.404 Jeffery (10.75x73mm Rimless Nitro Express) - appreciation thread

[Hilux01]

Not for a lack of trying, I can't seem to find any thread on the Forum that goes to a point of appreciating / showing off/ and sharing specific caliber details for the old stall ward.

A cartridge that has been embedded over decades in the old British Colonies of Africa and Australia, it also now seems to take on some favoritism in the States.

So therefore, the motivation behind this post

Share a little of your rifle chambered in this cartridge - in my case the show piece of my arsenal. But maybe just another gun n yours

Pictures, make and model, share with us your country of origin and what ammo you shoot and or load for this 0.423cal and at what velocities

Ill start the discussion as below

Hilux01 (Henk)
South Africa
.404 Jeff (Custom build by Ralph Badenhorst Bespoke Guns in Ermelo South Africa) on a M98 action, Truvelo barrel and Turkish Wall nut stock.
Range Ammo Handload - Claw 400gr (thin jacket non-bonded cup and core type bullets from RSA) at 2220vps
Hunting Ammo - presently using factory loads from RWS RN SN 400gr and RWS FMJ 400gr - at around 2340vps and 2285vps respectively - will load Woodleigh RN SN 400gr after that

My rifle is not scoped, but I have recently added an Aimpoint H2 Micro - will do the first hunt with the optic end of Aug 2024. Hoping to take some Gemsbok and Red hartebeest in the Kalahari

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Cogswell & Harrison .404 Jeffery built on Pattern 14 Enfield action, loaned to me by my white hunter. Ammunition was RWS 400Gr steel jacketed FMJ factory loads. Absolutely beautiful caliber & rifle (although I would have personally preferred a steel floor plate over the aluminum floor plate). Absolutely disgusting ammunition. The jackets were extremely thin. This brute of a hippopotamus bull needed a full magazine (four rounds).

@grand veneur has experience with the same kind of ammunition.

 

[Hilux01]

Well done Habib that is truly a monster Hippo

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Czech vz.24 Mauser with Lija barrel and new Bushnell 1-4x 30mm scope. Rings are Warne quick detachable and iron sights are from 1990s Winchester Safari Express. Timney trigger and Parkwest 3-position safety. Swift bottom metal is for 416 Remington magnum but worked fine without modification. Except for installing the barrel I did all the work changing 8mm into 404 Jeffery.

 

[PCC600]

I’ve got a Mauser Type A made circa 1925 . It has an Oberndorff single square bridge magnum action ( astounding made pre 1919) . A real old war horse ex India with no bluing left on action and barrels . I replaced the cracked stock ( which I retain ) with an identical new stock . Happily shoots hand loads of 400 grain bullets at the original design speed of 2150fps . A great cartridge and rifle combo .

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I joined the 404 Jeffery Club today

For the last couple of years, anyone that's a regular on this site knows there has been a lot of positive comments and chatter on the 404 Jeffery. To be fair, that same statement can be made for..........pick a caliber. However, the 404 seemed to have a special place in African history and...

www.africahunting.com

 

[FlowHamed18]

Well - there you go...

.404 Jeffery - a long awaited call...

I still can't believe it, but my gunsmith gave me a call today. The new built .404 Jeffery seems to be ready for our first date tomorrow... The Barnes TSX bullets also arrived today, so it hopefully won't take long to test out the new beauty. I guess her name will be "Helena", just because all...

www.africahunting.com

I am falling in love with Helena more and more after each shot that hits the target

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I joined the 404 Jeffery Club today

For the last couple of years, anyone that's a regular on this site knows there has been a lot of positive comments and chatter on the 404 Jeffery. To be fair, that same statement can be made for..........pick a caliber. However, the 404 seemed to have a special place in African history and...

www.africahunting.com

Thanks for reviving that thread. Two weeks ago I had sighted my new scope at fifty yards in the bull and hitting each other off the bench (400 gr Barnes "X" loaded with 80 gr Accurate powder). Five rounds was all I could take in shirtsleeves and 90 degrees. Back again on Thursday and at 100 yards it was 1.3" high. Caused me some concern but reading the above thread that's exactly where it should be. I won't touch it! Well, not for scope anyway. I need to order a lower front ramp as I am out of vertical adjustment on rear sight leaf and still low at 50 yards. Glad I went with screw on ramp rather than soldered (apparently Winchester manufactured those Safari Express rifles with Williams screw on ramps). These sights bought on ebay obviously came off a rifle with thinner profile barrel. It's any easy matter to change ramps and bead heights as needed.

 

[Hilux01]

I’ve got a Mauser Type A made circa 1925 . It has an Oberndorff single square bridge magnum action ( astounding made pre 1919) . A real old war horse ex India with no bluing left on action and barrels . I replaced the cracked stock ( which I retain ) with an identical new stock . Happily shoots hand loads of 400 grain bullets at the original design speed of 2150fps . A great cartridge and rifle combo .

PCC wow those square bridge Mausers are special

 

[sgt_zim]

Montana Rifle Company Alaskan, LH
VX5 1-5x24
Bertram brass and Hornady DGX bonded 400 gr

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I use Hornady brass. Got a bad batch of RWS brass. Too short and rims of inconsistent thickness. Wouldn't snap over.

For 404 always make sure the brass is spec length, especially if full length sizing. This cartridge has very gently sloping shoulder and no belt. If sized just a bit off there can easily be head space issues and extractor won't snap over on cartridges dropped in the chamber (a very desirable feature for dangerous game rifles). Ask me how I know.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Thanks for reviving that thread. Two weeks ago I had sighted my new scope at fifty yards in the bull and hitting each other off the bench (400 gr Barnes "X" loaded with 80 gr Accurate powder). Five rounds was all I could take in shirtsleeves and 90 degrees. Back again on Thursday and at 100 yards it was 1.3" high. Caused me some concern but reading the above thread that's exactly where it should be. I won't touch it! Well, not for scope anyway. I need to order a lower front ramp as I am out of vertical adjustment on rear sight leaf and still low at 50 yards. Glad I went with screw on ramp rather than soldered (apparently Winchester manufactured those Safari Express rifles with Williams screw on ramps). These sights bought on ebay obviously came off a rifle with thinner profile barrel. It's any easy matter to change ramps and bead heights as needed.

"... Accurate 4350 powder)."

 

[Markinnz]

I’ve got a Mauser Type A made circa 1925 . It has an Oberndorff single square bridge magnum action ( astounding made pre 1919) . A real old war horse ex India with no bluing left on action and barrels . I replaced the cracked stock ( which I retain ) with an identical new stock . Happily shoots hand loads of 400 grain bullets at the original design speed of 2150fps . A great cartridge and rifle combo .

View attachment 622574View attachment 622575View attachment 622576View attachment 622577

Was that the one on aus,gun sales...the holy grail of magnum mausers!,heres a pic of mine a non sqaure bridge magnum mauser type a in 280 ross,with a 28 inch barrel

 

[PCC600]

Was that the one on aus,gun sales...the holy grail of magnum mausers!,heres a pic of mine a non sqaure bridge magnum mauser type a in 280 ross,with a 28 inch barrel

Yes it is the one on OZ Guns . I have to make some space in my gun room . That 280 Ross of yours is a beauty .

 

[ZG47]

View attachment 622559
Czech vz.24 Mauser with Lija barrel and new Bushnell 1-4x 30mm scope. Rings are Warne quick detachable and iron sights are from 1990s Winchester Safari Express. Timney trigger and Parkwest 3-position safety. Swift bottom metal is for 416 Remington magnum but worked fine without modification. Except for installing the barrel I did all the work changing 8mm into 404 Jeffery.

Nice rifle. I hate to imagine the hours involved but ... well worth it.

 

[Altitude sickness]

PCC600 I love the worn off blueing. I’m always looking for a well used rifle like that and with a good bore. Very nice

 

[PCC600]

PCC600 I love the worn off blueing. I’m always looking for a well used rifle like that and with a good bore. Very nice

Yes she has had a life ! A good shooter too.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Enfield 1917 Remington. Pac Nor barrel. Weibe magazine and bottom. Bastogne blank. Dennis Olson put it together for me.

Barnes banded solids FN 400g at 2250. Barnes TSX .

I’ve had Todd Ramirez add a couple of crossbolts since these pics.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Nice rifle. I hate to imagine the hours involved but ... well worth it.

Thanks. Purchased the donor rifle April 2023 and finished it in the white in time for safari #4 end of August four months later.

It was blued before Montana elk season in October. Then this spring a deal came up for a very fine used stock so I bought it. But the action did NOT drop in. Required modifying the action screws, bottom metal, and stock. I added crossbolts and a steel wrist pin for reinforcement. Then refinished with Linspeed. This spring for better eye relief I replaced the old K2 Weaver scope with a new Bushnell 1-4x and changed to a lower base. I'm waiting on another recoil pad, sling swivels, and a lower ramp for front sight. All on backorder. Last night I noticed the bolt handle is rubbing against the scope very lightly. Should have checked closer after changing to a lower base. A bit of work with polishing wheel and it should be fine. So it's still a work in progress but soon to be finished. Then what? This was too much fun. My first build ... but maybe not my last? I've been thinking about 333 Jeffery or 425 Express.

 

[ZG47]

Thanks. Purchased the donor rifle April 2023 and finished it in the white in time for safari #4 end of August four months later.
View attachment 623743
It was blued before Montana elk season in October. Then this spring a deal came up for a very fine used stock so I bought it. But the action did NOT drop in. Required modifying the action screws, bottom metal, and stock. I added crossbolts and a steel wrist pin for reinforcement. Then refinished with Linspeed. This spring for better eye relief I replaced the old K2 Weaver scope with a new Bushnell 1-4x and changed to a lower base. I'm waiting on another recoil pad, sling swivels, and a lower ramp for front sight. All on backorder. Last night I noticed the bolt handle is rubbing against the scope very lightly. Should have checked closer after changing to a lower base. A bit of work with polishing wheel and it should be fine. So it's still a work in progress but soon to be finished. Then what? This was too much fun. My first build ... but maybe not my last? I've been thinking about 333 Jeffery or 425 Express.

I suspect that a .333 Jeffery would be a more practical complement to this rifle and also that proper fettling to feed the .425 Westley Richards might be less enjoyable than you imagine BUT if anyone on this forum is going to get it done, that person is going to be you.! Have fun.