My .404J Load Development

[Nevada Mike]

@Nevada Mike , this is very helpful as a resource and thank you for doing it

I have some N150 I can try in 404 Jeff (Will try with Peregrine Bullets and the MME bullets I have mentioned) and also have some Hornday 400gr DGS.

I'll also see if I can get some N140 to try. It's a touch quicker than N150 and very similar to Varget which I understand is well thought of for these larger cases.

I will try and post my results. Really must pick up a chrono.

Scrummy

Mike - - if this info helps anyone, that's great. I went down this path (N-150) because I bought two 2 lb. bottles at $40 each at an LGS. Only data i found was in Van der Walt's book. It was sketchy. I would like to hear how N-140 performs.

I used Norma brass for this load development. I have boxes of new RWS brass to use for hunting loads. Norma brass that I have weighs about 10 grains more per hull than the RWS brass. I am about to start testing a few of the best loads with RWS brass and don't expect to see much, if any, difference in performance.

The Swift A Frame is a hard, full diameter bullet (.423") and can generate higher pressure than other traditional lead cored bullets and more than Woodleighs, which are .422". I think that crimping the cartridges may also slightly increase initial pressure and, perhaps, velocity. The 80 grain load above was hot and I got moderately flattened primers on firing. I backed off a couple grains.

I am at a loss to explain why I am getting some velocities that are somewhat over those reported in loading manuals. I am using a Magneto Speed bayonet-type chrono and after initial fussing with it, seems to work well.

I think the sweet spot for the 404J (recoil, pressure, accuracy, performance) is between 2250 and 2300. That's what I am looking for.

 

[Scrumbag]

Mike, that sounds a good performance envelope. Load dev won't be until next month at the earliest but I shall try and keep you up dated.

I have found RWS brass to be very good in the past (in other chamberings I've tried, dare I say as good as Lapua) and also the factory is excellent in my .404 Jeff.

Scrummy

 

[Nevada Mike]

Latest data for N-150 in my rifle. These are all 400 grain bullets. I cannot explain some of the variations - perhaps the neck crimps from my Lee FCD effect intial velocity. Or my chrono was not set quite right. Still a couple loads to try...

VV N-150			Swift AF​			2411​	80.0 gr.*​		Self Test
VV N-150			Swift AF​			2302​	76.0 gr.​		Self Test
VV N-150			Swift AF​			2279​	75.5 gr.​		Self Test
VV N-150			Swift AF​			2268​	74.5 gr.​		Self Test
VV N-150			Swift AF​			Not Tested​	74.0 gr.​		Next Test
VV N-150			Swift AF​			2219​	73.4 gr.​		Self Test
VV N-150			Swift AF​			2263​	73.0 gr.​		Self Test
VV N-150			Barnes BS​			2337​	75.5 gr​		Self Test
VV N-150			Barnes BS​			2320​	74.5 gr.​		Self Test
VV N-150			Barnes BS​			2236​	72.0 gr.​		Self Test
VV N-150			Barnes BS​			2205​	71.0 gr.​		Self Test

* I got pressure signs with this load.

 

[Scrumbag]

Nice one Mike!

 

[Nevada Mike]

Nice one Mike!

Luckily, I had plenty of bullets and brass on hand to do these test loads. I had lots of help from AH members, too. Thanks to everyone!

I used new Norma and RWS brass. The Norma brass has less volume than the RWS. This may account for some of the seemingly illogical velocities I had in the results.

I had some problems using Win LRM primers in the RWS brass, but not in the Norma brass. For the RWS I changed to CCI 250s and had no further problems.

 

[Proneshooter]

Mike,
I agree with your velocity range of 2250-2300, that always seems to be my sweet spot also. I tried N 150 after reading your posts, but it did not work well in my rifle. I found a good load with H 4350 but the N 150 looked like a shotgun pattern, not a group. I hate testing from the bench, so when I find a good load I stop messing around and just stick with that load. Did the yellow practice bullets work in your rifle?

 

[Nevada Mike]

John - Every rifle seems to be a law unto itself. Glad you have a load that works for you.

I'm playing with loads for my .375 and 7mm RM and have just about shot the last of the "lipstick loads" through the .404. I've settled on a load for that rifle and will start tomorrow with final sighting for both scopes. Then I will burn a LOT of practice loads (the bullets you sent me) in the 404. I've already shot a couple hundred rounds through it, plan on burning through another 300 cartridges before D Day.

My .375 should be delivered by the end of the week, so I'll be working on load testing for that. Preparations for the Sept hunt are accelerating. Getting the load of paperwork done.

 

[Scrumbag]

Hi folks, just a little update from some of my own testing with the .404 Jeff

Vihtavouri N150 71.0 and 73.0gr
Hornady 400gr DGS
COAL ~88.1mm (Crimped to cannelure)
Federal 215M Primer
RWS Brass

Both loads were safe in my rifle but the 71gr was more consistent.

(Use this at your own risk)

Best wishes,

Scrummy

 

[Nevada Mike]

Hi folks, just a little update from some of my own testing with the .404 Jeff

Vihtavouri N150 71.0 and 73.0gr
Hornady 400gr DGS
COAL ~88.1mm (Crimped to cannelure)
Federal 215M Primer
RWS Brass

Both loads were safe in my rifle but the 71gr was more consistent.

(Use this at your own risk)

Best wishes,

Scrummy

Mike, did you chrono the loads in your rifle? Wondering how they would compare to my results.

 

[Scrumbag]

Sorry Mike, I'm afraid I didn't (must stop being cheap and get own Chrono...)

 

[F. Vaccaro]

Sounds like a fine cartridge Nevada & you are onto some fine loads.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Scrumbag]

Some updates on using N150 and 404 Jeff.

Hornady 400gr DGS with RWS Brass and 71.5gr Vihtavouri N150 (Crimped at Cannellure):

MME 400gr Cariboo bonded plastic point with N150 @ 75.5gr, COAL 88.5mm:

Velocities are taken at target so back calc with JBM gives 2249 for the Cariboo.

Scrummy