Tell me about the 404 Jeffery

My Brother made one for me for my 60th birthday and I love it !
Shoots like a dream and has all the power one could wish for or need.
It will handle any bullet from 300 gr. to 450 gr., case life is excellent.
Easy to load and just as easy to find components for as brass and bullets are made now by Hornady. A-Square and Bertram also make brass for it.
Woodleigh makes an excellent selection of bullets for it as does Hawk and Barnes makes a couple just to name a few.
Favorite powders are RL15 and the 4831s in my rifle.
 
It was a tough call for me which caliber to go with for my dangerous game rifle, the .375 H&H or .404 Jeffery (glad you spell 'Jeffery' correctly Wood! Few do.). I ended up with a .375, and have put it to good use in its intended roll, as I wanted an all 'round rifle, with lots of plains gaming, moose and deer hunting, etc where ranges stretch to where the slight improvement in trajectory matters.

Frankly though, I've yet to shoot an animal with my .375 at a range I couldn't have made with the .404 with ease. I also like that clean, soft shouldered beltless case. Bullet availability is a slight concern, I have a pair of barrels for a double rifle build in .416" with a reamer for .450-400 3", the .404's rimmed ballistic twin, but on a .416" bore, rather than .411". If .404 Jeffery were to use the .411" bore you'd have the same complimentary situation, where you could custom build yours on the much more common .416" bore for bullet availability, and in a pinch could still shoot standard .411" ammo with no risk. Unfortunately for the .404, you're stuck with its oddbawl bullet spec. Good news is one can cast for it, as the velocities are moderate. Recoils less than .416 Rigby, little more than .375 H&H, so in other words you should find it completely manageable.

Overall, a custom Model 70 with a drop box mag to hold 3-4 'Jeffs', forged to straight bolt handle, in .404 is something that jumps into my dreams at night. Let us know what you choose if you go for one. The CZ550 would be the most obvious, and easiest pick as it's factory offered. The Chadwick Ram of North American hunting lore was taken with a .404 as well for an interesting aside.
 
I read a lot of positive things about the .404 over time and decided to build one on a Remington M721 action. I purchased a .423 barrel from Bevan King already short- chambered and my smith did the final fitting, as well as opening up the bolt face and some rail/magazine mods. I retained the original stock and for the moment I am using a Williams WGRS receiver sight. These old eyes aren't what they used to be so I plan to install a fixed low-power scope asap. Although I have shot some Woodleigh 350 and 400gr. bullets at the range, I am spending more time shooting 330gr. GC cast bullets drawn down to .423 from .430 diameter .44mag bullets. Even loaded down to 2000-2100fps that bullet should be ideal for moose and whatever else walks in the woods. Full power loads with 400gr. Woodleighs create less recoil than my 1lb. heavier .416 Taylor so I'm liking the .404 Jeffery more and more all the time. It may not be as attractive as a classic Mauser but it was far less expensive to build and I am very pleased with it.
 
"...is what google tells you...looking for owner's opinions..." That's all I need to know. Way out of my budget and need zone. You should have said that.
 
Ardent said:
You are obviously unfamiliar with sunray, you'll see what we mean soon enough.
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Everything is either too difficult, too big, too small, or too expensive. :D





Woodbeef, the 404 Jeffery is quite simply enough of what is actually needed, without excessive recoil or cost, for 99% of big game hunted in this world. If you can handle a 375 H&H, or a 300 Mag for that matter, you won't be intimated by the 404............and it hits harder than both.

Ted
 
Depending upon what you want to hunt, it might be all you need.
It is my brother's favorite Bison/Moose rifle and has lots of reach.
As with other big rifles, do not buy or build in too light a rifle otherwise recoil might be a bit much.
 
I have been told the same thing about the 45/70. I recently picked up a Winchester 1885 Highwall falling block with peeps and am looking forward to playing with this round. Sold my 38-55 because stuff seems to be drying up for it and it has a rep as a thin wall. No such problem with the Govt apparently. A fella I knew had worked up some fairly stout loads for a Marlin stainless he took to Africa with him on a hunt. I guess if its big enough for bison.... I have heard tell of 500gr boolits being loaded in this cal. Imagine the thump of touching off a round at 1800fps or better. Yowza!!
 
bogie said:
I have been told the same thing about the 45/70. I recently picked up a Winchester 1885 Highwall falling block with peeps and am looking forward to playing with this round. Sold my 38-55 because stuff seems to be drying up for it and it has a rep as a thin wall. No such problem with the Govt apparently. A fella I knew had worked up some fairly stout loads for a Marlin stainless he took to Africa with him on a hunt. I guess if its big enough for bison.... I have heard tell of 500gr boolits being loaded in this cal. Imagine the thump of touching off a round at 1800fps or better. Yowza!!
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BPCR guys routinely load bullets of 500gr and up (lots of 535s on the line). Then they lie down and belt off 60 rounds in a match. But that doesn't have much to do with the 404 Jeffery.
 
BigUglyMan said:
BPCR guys routinely load bullets of 500gr and up (lots of 535s on the line). Then they lie down and belt off 60 rounds in a match. But that doesn't have much to do with the 404 Jeffery.
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Or we sit on cold ground holding a set of cross-sticks in our shaking, arthritic fingers while trying to out guess the ever present tricky wind and wish we could blast the damned pigs with our 404.... :D
 
Lemme see-both used for bison, long shots with big (500gr) projectiles. Yeah no similarity at all. Point is I would not have got one if I listened to all the chaff of supposedly knowledgables but I went and got one for myself. Only way you will ever know if its right for you is to get one and shoot it. Your experience is yours only. Might actually be fun. Good excuse to buy another rifle.
 
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