The 404 Jeffery an Icon second to none

[Gert Odendaal]

Good day members. Having some time on my hands during the festive season while most people are on holiday ...I had some time to reflect on rifles I acquired the last few years...
The 404 Jeffery hunting rifle is worthy of such a reflection since in my mind it really is the Icon of any Large Bore caliber rifle for a hunter. Many years ago I bought myself a 404 Jeffery rifle with an exceptional history spanning from 1931 , it was the rifle that shot the last Elephant and Buffalo in the Southern Mozambique/Zululand region in order to eradicate the tsetse fly problem. It is a great rifle for sure..so I suggested to Johan Greyling to build a few working rifles in the 404 Jeffery caliber hunting rifles since I was so impressed with my 404 Jeffery I predicted that the 404 Jeffery rifle will become a sought after hunting rifle if the price was acceptable ...and it was possible when the 404 Jeffery was build as a every day working rifle with good quality material and components ...something Johan Greyling is known to do ..building great quality working rifles with no gold engravings or shining actions ....

Well I was correct in my prediction in regards to the demand for this venerable 404 Jeffery caliber working /hunting rifle ...the second batch of 404 Jeffery rifles was sold already a month ago ...Since then and before building the second batch we received a lot of interest and orders for more of these rifles...

Johan Greyling will now be building a third batch of 404 Jeffery working hunting rifles in 2021 for members who is interested in these rifles ...here are some photos of the previous batch of 404 Jeffery rifles ...

 

[Ridgewalker]

Some handsome looking rifles!

 

[AZDAVE]

Very nice looking rifles.

To get the length of the 404 round to fit in the action did he take a little length from both the front and the rear? Did he lengthen the mag box or use a custom Box? How many rounds does the mag box hold?

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Very nice looking rifles.

To get the length of the 404 round to fit in the action did he take a little length from both the front and the rear? Did he lengthen the mag box or use a custom Box? How many rounds does the mag box hold?

Good to hear from you Dave..Dave, Johan open up the Mauser 98 Obendorf action to the rear..the first thing we mill away is the stripper clip opening. We shorten the extractor as well. Johan never remove any material at the feeding ramp at all..we polish the feeding ramps ...Johan then match the profile of the 404 Jeffery brass casing /round with the feeding rails and remove very little of the material along the feeding rails . We build /bend /form a complete new magazine box longer than the round to ensure the recoil does not cause any setback on the bullet front surface due to recoil. Three rounds in the magazine . I am using the same technical procedure when I opened up my Mauser 8x68S action , up to 91mm on the 8x68S , it is a procedure Johan Greyling really excels at..he even makes the .500 Jeffery feed flawlessly like he does the 404 Jeffery actions ....

 

[AZDAVE]

Johan sounds like a guy I would enjoy sitting down with a cup of coffee and talking with.

 

[Justbryan]

Sounds wonderful. I am searching for a 404 Jeffery for a 2022 hunt. PM me with information, timeframe, cost. Thanks.

 

[Shootist43]

Sounds wonderful. I am searching for a 404 Jeffery for a 2022 hunt. PM me with information, timeframe, cost. Thanks.

I too was interested in purchasing a 404 Jeffery from one of Johan's previous batches. But since he is located in South Africa I thought that shipping and importation costs would make it prohibitive. BTW I think that anyone currently living in South Africa and thinking about purchasing a 404 Jeffery needs to jump on these rifles while they are available.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Dave/members Johan Greyling is a great person, I already knows him for the past 34 years. He is always willing to assist any hunter who needs assistance with a rifle problem and always give his best effort to sort out a problem. I have learned a huge lot of things from Johan, everything I knows , I learned from Johan Greyling..I am extremely fortunate to know Johan Greyling and enjoy every minute I spend in the Gunsmith shop while working on my own rifles as well as do some work on client`s rifles . Dave , if there is a chance to meet Johan Greyling at the Gunsmith shop when you come for your hunt I will be glad to fetch you in Johannesburg and take you to the Gunsmith Shop to meet Johan Greyling and discuss rifles issues with him ...and I will be braaiing you a great T-Bone and feed you delicious roasted coffee at the shop..

To every member here on the forum..I already extended my invitation to every one here on the forum..if there is anything you need or need some assistance while you are visiting South Africa for hunting or touring just let me know , Johan and I will do our outmost best to assist you...

We are available any time of day and night to assist where ever you need us to ...

To the members who resides in the USA/other Countries I am meeting a retired Police Captain that now do any rifle license/application/permanent importation /permanent exportation of any hunting rifle to foreign Countries . I need to permanent import some rifle related items and will make use of her assistance and knowledge to permanently import items for me ...

I will give feedback in regards to the process next year to see if it is financially viable to permanently importing/exporting hunting rifles ..

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Sounds wonderful. I am searching for a 404 Jeffery for a 2022 hunt. PM me with information, timeframe, cost. Thanks.

Justbryan, I need to mention the following requirement when buying a rifle from Johan Greyling `s gunsmith shop ...Johan expect every person/hunter who buys a rifle from him to personally shoot the rifle , handle the rifle and take a close look at the rifle he/she wants to buy...that is the only way you will be able to buy a rifle build by Johan Greyling..

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Good to hear from you Dave..Dave, Johan open up the Mauser 98 Obendorf action to the rear..the first thing we mill away is the stripper clip opening. We shorten the extractor as well. Johan never remove any material at the feeding ramp at all..we polish the feeding ramps ...Johan then match the profile of the 404 Jeffery brass casing /round with the feeding rails and remove very little of the material along the feeding rails . We build /bend /form a complete new magazine box longer than the round to ensure the recoil does not cause any setback on the bullet front surface due to recoil. Three rounds in the magazine . I am using the same technical procedure when I opened up my Mauser 8x68S action , up to 91mm on the 8x68S , it is a procedure Johan Greyling really excels at..he even makes the .500 Jeffery feed flawlessly like he does the 404 Jeffery actions ....

Need to point out , the ejector is being shortened , not the extractor ... milling out the stripper clip opening, shape the feeding rails according to the 404 Jeffery round profile , polish the feeding ramp...build/bend a new larger magazine box , bend the bolt handle to fit into the stock side ,new rifle stock , straight stock to absorb recoil , choice of fitting a telescope / island sights , front sight brass bead , two recoil lug , oil finish stock and a recoil pad of your choice ..these rifle stocks is left extra long at the butt end to ensure the buyer have a fit that suites him and will be shorten when he /she shoots and handle the rifle in the gunsmith shop . No engraving or gold inlays into the action or any bells or whistles ..it is a working rifle from excellent quality action/barrel and American black wall-nut blank..

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Beautiful rifles Gerd.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Beautiful rifles Gerd.

Witold, thank you kindly, it is much appreciated to hear from you again Sir..yes , Johan Greyling really build them beautiful and extremely functional

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I agree with you Gerd.

 

[nztimb]

Really good to see rifles being produced for this superb cartridge.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I think the same as you Von Gruff.

 

[machinistbutler]

I wish more rifles were made in it. It is too bad CZ didn't make more, I guess the demand wasn't high enough. I would have bought one in a second. Building a custom 404 is an option , but I have many 375, a 416 and 2 458 .

The only place I have ever seen one in person was my PH rifle in Namibia. He really likes the cartridge.

I have bought brass just in case one comes up!

 

[IvW]

Gert I have access to a whole stock pile of American Black Wall Nut stocks.....been lying there for many years

 

[Gert Odendaal]

I wish more rifles were made in it. It is too bad CZ didn't make more, I guess the demand wasn't high enough. I would have bought one in a second. Building a custom 404 is an option , but I have many 375, a 416 and 2 458 .

The only place I have ever seen one in person was my PH rifle in Namibia. He really likes the cartridge.

I have bought brass just in case one comes up!

You should have shot his 404 Jeffery...and understood how great shooting the 404 Jeffery is

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Gert I have access to a whole stock pile of American Black Wall Nut stocks.....been lying there for many years

Is it available to purchase IvW ...I am sure Johan Greyling will be interested in it for rifle stock manufacturing..please let me know..

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Really good to see rifles being produced for this superb cartridge.

Great words from the man who is a fundi on the 404 Jeffery subject...Von Gruff knows more about the 404 Jeffery than the average big bore hunter since he build his own and did a lot of re-loading on the 404 Jeffery ...