Hornady DGS Bullets

[nksmfamjp]

What is the deal with these? I read some negative comments but don’t understand what is wrong....seems to apply to solids and softs.

I’m sure there are better, but the Hornady price is right.

I don’t hear the same things said about their ammo, but it surely uses the same bullets.

 

[WAB]

Lots of strings on the forum going into excruciating detail. If you do a quick search you will find plenty of experience with these bullets.

 

[Mekaniks]

Yeah lots of folks around here have had some pretty bad and expensive failures with them. The cost of good ammo is inexpensive compared to losing an animal due to a bullet failure

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I never had a problem with Hornady ammunition.

 

[Luvthunt]

I do not believe that I have read any negative comments in DGS bullets in years. Hornady softs have had varying issues over the years or so I have read.
Use Swift AFrames myself but have used Hornady solids with no issues but prefer TB Sledgehammers only because of length and meplat.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Personally I have only used DGS factory loads on small animals (such as duiker). A friend had one blow up on a giraffe shoulder bone from his 458 Lott. The picture of it was pretty nasty. He was very close when it happened. Luckily his dad backed him up with his 9.3x62. One shot in the neck.
As with any bullet, a failure can happen under the right circumstances. JMO

 

[BnC 04]

Most if not all the issues Hornady had with bullet failure was/is with their non-bonded bullets. They have recently went to bonded as they should have years ago. How the new Bonded rounds hold up is yet to be established as far as I'm concerned but do plan on gathering some first hand knowledge next year with them.

 

[Mark haynes]

We have had problems with hornady ammo on thick skinned animals at close range. I am a Nosler fan but each to his own. I personally have had hornady loose all weight on impact and penetration was minimum. Great on deer, antelope and elk but not great on thick skin or big bone. Again my opinion only

 

[IvW]

What is the deal with these? I read some negative comments but don’t understand what is wrong....seems to apply to solids and softs.

I’m sure there are better, but the Hornady price is right.

I don’t hear the same things said about their ammo, but it surely uses the same bullets.

What animals you intend hunting with these bullets? or are you just asking in general?

 

[Longwalker]

I can't be sure, but from the variety of comments I believe that people don't actually distinguish between questions asked about the Hornady Dangerous Game Solid (DGS) and their Dangerous Game eXpanding ( DGX) bullets. A year or two ago Hornady corrected their earlier design deficiency in the Dangerous Game eXpanding bullet by bonding jacket to core. I suspect the reputation of the bullet was already made, and it wasn't good. And now few people who had bad experiences with the non-bonded version are willing to try the newer bonded type.
Except for the post by Ridgewalker above, I have not heard or read of other credible reports of a DGS failing that didn't leave me wondering if they were actually describing the old version of DGX. Hornady would have done themselves and hunters a favour by naming their bullets with distinct, separate names that don't get confused.

 

[johnnyblues]

Correct it took many many phone calls and e mails to convince Hornandy to do something about the poor performance hunters were having on dangerous game. I called several times and I quote “ we’ve had no reports on any problem”. End quote. Bull! Many members here lost or nearly lost animals. As said the jury may still be out on the bonded bullet. IMO why take a chance when Swift A frames are PROVEN winners.

 

[Longwalker]

The original poster asked about the Dangerous Game Solids, and again most of the answers were gripes about the old DGX.

 

[IvW]

The original poster asked about the Dangerous Game Solids, and again most of the answers were gripes about the old DGX.

Poor design for a DG solid..

Many better solid mono metal designs, jacketed solids are no good for DG they are only good for shooting small animals such as duiker with a bigger bore rifle.

Only reason people get into them is the price..

I’m sure there are better, but the Hornady price is right.

Bad idea to base the use of a DG bullet on price....it will become a costly affair when they fail on DG.

I have always only recommended proven premium grade bullets for DG hunting. It is the last thing you should compromise on when planning a DG safari

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

What is the deal with these? I read some negative comments but don’t understand what is wrong....seems to apply to solids and softs.

I’m sure there are better, but the Hornady price is right.

I don’t hear the same things said about their ammo, but it surely uses the same bullets.

Trying to save money on an expensive DG hunt by reducing the cost of your ammo is something that has never made sense to me. You can't save that much over say cheaper air fares or other costs. And it's the bullet and only the bullet that does all the heavy lifting once the gun goes bang.

With solids you want deep straight line penetration. While the DGS has certainly killed it's share of DG, it's also been shown to fail the test of deep straight line penetration. In gel it has been shown to curve out of the line intended which also tends to then affect depth of penetration.

The DGS has a habit of deforming which may lead to the deviation in path. The back end of the bullet will flatten resulting in something of a fish tail. This fish tail is what I think acts as a rudder and causes the bullet to go off course. Is this something you want to happen when facing an elephant?

It's not even something you want to face with a lion. Ask @gizmo about his lion hunt and both the old DGX and DGS bullets.

Much better choices out there from Woodleigh and Cutting Edge Bullets in my opinion. Swift also has it's break away bullet, but have read less on them.

 

[Luvthunt]

Little different experience then some, but let me say I am a TB sledge hammer user, when I am able to get them!! Back in the early 90s I had a few [too few] TBSH for a trip in Africa. Could not find more so bought a box of Hornady round nose solids as backups. Worked up a load for my old Lott and went on my trip.
I used 4 of those bullets on Cape buffalo and found two, the other two are out there somewhere. Both recovered bullet could be used again. Have those bullets somewhere and will post pic if i can find.
Perhaps the “old ones” were a better bullet.
I am still a sledgehammer advocate.

 

[CAustin]

The original poster asked about the Dangerous Game Solids, and again most of the answers were gripes about the old DGX.

Correct! Many people have had issues not me! Taken two of the Big Five with Hornady DGX and one of the Big Five with DGS.

 

[Bhfs300]

I have a Ruger 375 and I wanted to go after a Cape Buffalo with it I shot it at 50-100 yards with DGX and DGS bullets. Dead on at both distances. I was totally happy with them for a trip to Africa for that Cape Buffalo but reality hit and it would be a while before I got there.
I found these Hornady DG 375 Ruger in 270 hrs

I shot them and thought why am I zeroing them at 100 so I moved it up to 200.
Thought I would take it Elk Hunting in Colorado. I zeroed it looks n and got great results.
I didn’t draw an Elk this year so I think I will get a Rifle cow tag and see what it will do.
Some of you have seen this but I am kind of a nerd. Here are photos of some targets I have shot with these 270 gr bullets. Can’t get the photos so I will add them to the next post.

 

[WAB]

Poor pic but you will get the idea. 4 bullets on the left are non-bonded 500 gr DGS fired from my Lott and recovered from a buff in Mozambique. All shots inside 40 yards. Horrific performance.

Single bullet on the right, 500 gr trophy bonded bearclaw, same rifle, recovered from a buff in RSA. 495 gr recovered weight, 3+ feet straight line penetration. The shot was at about 70 yards. Outstanding.

Hornady May have corrected the problem with bonding. I will never know as they have lost my business for good. These bullets could have gotten someone killed. I shoot bearclaws and A-Frames exclusively for DG softs now. I shoot Woodleigh hydros and Swift breakaways for DG solids.

 

[Bhfs300]

I got a Ruger 375 and started Shooting with 300 gr Hornady DG amo. I sighted them in at 50/100 yds. Dead on at both. My goal was to get that Cape Buffalo.
Reality hit and I thought I could use it for Elk.
I found some Hornady 270 gr DG Ammo after shooting it I thought maybe I should zero at 200 yds.View attachment 295419
All out of the box I don’t load shells.
Some of you have seen this from other threads but they are great.
This is the Rifle.

The day I changed fro a zero at 100 to 200.

First shot was the one between the 8 and 9 ring.

Adjusted and shot three more the two touching the red dot an the third touching the 9 ring at 200 yards.
Bottom small target is at 300. The box said that it should be 8 inches low at 300 yards.
I put a small target 8 inches high and aimed at it the hole on the 8 ring at 300 yards is only off by about an inch inch and a half.
I am betting on Hornady bullets for my hunt this year.
All the small holes are from my Ruger 204 with factory ammunition.

 

[Longwalker]

WAB, sorry to be a pain in the rear, but please explain how

4 bullets on the left are non-bonded 500 gr DGS fired from my Lott and recovered from a buff in Mozambique. All shots inside 40 yards. Horrific performance.

- the bullet pictured that shed its core has a closed base. Looks like an old style non-bonded DGX to me. The DGS (solid) bullet has an open base, with full metal jacket nose. Are we to understand that the other three were solids that shed their nose jacket and then expanded like softs? Or have you confused DGS and DGX designations? And, as far as I know either before or after the controversy about the old style DGX, the DGS have never been bonded. There is no need with a full metal jacket of steel with copper plating. Or am I misunderstanding again? Please explain.