Ammunition Test - Hornady DGX Bonded VS Swift A-frame

[Ridgewalker]

FYI, Dr Robertson in one of his books wrote the 350 bullet in the 375 H&H performed like a .40 caliber on buffalo.

 

[Tanks]

Federal TBBC is a proper premium bullet and I appreciate the suggestion.
However, I've just fallen out of love with Federal as of late.

They promise they will make the Woodleigh Hydro...and then don't.
I personally have been told via email that they will be starting production on the 375H&H Hydros...lies, pure lies.
It's been years since I've seen "new stock" 375H&H Hydros for sale.

...

Interesting that they make the 9.3x74R Hydros and not the .375 H&H which is a more popular cartridge (I'd think).

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Your second choice is definitely a very sound one, if the NFs can't be had. I've been wanting to try some 350gr 375 bullets, and the NFs seem ideal.

Me too. I did find a 50 round box of 350 NF PP on Gunbroker for about $35.

 

[K-man]

I have had Hendershots load Northfork solids for me, if you are looking for custom rounds you might check with them.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Me too. I did find a 50 round box of 350 NF PP on Gunbroker for about $35.

Just an FYI, the ”PP” designation indicates it is for soft skinned game, ie PG, lion, leopard.
The “SS” designation is for thick skinned buffalo.

 

[TOBY458]

Just an FYI, the ”PP” designation indicates it is for soft skinned game, ie PG, lion, leopard.
The “SS” designation is for thick skinned buffalo.

Percussion Point and Semi Spitzer. Looks like they would come up with better terminology to make it more apparent what each bullet is to be used for.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Just an FYI, the ”PP” designation indicates it is for soft skinned game, ie PG, lion, leopard.
The “SS” designation is for thick skinned buffalo.

Thanks.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

Not that I have anything against the DGX Bonded. I've just had such good luck with Swift AF and Barnes TSX, I don't have a reason to change.

I used 300gr TSX in Australia on 3 Buffalo bulls, and was very impressed with their performance. They make the 375 seem like plenty of gun for Buffalo, and I wondered why anyone would want more.

In Africa 2018, I used Swift on all of the PG and my Buffalo on my first trip. The 375 H&H for PG and 416 Rem for my Buffalo. The Swifts were also excellent. The Buffalo took one 416 in the chest and that was that. The shot was straight on, and the bullet pierced the heart and was found way back in his guts somewhere.
The Swifts also gave excellent results on PG in the 375. No bullets were recovered, because every shot blew right through.

In Africa 2019, I used all TSX in my 375 H&H for everything. 270 grain for PG and Lioness, and 300 grain for Buffalo. I did have one of the 270gr bullets come apart on the Lioness, but they worked great on everything else, including a huge Eland.
For future hunts I plan to stick with 300 grain bullets for everything. No need for two different weights that I could tell.

If I were strictly hunting Elephant or Maybe Hippo on dry land, I would think the 350 gr North Fork solids would be excellent.

All though I'm a huge advocate of Woodleighs and as you have probably seen also really like the DGX Bonded, from my experience I still consider the A-Frame the best projectile there is for buffalo (again this is only my 2 cents). I also agree with you on the point of why fix what's not broken? As in A-Frames and TSX are working great so why change. But if for whatever reason you are looking for another option I can tell you I have used the 300 grain DGX bonded through my 375 extensively in the field on very large thin skinned game and man do they work. I have not used the DGX Bonded on buffalo as yet.

 

[Foxi]

Thank you Aussie for the work you have done.
It was high time for Hornady to jump on this train.
Furthermore the Hornady fly mega precise

 

[mikecatt13]

Thanks for the great test! I've been a hornady fan for all my factory ammo for many years. It's a bummer that it took some time for them to correct this, but a businessman I suspect that they knew they had only one chance to release an improvement and who knows what kind of time, testing, tooling, and research goes into that. Had it failed after the reported issues with the original DGX line, they couldve released a literal magical DG round the 3rd time and no one would use it.

Based on absolutely nothing but pure research, I will be loading A Frames for my first safari. 200gr for my wifes 300WM, likely 300gr for my
375. Might take swift factory scirocco in 30-06 for leopard not sure yet. I will surely report my actual field experience with them when I'm lucky enough to have it!

Swift, like my experience with Hornady, has been very very helpful any time I have product selection or reloading related questions

 

[Art Lambart II]

Based on absolutely nothing but pure research, I will be loading A Frames for my first safari. 200gr for my wifes 300WM, likely 300gr for my
375.

Before you load those 200 grain A-Frames for your wife try the Federal factory load with 200 grain TBBC, they shoot under 1/2" in my 300 WM.

 

[deewayne2003]

Interesting that they make the 9.3x74R Hydros and not the .375 H&H which is a more popular cartridge (I'd think).

I agree with Tanks.... and I have picture evidence, even though not specific to .375H&H

About a month ago I purchased a .375H&H Whitworth from a shop in here in Austin Texas and when I asked if they had any "range ammo to test with" I was surprised to hear the only .375H&H ammo they had in stock was 1 box of Federal Woodleigh Hydrostatics and I didn't even think of taking a picture of the box but it was the same clear plastic Federal Premium box as the picture below.

I took this picture December 1st while at Dury's Guns in San Antonio, as I have been curious about trying the Hydros in .470NE

 

[colorado]

Thanks for the great test! I've been a hornady fan for all my factory ammo for many years. It's a bummer that it took some time for them to correct this, but a businessman I suspect that they knew they had only one chance to release an improvement and who knows what kind of time, testing, tooling, and research goes into that. Had it failed after the reported issues with the original DGX line, they couldve released a literal magical DG round the 3rd time and no one would use it.

Based on absolutely nothing but pure research, I will be loading A Frames for my first safari. 200gr for my wifes 300WM, likely 300gr for my
375. Might take swift factory scirocco in 30-06 for leopard not sure yet. I will surely report my actual field experience with them when I'm lucky enough to have it!

Swift, like my experience with Hornady, has been very very helpful any time I have product selection or reloading related questions

It's good to hear Hornady has been working on their DGX line of bullets. The DGS solids I've heard are fine. I've had great luck with the 300g A-Frames in our 375 Weatherby and the 400g A-Frames in my son's 416 Remington.

 

[Tanks]

I agree with Tanks.... and I have picture evidence, even though not specific to .375H&H

...I was surprised to hear the only .375H&H ammo they had in stock was 1 box of Federal Woodleigh Hydrostatics

From Federal web site.

 

[Rule 303]

Interesting that they make the 9.3x74R Hydros and not the .375 H&H which is a more popular cartridge (I'd think).

They do make the Hydro's in 375, 2 different weights. One for the H&H-a 300grainer and a 235? for the Win 94 375

Aussie Hunter North Folks were brought into and sold in Aust. Most were but not all were happy with them from my reading.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

They do make the Hydro's in 375, 2 different weights. One for the H&H-a 300grainer and a 235? for the Win 94 375

Aussie Hunter North Folks were brought into and sold in Aust. Most were but not all were happy with them from my reading.

Who was bringing them in? Do you remember?

 

[AZDAVE]

Back a page or two there was a question on why your reloads recoiled less than the Hornaday Factory loads. The short answer is a different powder. as an example running the two best loadfs that I worked up for my 500 Jeff in a recoil calculator with my 104gr H4895 or AA2495 in my rifle the recoil is 89.16 ftlbs of recoil with a 21.87 fps recoil velocity. The 121gr IMR 4350 load is 97.60 ftlbs of recoil with a 22.88 recoil velocity. Both loads shoot accurate and to the irons at 50 Meters. 570gr at 2310 The 4350 is a more quick and solid smack to the recoil.

 

[Rule 303]

Who was bringing them in? Do you remember?

Just a bloke who sold bits and pieces of shooting related gear as a sideline to his main job. No doing any more of this I am told.

 

[Rule 303]

Back a page or two there was a question on why your reloads recoiled less than the Hornaday Factory loads. The short answer is a different powder. as an example running the two best loadfs that I worked up for my 500 Jeff in a recoil calculator with my 104gr H4895 or AA2495 in my rifle the recoil is 89.16 ftlbs of recoil with a 21.87 fps recoil velocity. The 121gr IMR 4350 load is 97.60 ftlbs of recoil with a 22.88 recoil velocity. Both loads shoot accurate and to the irons at 50 Meters. 570gr at 2310 The 4350 is a more quick and solid smack to the recoil.

Knew that but what got me was the the lack of velocity compared to my home loads. Like AR2213SC kicks way more than the AR2209 in the 416 Rigby but 2213SC requires about 10 grains more powder to get the same velocity. The Hornady stuff was vicious even when compared to the 2213SC and somewhat less velocity. More wondering why Hornady uses what ever powder it is when there are far better powders available. Starting to wonder if it is a sales gimmick to decrease their sales in the 416R.

 

[Jorgen Bostrom]

@Jorgen Bostrom is the owner now of North Fork. I'd have to guess that he's frustrated with not selling bullets and bringing a return on his investment. Hopefully he will chime in with the latest news.

I also see on North Fork's website that @ndumo HUNTING SAFARIS may be a supplier in Africa, Namibia to be exact. But the link only takes you to their hunting website and I don't see anything in regards to bullets.

I also looked up a German outfit that provides bullets. They have the North Forks listed, but say they will be ordered with no delivery date available.

So I'd say for the time being, we're out of luck. It'll be A-Frames in my barrel the next time I go to Africa if the NF's aren't available.

We work on the delivery to US. For the moment we only wait for import permit from US goverment so there will be products for you soon.