due to tumbling. They get sideways or turned around inside an animal, hit bone, and then the base flattens or something of the sort. The same happened to solids 100 years ago. As for bullets that remain nose forward, though, modern ones, they are incredibly resilient.

Hornady DGX Bonded

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