450/400 3” DGX performance

[BeeMaa]

Problem is - apart from Hornady and North Fork, or Barnes and Hammer if you want a mono, there just aren't a great many choices in the US presently.

I was actually just looking for some Norma bullets, and nobody has any 286/325 gr in stock. And I think they only make up to 375 anyway. And it appears we're down to 3 or 4 retailers who even stock norma anymore. Midway, Grafs, Midsouth, Powder Valley, and Natchez are the biggest 5 I know of them, and none of them even lists Norma anything.

How about CEB? Good brass solids from what I hear and the Raptor has been spoken of highly as well.

Disclaimer - I'm not a reloader. I do know that there are a bunch of .400 caliber bullets that are within 0.005" of each other and only one of these works for the 450/400.

 

[Ruraldoc]

These two 400 grain Hornady DGX bullers were retrieved from a buffalo bull. About 2160 fps, from bench set up.
The first shot on the buff was with a 375 and it was badly placed. The buff took off and the follow up guy put in two rounds from his 450/400 double. The buff continued on it’s way a bit further and set up an ambush and that is where it was finally put down.
View attachment 589632View attachment 589633

Kevin

Thanks do much for posting. I have a Ruger Number One in 450/400 and have a supply of Hornady factory ammo and component bullets for it.

The DGX Bonded look very good to me.

You list a velocity of 2150 fps.

Were you shooting handloads?

 

[sgt_zim]

How about CEB? Good brass solids from what I hear and the Raptor has been spoken of highly as well.

Disclaimer - I'm not a reloader. I do know that there are a bunch of .400 caliber bullets that are within 0.005" of each other and only one of these works for the 450/400.

Always forget about Cutting Edge. Still not a lot of choices, though.

I could order Rhino from RSA, they aren't particularly expensive, but I'm sure the shipping would probably eat me up.

Is Peregrine still in business?

 

[BeeMaa]

Always forget about Cutting Edge. Still not a lot of choices, though.

I could order Rhino from RSA, they aren't particularly expensive, but I'm sure the shipping would probably eat me up.

Is Peregrine still in business?

I don't reload, so I'm not sure. Here's the link...

https://peregrinemonolithics.com/shop/

 

[LP67]

In my opinion ( like many calibers) , there was or in no need to re invent the wheel with proven bullets out there like swift A frame, nosler & Barnes . Must give Hornady a shoutout for marketing, but they still fall short of the above mentioned, swift/nosler/tsx .

 

[Albert GRANT]

Always forget about Cutting Edge. Still not a lot of choices, though.

I could order Rhino from RSA, they aren't particularly expensive, but I'm sure the shipping would probably eat me up.

Is Peregrine still in business?

Peregrine is still in business, just had an issue with their U.S. distributor. You can use the link BeeMaa provided for the old stock that former distibutor still has, but anything not listed there, you should go through discreet ballistics. They will be the new distibutor soon, selling the Peregrine bullets under the name Hotline Monolithics. Currently putting in quarterly orders for requests, but will have stock in the near future. If you speak with David Stark, he can get them to make anything you want. I'm currently waiting for them to fill an order for the new Levergun specific bushmaster bullets for my 45-70. https://discreetballistics.com/

 

[pilar]

Mark, very interesting viewpoint, a lot to consider.
I have 0% experience shooting buffalo (still a dream), so I always defer to those that have on the ground experience.

Regarding Hornady's marketing, they did make significant mistakes. The challenge in developing a new product, and that messaging is at the feet of the Marketing folks, the Engineers did their job. I have seen this too many times.

Marketing thinks that the message is " this doesn't suck like we used to", then therefore steer away from messaging and just make a slight product name change, taking the easy way out, don't stir the pot, and collect their annual bonus.

If a bolder approach by Hornady was used, as you said more or less, "We used input from African PH's and created a better product." That is much better and legitimate messaging to consumers, serious African Hunters, that won't call bullsh*t on this.

Backed up with legitimate testing and data, and Hornady has a good message.

They took the easy way out, added "Bonded" to the box, and changed product code numbers by one digit. I have shot hundreds of rounds of each but had to pay attention to the product code I ordered.

Most Marketing executives are risk averse. Don't stir the pot and get the bonus. I do not have much respect for this business practice.

Only based on bullet testing, DGX Bonded is better than the unbonded, almost as good as Woodleigh, but Woodleigh's are still my go to.

I appreciate the wisdom and experience of so many members on this site. I learn something every day.

Your Results May Vary.

The hornady marketing department chaps my ass majorly as I can’t get a clear answer on the 250gr CX !
first I was told CX’s where a good choice as a general African cartridge, then they said no , same with 270gr sp-rp super performance
they helped develop the 375Ruger now don’t know how to support it
the outfitters 250 CX is out of stock and they don’t know when it’ll be available
the 270gr super performance aren’t bonded, but the 300gr dgx are maybe;(
the older DGS had problems also?
as hornady is the only game in town for factory production ammunition, imo they need to be able to support the 375Ruger with a better production capacity and product line
rant over

 

[Safari Dave]

My old DGX did just fine on buffalo:

 

[CoElkHunter]

The hornady marketing department chaps my ass majorly as I can’t get a clear answer on the 250gr CX !
first I was told CX’s where a good choice as a general African cartridge, then they said no , same with 270gr sp-rp super performance
they helped develop the 375Ruger now don’t know how to support it
the outfitters 250 CX is out of stock and they don’t know when it’ll be available
the 270gr super performance aren’t bonded, but the 300gr dgx are maybe;(
the older DGS had problems also?
as hornady is the only game in town for factory production ammunition, imo they need to be able to support the 375Ruger with a better production capacity and product line
rant over

Beware ANY Hornady proprietary cartridges and their partnered Ruger rifles. They came out with the .375 and .416 Ruger cartridges and then the .300 and .338 RCMs in the 2007-2008 time frame. Ruger hasn't chambered their Model 77 Hawkeye rifle in the latter two cartridges since 2012! If anyone has the latter two, an LGS here has ALL the boxes you want for $43/box. Somebody here stated Hornady hasn't had a run of .375 Ruger reloading brass for three years. This same LGS has .375 Ruger 250gr. GMX for $78/box, but I'm not sure about that bullet? Hornady has moved on to their newest proprietary 6.5s-.300 PRCs and left their previous offerings in the dustbin of history. Already, one can't find even some of the newer PRC offerings in reloading brass or factory ammo at reasonable prices. I did buy a like new used .375 Ruger Guide Gun a month ago, but that WILL be the last Hornady proprietary cartridge I buy unless I find a .416 Ruger at a good price for which I found a good supply of pre Covid priced brass at the same LGS. Hornady needs to step up and support those that bought into their "latest and greatest" cartridges 15 years ago.

 

[Safari Dave]

No Ruger proprietary cartridges for me.

Try finding them in Africa, if your loads don't make the journey!

 

[CoElkHunter]

No Ruger proprietary cartridges for me.

Try finding them in Africa, if your loads don't make the journey!

Try finding .375 or .416 Ruger in MOST LGS here in the states? You'd probably have better luck finding them in a small village gun shop in Tanganyika! LOL

 

[sgt_zim]

Beware ANY Hornady proprietary cartridges and their partnered Ruger rifles. They came out with the .375 and .416 Ruger cartridges and then the .300 and .338 RCMs in the 2007-2008 time frame. Ruger hasn't chambered their Model 77 Hawkeye rifle in the latter two cartridges since 2012! If anyone has the latter two, an LGS here has ALL the boxes you want for $43/box. Somebody here stated Hornady hasn't had a run of .375 Ruger reloading brass for three years. This same LGS has .375 Ruger 250gr. GMX for $78/box, but I'm not sure about that bullet? Hornady has moved on to their newest proprietary 6.5s-.300 PRCs and left their previous offerings in the dustbin of history. Already, one can't find even some of the newer PRC offerings in reloading brass or factory ammo at reasonable prices. I did buy a like new used .375 Ruger Guide Gun a month ago, but that WILL be the last Hornady proprietary cartridge I buy unless I find a .416 Ruger at a good price for which I found a good supply of pre Covid priced brass at the same LGS. Hornady needs to step up and support those that bought into their "latest and greatest" cartridges 15 years ago.

Really glad I have this huge Romantic streak running through me.

404 Jeffery
9.3x62
45-70
6.5x55

Even 308 Winchester is sort of an old cartridge now, having come out in 1952. More time has passed between 1952 and now than when I was born and the introduction of 270 Winchester.

I guess you could consider my 280 AI new. But since it's based on a brass case that's now 120 years old, I don't imagine I'll ever want for that, either.

 

[Hunt anything]

Try finding .375 or .416 Ruger in MOST LGS here in the states? You'd probably have better luck finding them in a small village gun shop in Tanganyika! LOL

I was in Port St Joe Florida 2 years ago and walked into a bait shop, they had a small gun rack with a few guns but had a substantial amount of ammunition. Lo and behold there was 4 boxes of .375 Ruger DGX bonded 300 grained. $75 bucks a box so I bought them all. But I really haven’t had too much trouble finding it . So you may not be too far off base here.

 

[Hunt anything]

Actually it’s been easier for me to find 375 Ruger than any type of .338 win mag. But that’s SW Alabama not Africa.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Really glad I have this huge Romantic streak running through me.

404 Jeffery
9.3x62
45-70
6.5x55

Even 308 Winchester is sort of an old cartridge now, having come out in 1952. More time has passed between 1952 and now than when I was born and the introduction of 270 Winchester.

I guess you could consider my 280 AI new. But since it's based on a brass case that's now 120 years old, I don't imagine I'll ever want for that, either.

Well, you need to get a .338 WINCHESTER MAGNUM (circa 1958) which right now one can't find ANY reloading brass and/or factory ammo for a REASONABLE price. It's all about the newer proprietary .338s that will very soon be heading towards the cartridge dustbin of history. Same story, they were all created as a solution to a problem that didn't exist and to sell their cartridges and partnered rifle brands at an upcharge to the unsuspecting masses.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Actually it’s been easier for me to find 375 Ruger than any type of .338 win mag. But that’s SW Alabama not Africa.

.338WM ammo/brass is MIA here too.

 

[sgt_zim]

Well, you need to get a .338 WINCHESTER MAGNUM (circa 1958) which right now one can't find ANY reloading brass and/or factory ammo for a REASONABLE price. It's all about the newer proprietary .338s that will very soon be heading towards the cartridge dustbin of history. Same story, they were all created as a solution to a problem that didn't exist and to sell their cartridges and partnered rifle brands at an upcharge to the unsuspecting masses.

If I got a 338, it would be of the -06 variety. Brass abounds.

 

[Hunt anything]

If I got a 338, it would be of the -06 variety. Brass abounds.

Yeah, I’m almost to the point of finding ammo that’s abundant and buying a rifle I like to shoot it.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Yeah, I’m almost to the point of finding ammo that’s abundant and buying a rifle I like to shoot it.

Anymore, it's all about the brass if one reloads. An '06 or .308 case are and have been the parent case for a variety of wildcats. Same with the .375 H and H (.458WM) family of belted cartridges. Reloading dies can mostly be found for those wildcats but not the brass in many other cartridges. If one doesn't reload, a good plan is to buy what you can find on sale or at a reasonable price and buy a case of it. I did that with Raven Rocks deal here on .308 ammo. I may be using the .308 more for hunting than I was planning on.

 

[Hunt anything]

Anymore, it's all about the brass if one reloads. An '06 or .308 case are and have been the parent case for a variety of wildcats. Same with the .375 H and H (.458WM) family of belted cartridges. Reloading dies can mostly be found for those wildcats but not the brass in many other cartridges. If one doesn't reload, a good plan is to buy what you can find on sale or at a reasonable price and buy a case of it. I did that with Raven Rocks deal here on .308 ammo. I may be using the .308 more for hunting than I was planning on.

I don’t have the time or space to reload so I’ve pretty much been buying any ammunition I run across for the rifles I have. So over the years I have been able to keep a pretty good supply of ammunition so with buying this piece meal approach I’m pretty zeroed in on what ammo my rifles shoot well and over the last couple of years I’ve stocked up on those brands and bullet weights.