375 H&H DGX Performance on Whitetail?

[CP392]

Hello all!

Long time lurker, first time poster. Tons of great info here but I can't find anything on my specific question. I recently bought a Model 70 Safari Express in 375 H&H and topped it with a Leica Amplus 1-6x24. Having never hunted with a 375 before, my knowledge of it's capabilities and limitations is nil aside from what I have read on this forum.

I want to take it out this year for a whitetail hunt or two to become familiar with the rifle. Which leads to my question, how will factory loaded Hornady DGX 300gr perform on deer? Unfortunately, I do not handload and the DGX is readily avaliable. I'm assuming the heavy bullet construction will penetrate through without much expansion or excessive damage but would like to pick your expert brains for real world experience or possibly a better suited alternative.

 

[Just a dude in BC]

Good day,
I have not hunted with that specific combo, but I have hunted with a 375, and with dgx in other calibers.
You will absolutely not have a problem. Dgx are fairly blunt, and blunt bullets tend to wallop a lot harder than many of the high BC bullets that are common in whitetail hunting. So use this load without fear.
The only issue which will exist, is the lower start velocity 2500~ish combined with a low BC bullet will limit the length of your shots a bit. But for 250~ish and under you should not have a problem. Because they are whitetail, and that's a 375...

 

[revturbo9967]

I think it will do just fine

 

[Lone Star Bluegrass]

Good day,
I have not hunted with that specific combo, but I have hunted with a 375, and with dgx in other calibers.
You will absolutely not have a problem. Dgx are fairly blunt, and blunt bullets tend to wallop a lot harder than many of the high BC bullets that are common in whitetail hunting. So use this load without fear.
The only issue which will exist, is the lower start velocity 2500~ish combined with a low BC bullet will limit the length of your shots a bit. But for 250~ish and under you should not have a problem. Because they are whitetail, and that's a 375...

I haven’t used the DGX on whitetail but I agree with this assessment, especially with the aforementioned limitations on range and shot placement.
If you compare the meplat with, say, a what a .243 expands to, I’d call it similar tissue damage, albeit not entirely on the opposite side.

 

[K-man]

Just know your ballistics FOR YOUR GUN not just what is says on the box. and yes, under 250 yards you should be just fine. Make sure there's not another deer standing behind the one you want or you might get a "2 fer". Good luck this season!

 

[CP392]

Good day,
I have not hunted with that specific combo, but I have hunted with a 375, and with dgx in other calibers.
You will absolutely not have a problem. Dgx are fairly blunt, and blunt bullets tend to wallop a lot harder than many of the high BC bullets that are common in whitetail hunting. So use this load without fear.
The only issue which will exist, is the lower start velocity 2500~ish combined with a low BC bullet will limit the length of your shots a bit. But for 250~ish and under you should not have a problem. Because they are whitetail, and that's a 375...

That has been my assumption, and I'm glad you confirmed it! As for the range, I currently have the rifle sighted in 2 inches high at 100 yards. That should give me no more than 3 inches above or below point of aim out to about 225. I'm waiting to use my buddy's chronograph to get real numbers and then confirm on a longer range. To date, the furthest I have shot it has been 100 yards.

 

[Lone Star Bluegrass]

That has been my assumption, and I'm glad you confirmed it! As for the range, I currently have the rifle sighted in 2 inches high at 100 yards. That should give me no more than 3 inches above or below point of aim out to about 225. I'm waiting to use my buddy's chronograph to get real numbers and then confirm on a longer range. To date, the furthest I have shot it has been 100 yards.

Your trajectory verification is a sound plan. I’ll also add for future reference that you’ve said you’re shooting FACTORY ammunition and not soft charging DGX projectiles in hand loads—this would adversely affect not just terminal performance but perhaps more importantly wind drift at 200+ yards. Wind can be a significant factor depending on your region/conditions.

 

[sureshot375]

I mean how much performance you think you are going to need??

You could kill a whitetail with solids.

Great idea on hunting deer with your Africa rifle. I’ve been known to chase deer with my double.

 

[Tra3]

Good plan to practice with the Africa gun.

You will get an exit from every angle you shoot from, including if you have to pass through a small tree first.

 

[deewayne2003]

I intentionally hunted all of the previous deer season with my .300win to prep for Zimbabwe incase I got my tuskless early and glad I did.

This season I’ll be taking my .375 BRNO and using 270gr Federal blue box SP to build up a base of loading brass.

I will be aiming for the front shoulder though, even if the bullet doesn’t expand you have limited mobility and sent bone shrapnel flying in the chest cavity.

 

[Safari Dave]

IMO - A DGX will not expand enough for reliable performance on a whitetail. It will certainly kill one however, but it is not optimal.

Buy the cheapest "cup and core" bullets you can find and have at it!.

Old 270g factory loads, like Winchester "Silvertips" on gunbroker, would be fine.

You can find adequate "old stock" factory ammo for less than $40/box, if you look around.

 

[poco]

I’m hunting my 375 ruger but am shooting the 270gr sp-rp , I don’t know anything about the DGX on deer , the 250 CX is good out to 300 meters @ +2 inches 100y

 

[maxtheflyinghorse]

Winchester mod 70 classic super express and 300grain hornady DGX put this big red stag on the ground without any issues. POI was a bit behind the POI but it went through both lungs.

 

[Sourdough]

A .375 H&H 300gr DGX will do just fine on whitetail. Among the plains game I’ve taken are bushbuck and impala. They will exit though.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

You will be fine. This is actually a very commendable method of familiarizing yourself with a potential dangerous game rifle. Remember to zero in your rifle for it's maximum point blank range.

 

[KJE81]

I have used the DGX bonded on swedish moose with my double rifle in .375 Flanged Magnum without any problems, I assume they are larger then a white tail so it should work as good or even better.

 

[BeeMaa]

The upside is tracking the animal should be much easier.

Downside is meat damage. I really liked the shoulder, neck and rib meat for stew and chili. This bullet has the potential to create a lot of bloodshot meat.

I’d rather use a more appropriate cartridge for whitetail, but there are no point deductions for making them more dead. Best of luck with it and post your results.

 

[trperk1]

The DGX isn't a solid as some have stated by a bonded bullet. Really just a high performance Core-lock. I would hesitate to use it and look forward to your followup post in Nov!

 

[Jonathan Kashouty]

It will certainly do the job. Just a little much for WT Deer. If you want to hunt WT with your .375 I would go with a 235 grain soft bullet.

 

[meigsbucks]

Welcome to AH. I’ve never used that bullet, but as @Just a dude in BC stated, the blunt bullet coupled with the thicker jacket, should hammer whitetails out to 250+yds.