404J Options/recommendations

[TucsonFX4]

Sauer 404 is available with a .404 J barrel. As it has interchangeable barrels, you could fill a few needs / wants with one rifle.

I’m not familiar with this rifle, but I’ll definitely check it out now

 

[TucsonFX4]

Or...get on in a 416 and use the funds to put an animal in the salt. They won't know if they were shot with a 416 or 404.

If it is a bucket list thing I get it, ammo is something else to take into consideration.

I don’t disagree with you, or @HWL lol, and it’s not a bucket list for me. I think it comes down to a balancing of power/capability, recoil, and a small amount of rarity to cap it off. Of course, finding gun type stuff such as ammo and components isn’t exactly easy right now, so that likely works against 404J even more so.

 

[Inline6]

I don’t disagree with you, or @HWL lol, and it’s not a bucket list for me. I think it comes down to a balancing of power/capability, recoil, and a small amount of rarity to cap it off. Of course, finding gun type stuff such as ammo and components isn’t exactly easy right now, so that likely works against 404J even more so.

A M70 in 416REM is a good setup. It is something you can take to the range and figure out what you want. Or a CZ in 416Rigby. Really the recoil is not going to be much different. The 416 in which ever flavor it a good balance of power/recoil/price. Load some 350gr bullets if you need to work your way up to full power loads.

For me, something custom needs to be something you are passionate about. If it is a rifle filling a gap or a want for a big bore. Saving money and spending it on ammo or hunt to use it might make more sense. I never thought I would have a 375h&h, then 416REM, the 458Lott. Now think about a 500NE. It is a slippery slope.

I have used all 3 (375h&h Eland, 416REM Buf, 458Lott Watusi) on good size animals, all had good shot placement. None were DRT, African animals are tough.

 

[TucsonFX4]

A M70 in 416REM is a good setup. It is something you can take to the range and figure out what you want. Or a CZ in 416Rigby. Really the recoil is not going to be much different. The 416 in which ever flavor it a good balance of power/recoil/price. Load some 350gr bullets if you need to work your way up to full power loads.

For me, something custom needs to be something you are passionate about. If it is a rifle filling a gap or a want for a big bore. Saving money and spending it on ammo or hunt to use it might make more sense. I never thought I would have a 375h&h, then 416REM, the 458Lott. Now think about a 500NE. It is a slippery slope.

I have used all 3 (375h&h Eland, 416REM Buf, 458Lott Watusi) on good size animals, all had good shot placement. None were DRT, African animals are tough.

Good advise. Thank you

 

[Nevada Mike]

I had a 404 Jeffery built on a Granite Mountain action - PacNor barrel, top class wood, etc. Expensive. I could have gotten the same functionality by converting a Win Model 70 .375 H&H. I believe that it can be done well within your budget if you don't need to have a new stock made.

 

[JetA1]

Sauer 404 is available with a .404 J barrel. As it has interchangeable barrels, you could fill a few needs / wants with one rifle.

I have One of these with a 404J and 300WM barrel. Works well, and is a pleasure to shoot in 300WM, but needs a little more weight to make the 404 comfy to shoot. will either be adding a bit of weight and a mercury reducer or thinking of having a wood stock made for it. Bloody good travel rifle as it collapses so small. The only negative is the expensive proprietary SUM scope mount and I feel the open sights are a little lacking.

 

[Jack Stevens]

I have two 404 Jeffery caliber rifles. One a CZ 550 the other a converted Model 70. The Model 70 has the smoother action (work was done by Randy Selby) both shoot under an inch with Von Gruff's Accuracy Load.

What’s Von Gruff’s “Accuracy Load”? … What bullet and what powder plus grain charge?

 

[baxterb]

Get your hands on a second hand Cogswell & Harrison .404 Jeffery. They stopped being made in 1952. But last time I checked, they can be found floating around the secondhand market for not a lot of money (on account of those cheap aluminum alloy magazines).
View attachment 476206

Man, look at the fangs on that hippo.

 

[Jack Stevens]

This isn’t likely something I will be biting on soon, but I have an interest in eventually adding a 404 Jeffery to my collection. It seems, in my novice experience, that about the only options are converting a rifle or buying/building a custom or premium rifle in the caliber.

For an average fellow like me that can’t justify $10k+ on a rifle, what options should I like at to become a 404J owner? Preferably, rifle budget of about $3k to likely max of $4k. Possible?

I am a fan of the Win Model 70’s, and consider them to be guns I will pass down to my son one day. I would like a 404J rifle of similar usefulness, dependability, and quality.

Thanks!

I bought a .404J built on a bare CZ 550 action by Wayne @ AHR (back in 2015, if I recall correctly). Except for the CZ magnum action, which he blueprinted and trued, everything else was a custom addition, … the barrel, sights, stock.

Definitely under $10K.

 

[nztimb]

What’s Von Gruff’s “Accuracy Load”? … What bullet and what powder plus grain charge?

I did extensive testing with loads for the 404 Jeffery and found that 84gn H4350 under the 400 gn Woodleigh soft and the RWS solid were by for the best combination giving 2300fps and excellent accuracy. This load has been equally effective in a fair number of other 404,s as well with A frames and other bullets that have been tried.

 

[Jack Stevens]

I did extensive testing with loads for the 404 Jeffery and found that 84gn H4350 under the 400 gn Woodleigh soft and the RWS solid were by for the best combination giving 2300fps and excellent accuracy. This load has been equally effective in a fair number of other 404,s as well with A frames and other bullets that have been tried.

I’m looking for an accurate 400grn load at original Jeffrey velocities, i.e., 2000-2100fps.

For propellants I’ve got 4350 and Varget, along with 5744. Thanks!

 

[Tintin]

Mine was also a new CZ550 in 375 H&H.

Lothar Walther bbl
Recknagel sights & sling mount band

A bit of work by the smith, fit barrel, headspace, feeding - no real issues with any of that.

Had the factory stock tarted up a bit - buff horn tip, red pad.

 

[Bonk]

I used a Ruger RSM 375H&H as the donor rifle. Randy Selby did the work. Well within your budget even with RSM's fetching a premium price these days.

 

[Jack Stevens]

Forgot to add pics of mine early … Here’s a few: