Testing 404 Jeffery

K95

AH enthusiast
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Alaska, Mongolia, NewZealand, New Caledonia, Africa Australia.
Following up on my last post on building a 404 Jeffery and working up some loading data here is the final result. 84 gr of 2208 powder, CCI mag primer with a 360 gr Atomic 29 projectile. This load is doing 2600 fps and putting out over 5200 lbs of energy at the muzzle. First 3 shot group at 100 yds measured .775". Following group was with the 350 gr Weldcore Woodleigh bullet travelling the same speed behind 85 gr of 2208 , group was slightly larger and shot .5" higher. Still very interchangeable.
20250502_125605.jpg
 
I want to use heavier bullets in mine,
400gn - 430gn North Fork or Barnes, I do have some older 347gn woodleigh that I got with some brass but the heavy 450gn woodleigh are not available here in the US
 
I want to use heavier bullets in mine,
400gn - 430gn North Fork or Barnes, I do have some older 347gn woodleigh that I got with some brass but the heavy 450gn woodleigh are not available here in the US
I just bought 2 boxes of 450 gr Woodleigh, $72 Aus that's about $42 US
 
I wonder if they can be ordered and sent here
Yes, with an ATF form 6; which is the permit to import munitions where each caliber and quantity has to be listed.

I’ve done it, good luck with the form processing which took just shy of 2 months for them to process and only then did they call to make sure that Woodleigh hydros were not armor piercing.
 
I bet those kicked! That's a lot of gas per mass. I'm not familiar with 2208 powder. I tried 4895 with 307 gr Hammer bullets and my 404 was too much to handle from the bench. Group was also not great so I threw in the towel. But the barrel wasn't broken in yet. I should try them again.
 
That seems like a lot of powder, I've been able to get my 404 with a 24" barrel to 2200-2250 fps with 70-72 grains of either H Varget or IMR 4320,......400 grain bullets. Haven't tried any 350's in my 404. In my 416 rigby however, that's the exact performance I get with 350 grainers, albeit 92 grains of powder
 
I bet those kicked! That's a lot of gas per mass. I'm not familiar with 2208 powder. I tried 4895 with 307 gr Hammer bullets and my 404 was too much to handle from the bench. Group was also not great so I threw in the towel. But the barrel wasn't broken in yet. I should try them again.
If you use a lead sled, it will help, cuts down the recoil like you wouldn’t believe
 
Following up on my last post on building a 404 Jeffery and working up some loading data here is the final result. 84 gr of 2208 powder, CCI mag primer with a 360 gr Atomic 29 projectile. This load is doing 2600 fps and putting out over 5200 lbs of energy at the muzzle. First 3 shot group at 100 yds measured .775". Following group was with the 350 gr Weldcore Woodleigh bullet travelling the same speed behind 85 gr of 2208 , group was slightly larger and shot .5" higher. Still very interchangeable.View attachment 682728
It's time to take her on safari!
 
I have read that Lead Sled is not healthy for ultra heavy recoil rifles, especially if set in fine wood stocks.
I have seen Lead Sleds ruin fine optics. The rifle has to move and expel the energy/recoil. People tend to overload the sled with more weight than generated recoil and the problems begin.

I suspect your observation on the stock falls into that same category.
 
Speaking about Led sleds, I had the opportunity to see it might shift the point of impact with some rifles. It happened to me once and I know someone who also had this bad experience.
Here is why I prefer to use a Tackdriver bag in the front and a smaller bag at the rear or my rifle.
 

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Hyde Hunter wrote on malcome83's profile.
where are you located? I would be happy to help you with you doing the reloading but I will only load for a very few real close friends as posted before liability is the problem. but will help you.
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A two minute video I made of our recent Safari. I think it turned out well
 
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