Hornady 45 Cal 480gr DGS

Hornady 45 Cal 480gr DGS

The Hornady 45 Cal 480gr DGS is a heavyweight bullet component designed for handloaders and dangerous-game hunters demanding maximum penetration, structural integrity, and dependable terminal effect in .45-caliber rifles. Weighing 480 gr with a .452-inch diameter, the 45 Cal 480gr DGS features Hornady’s Dangerous‑Game eXpanding (DGS) monolithic design—ensuring deep wound channels and over 90% weight retention, even through thick-skinned game like Cape buffalo and large bears.

With a wide, flat-nose profile and optimized ogive, the 45 Cal 480gr DGS delivers robust frontal impact and straightforward penetration. Fired at velocities typical of slow-twist dangerous-game barrels, the 45 Cal 480gr DGS maintains line-of-sight trajectory while delivering massive terminal energy—making it ideal for brush, thick-skinned, or close-range hunting scenarios.

Constructed as a monolithic copper-clad steel bullet, the 45 Cal 480gr DGS resists jacket-core separation and remains intact upon impact. This design ensures that the 45 Cal 480gr DGS penetrates deeply through dense tissue and heavy bone, maintaining straight paths and avoiding deflection—crucial traits for large-game terminal performance and ethical shot placement.

The 45 Cal 480gr DGS stabilizes reliably in barrels with twist rates between 1:18 and 1:20 and feeds smoothly in bolt-action and single-shot rifles built for heavy hunting loads. Hunters value the 45 Cal 480gr DGS for its consistency, dependable aggressive penetration, and ability to maintain wound channel integrity across multiple shots in the field.

Manufactured at Hornady’s Grand Island, Nebraska plant, the Hornady 45 Cal 480gr DGS is sold as a bullet component only. Reloaders must supply matching brass, powder, and primers. With rigorous quality control over diameter uniformity, monolithic construction, and overall geometry, the 45 Cal 480gr DGS stands as a trusted heavy-caliber option for ethical, deep-penetrating performance in .45-caliber dangerous-game rifles.