The Hornady Dangerous Game Series .500-416 Nitro Express 400-grain Dangerous Game eXpanding (DGX) Bonded Brass 20-round box is an elite safari rifle cartridge engineered specifically for professional hunters, guides, and dangerous game enthusiasts targeting thick-skinned big game like Cape buffalo, elephant, rhino, and lion in classic double rifles. A primary failure point when hunting dangerous game with traditional expanding projectiles is core-jacket separation and premature fragmentation upon striking heavy, thick hide or massive leg bones, which halts penetration before reaching vital organs. Hornady eliminates this critical field failure by chemically bonding a thick 0.098-inch copper-clad steel jacket to a hard lead-antimony core, delivering massive hydraulic shock, high weight retention, and deep, straight-line penetration under extreme impact resistance.
The technical advantage focuses on maximum structural mass retention paired with interchangeable point-of-impact ballistics. Launching its heavy 400-grain DGX Bonded bullet at a potent muzzle velocity of 2,300 FPS (generating a massive 4,698 ft-lbs of muzzle energy), this traditional safari load delivers flat trajectories and immense stopping power. Mechanically, the molecular bond between the tough steel jacket and hard lead core guarantees 1.5x to 2x controlled expansion without jacket separation, while the flat meplat prevents deflection when striking heavy shoulder bones at close range. Crucially, the external ballistic profile matches Hornady's Dangerous Game Solid (DGS) bullet, allowing hunters to mix expanding DGX and solid DGS rounds in double rifle barrels without shifting point of impact or re-regulating optics.
Slinging its 400-grain DGX Bonded bullet at 2,300 FPS, this specialized .500-416 Nitro Express cartridge is optimized for flawless mechanical operation across classic safari double rifles and big-bore bolt-action rifles. Assembled in heavy-walled reloadable virgin brass cases fitted with non-corrosive match primers and temperature-stable propellants, it maintains stable chamber pressure curves and uniform velocity spreads in sweltering equatorial heat. The precision-drawn brass cases ensure reliable chamber sealing, positive feeding up action ramps, and smooth, non-binding casing extraction when executing rapid follow-up shots on dangerous game.
Key Benefits
- Chemically Bonded Copper-Clad Steel Jacket: 0.098-inch steel jacket fused to lead-antimony core eliminates separation for deep bone penetration.
- Point-of-Impact Parity with DGS Solids: Identical external ballistics allow seamless mixing of expanding DGX and solid DGS rounds without re-regulating double rifles.
- Massive 4,698 Ft-Lbs Muzzle Energy: High-energy 400-grain bullet delivers stopping power on Cape buffalo, lion, and dangerous big game.
- Temperature-Stable Tropical Propellants: Formulated to maintain consistent pressure, velocity, and regulation in extreme heat.
Technical Specification
- Ballistics: .500-416 Nitro Express | 2,300 FPS Muzzle Velocity | 4,698 Ft-Lbs Muzzle Energy | Dangerous Game Safari Profile
- Projectile: 400 Grain | DGX (Dangerous Game eXpanding) Bonded | 0.098" Copper-Clad Steel Jacket | Lead-Antimony Bonded Core | Flat Meplat
- Case/Primer: Premium Heavy-Walled Virgin Reloadable Brass Case | Non-Corrosive Match Primer | Temperature-Stable Propellant
- Logistics: 20 Rounds Per Box | Hornady Dangerous Game Series
- Dimensions: .500-416 Nitro Express Geometry | Double Rifle & Bolt-Action Safari Configuration | SKU: 82683
- Application: Dangerous Game Hunting, Cape Buffalo, Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Hippopotamus, and Safari Expeditions
- Standards: SAAMI Compliant | Hornady Factory Precision Safari Quality Benchmarks
SMKW remains a trusted source for specialized safari ammunition, supplying loads that meet the mechanical demands of dangerous game platforms and professional hunting conditions.
