Hornady DGX 480 gr bullets from Zebra and Buffalo plus unfired.

Looks like they did the job as advertised

Yes, and even though there are tougher bullets available than the DGX, I used them because they regulated way better in my particular double than the other brands I tried, including Woodleighs.
A lot of "techno geeks" like to claim the old "cup & core" type bullets will practically bounce off a sparrow.
But, that hardly fits with the past 100+ years of big game hunting history.

Both fired rounds look like they performed just like they were supposed to. I don't understand the "cup & core" bullet dislike. I have used them for 90% or better on big game hunting. Before Speer Grand Slam bullets were changed from a partition type to a bonded bullet they were my favorite killer. Every animal I shot with a 180 grain grand slam in my 30-06 was a one shot kill out to 350 yards. Not all anti- cup & core people are inexperienced but I have to believe a majority don't have much practical experience and are just echoing nonsense they have read.

Yes, they performed just like they were supposed to, at least in my opinion any way.

Hi Bruce,
You might have something there with the experienced vs the inexperienced "just echoing nonsense they have heard" but, I do not know for sure.

You guys have an opinion on Nosler Accubonds? Only killed on animal (warthog) using them. A friend who is a very experienced hunter and guide had them blow up on the shoulder of a large elk at close range.

Hi Rick,

Personally, I have Zero experience with Nosler Accubond bullets.
However, any lead core bullet can expand or even shatter if too light for caliber and impacting a hard target (including bone) at excessive velocity.
I'm curious what caliber and weight plus, estimated velocity that, your Guide friend was using when he experienced this against an elk shoulder, at close range. ??
I definitely prefer old fashioned lead core bullets for my hunting, due to their reliable expansion factor but, fully aware of their high velocity limitations, I always use appropriate calibers and appropriate weights for the species of game hunted.
And I never shoot them from ultra high velocity cartridges, except for hunting vermin, such as ground squirrels, marmots, jack rabbits and certainly no larger than coyotes.
Fact is, when hunting hooved game, (in reference to bore size) I tend to use "plenty of gun".

Well anyway, blah, blah, blah, out,
Paul.

@Velo Dog @Velo Dog hi there. I am not positive about the gun but he usually shoots a 300 WSM for elk, moose, etc. Most likely a 180 gr. Accubond. He is a traditional sort. The range was about 50 to 75 yards. He said you could see the impact crater(s) on the shoulder with each shot, but the elk ran off. I do know this guy has been hunting since childhood and is a very good shot on game. He is also a very good elk hunter, and calls in multiple bulls every season. He has a collection of nice racks, and I trust what he says to be true...

Sometimes I suspect early editions of bullets don't work as well as later on. About 45 years ago (gulp!) I shot a moose @ 100 yds. with a .303 using Imperial 180 grain slugs. The bullets were the first I had seen with a plastic tip. The bullet whistled through both lungs but the moose ran about a hundred yards before going down. Post mortem investigation revealed an entry and exit wound the same size, no bruising, no real trauma. I might as well have stabbed it with a knitting needle.

I meant to say "over-expand or even shatter".

Regarding the too soft bullet, your friend used, I've heard of lighter bullets doing this sort of thing at .300 Magnum velocities but, not often the heavier ones in .30 caliber.
However, one such failure reported was from John Nosler, experiencing a similar failure on moose that your guide friend had on the large elk.
That's reportedly why Nosler invented his Partition Bullet, according to his own story.

I'd like to think he was smart enough to have been using at least 180 grainers on moose back then (he favored the .300 H&H caliber for moose hunting) and so much the better if he used 220 gr, back in his day.
But I'd wager it was not a 220 gr bullet that failed him and led to his patent.
220 gr .30 bullets are pretty sturdy, even the old timey ones.

The 180 gr spitzer is a great long range weight in my experiences at about 2850 fps (.300 H&H) and the old 180 gr Partition has also held together at close range for me as well, on zebra and such.
But again, I know very little about the Accubond bullet and no personal experience with it whatsoever.
I agree with you that it seems like it takes manufacturers a bit of tweaking and adjusting on their bullets, after the first few batches.
Anyway, it's a shame that elk suffered such grievous shallow wounds, whatever the bullet was.