404 jeffrey or 416 rigby

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Thank you Odinsraven.
Witold

 

[Velo Dog]

I own a .416 Rigby and two of my friends own .404's.
The Rigby has very noticeably more recoil, at the original specs with 400 gr 2350 fps compared to the .404 with its 400 gr at 2150 fps.
In fact, so much so that I load mine down a bit, otherwise it is too much for me to shoot very many rounds in a row before having to give up in defeat.
Twice I have made offers on .404's (I want it all baby) but the sellers would not budge.
One of these days I will get the right deal on one, then I will have both.
For that matter, I would not mind having a .425 WR either but, I won't sell my house just to get one.

 

[bassasdaindia]

I own both , this question is not a simple answer , both cartridges have there place in Africa .

i don't think I could choose one over the other .

 

[lofty]

I'd cast my vote for the 404. Great old cartridge, and with that little bit less recoil, probably easier to place your shot more accurately. I have a quote from a gunsmith to build one for a basic figure of $8,500 AU.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Rigby. You'll never look back.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I'd cast my vote for the 404. Great old cartridge, and with that little bit less recoil, probably easier to place your shot more accurately. I have a quote from a gunsmith to build one for a basic figure of $8,500 AU.

I like it Lofty.
Good luck and all the best.
Witold

 

[Rob404]

I'm having a 404 Jeff done for me based on a CZ550 Magnum (375HH) donor rifle.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Rob, please pictures.
Witold

 

[Rob404]

Rob, please pictures.
Witold

Hi Withold Sorry no pics yet, the donor CZ550 is in transit to the Gunsmith who is going to handle the modification to the action and the re-barrel,,believe me my friend I'm as anxious as you are to see the finished product, Iv'e already secured Dies, Brass and Bullets and even the mounts for the scope

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Rob, will be fine.
Good luck.
Witold

 

[tarbe]

Ben,
Thanks ! one factor I have considered is Hornady making a dgx and dgs for the 404 jeff.
looks like 404 jeff ammo here in states is about 40% cheaper than 416 rigby.
wondering if 404 jeff can be found in Namibia and RSA and possibly Moz.

Cost of the ammo should probably not be a consideration, given the ammo cost is peanuts in the big scheme of things.

The Rigby uses a fair bit more powder for any given velocity level vs the 404, and the powder charge has more effect on recoil that a similar mass gain on the projectile end. So if recoil impulse is a big factor, the 404 is clearly more friendly.

Either one is great...not a bad choice on the menu.

 

[Kano]

There were hundreds of .404 in all nooks and crannies of the East African bush, because several Game Departments were issuing them. Lots of these are slowly gathering dust and rust in the backrooms of Police stations and Game Departments.

A good number of them are still in the hands of poachers and old local hunters. They were more or less retired when ammo production for the .404 stopped in the 60's-70's, and the existing stocks got extinguished some years later (RWS did continue to produce some, but it was close to unavailable in most places).

The .416 Rigby was an expensive proposition reserved for a few, and was never a great commercial success. Ammo for it was and is hard to come by outside of a very few countries within the Safari-circuit.

Most old local hands have only praises for the .404, but have never seen a .416.

In terms of which has the longest and fullest service record in Africa, the .404 leads by a very wide margin.

 

[Pheroze]

There were hundreds of .404 in all nooks and crannies of the East African bush, because several Game Departments were issuing them. Lots of these are slowly gathering dust and rust in the backrooms of Police stations and Game Departments.

And, when will the auction of these sadly neglected rifles be held to raise funds for said game departments?? Perhaps a silent auction here on AH? Just suggesting...

 

[Kano]

And, when will the auction of these sadly neglected rifles be held to raise funds for said game departments?? Perhaps a silent auction here on AH? Just suggesting...

No auctions that I'm aware of... So many good rifles have been destroyed for "security reasons" that one can just shake his head in sad disbelief.

 

[Velo Dog]

Hello fellow hunters and rifle enthusiasts,

One fine day I will find the right deal on a properly built .404 Mauser.
Have made offers on a couple of them during past years but so far, the sellers want about two or three times what I feel their goods have been worth.

Meanwhile, for anyone who is trying to decide wether to buy a .404 Jeffery caliber rifle or perhaps instead, a .416 Rigby, if you ever happen to read the excellent book, "Hunter" by J.A. Hunter, you will not rest until you have a .416 Mauser of some description.
For hopeless rifle junkies like me, there is no hope because I simply must have both.

At this stage, I have had the .416 for several years now (CZ modified to my specifications by a proper Gunsmith) and I am very happy with it but, I'm always scanning the horizon for a 404 at the right price.
In the old days, ammunition in .404 was also available with 300 grain semi-spitzer at about 2600 fps.

This "plains game load" caused issues with the ignorant, as they used it on heavy game and experience inadequate penetration.
However, I would very much like to hunt antelopes and swine with that load some day.

Hawk Bullets Inc. here in the USA offers a 300 gr bullet in .423 diameter.
So, perhaps I might be able to realize my day dream in this regard one day.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Good luck Paul.
Witold

 

[Code4]

If your worried about ammo availability buy a .458WM or .375H&H. Even Weatherby ammo can be found in larger centres like J0'Burg and Cape Town.

If your going scrub, .308 and .303 will guarantee commercial supply however most PH's know someone who knows someone.

 

[Velo Dog]

Good luck Paul.
Witold

Thank you Witold and when my idea to own a .404 finally becomes a reality, I will at last be following yours and other good fellow's foot steps by owning and hunting with that historic cartridge.
The old calibers and vintage rifles are something like time machines.
When we use them, in a small way we are almost travelling back in time, to the days when these were the standard for hunting in the wild places of Africa.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I agree with you, Paul.
Witold

 

[AFRICADEE]

416 Rigby all the way!