The 404 Jeffery history and related information

[nztimb]

That sounds like a plan!

I wish I had the eyes for iron sights, cursed with glasses and restricted to rifle scopes for my future build LOL!

I have worn glasses since the late 70's (progressive trifocals now) and still have no problem with aperture sight and as quick and as accurate as a scope for medium sized game and easily usable to 150 yds. Light conditions and background are the real killer of the iron sight and a very good reason for a scope in so many conditions where tradition does not play a part in the build or the hunt.

 

[Justin.]

I have worn glasses since the late 70's (progressive trifocals now) and still have no problem with aperture sight and as quick and as accurate as a scope for medium sized game and easily usable to 150 yds. Light conditions and background are the real killer of the iron sight and a very good reason for a scope in so many conditions where tradition does not play a part in the build or the hunt.

That is surprising to say the least! Is it a specific aperture sight or just in general that you find they work for your eyes? My build will be integrally suppressed and the builder I’m using, Supressed Weapon Systems in TX, have already told me they’re unable to put iron sights on the barrel shroud that would be reliable. Considering my #1 target will be Cape Buffalo, I’ve pretty much resigned myself to trying to decide between multiple scopes for one gun, a “do-it-all” scope for one gun, or a two rifle battery if I can be convinced LOL! Too many decisions to make and too many great options LOL!

 

[nztimb]

That is surprising to say the least! Is it a specific aperture sight or just in general that you find they work for your eyes?

The first aperture sight I used was a cocking piece sight and it worked so well that I coppied the dimensions for the three subsequent sets I made and the paddock out my kitchen window often has either sheep, cattle or today horses in it and I have "killed" hundreds of them over the years . The ridge is 100yds and I can see out to 150 yds. The darker animals can be difficult to hold a killing shot against the dark trees at times but it is all good practice and I have no trouble with either the aperture sighted rifle or the scope.

 

[Ray B]

The G&H side plates were available in a lower model. Possibly a little looking around would result in finding one that would place the scope as low as you'd like.

 

[Mike B. 216]

Von Gruff thanks for taking the time to post all that info.

 

[Shootist43]

xausa, Randy Selby of Randy's Custom Rifles has built a number of 404(s) including mine. I'm betting he can sort out your feeding / magazine issues. Give him a shout, https://randyscustomrifles.com/

 

[Warren Knudsen]

Von Gruff, thanks for posting this. Great information.

 

[ay2626]

Excellent information in this post. Thank you. Quick question for anyone with a 404 built on a granite mountain arms action. Do your magazine dimensions follow the guidance posted here and what is your magazine capacity? I bought a 404 built on a GMA action and although I haven’t had any issues with reliable feeding, my capacity is 3+1. I have recently seen others built on GMA and the capacity was listed at 4+1. This made me curious so I measured the mag box. Dimensions where much closer to 375 H&H spec. Just interested to see if maybe I have a 375 spec action that was re-barreled to 404.

 

[Nevada Mike]

... Quick question for anyone with a 404 built on a granite mountain arms action. Do your magazine dimensions follow the guidance posted here and what is your magazine capacity? I bought a 404 built on a GMA action and although I haven’t had any issues with reliable feeding, my capacity is 3+1. I have recently seen others built on GMA and the capacity was listed at 4+1. This made me curious so I measured the mag box. Dimensions where much closer to 375 H&H spec. Just interested to see if maybe I have a 375 spec action that was re-barreled to 404.

My .404J was built on a GMA action WITH a dropped magazine box. This allows me to load four cartridges down in the magazine. I prefer not to stuff an additional round in the chamber, so I am limited to four rounds.

I also have a Model 70 CSE that only loads three down, so I am having it restocked and adding a dropped magazine so I have four rounds in the magazine.

 

[ay2626]

My .404J was built on a GMA action WITH a dropped magazine box. This allows me to load four cartridges down in the magazine. I prefer not to stuff an additional round in the chamber, so I am limited to four rounds.

I also have a Model 70 CSE that only loads three down, so I am having it restocked and adding a dropped magazine so I have four rounds in the magazine.

Thanks. I appreciate the information. Mine has a dropped box so I’m thinking it should fit four down. I’ll need to do a little more investigation to see what I have going on.

 

[Nevada Mike]

Flat spring or magazine carrier not quite right? Seems like it should be similar to mine...

 

[ay2626]

Flat spring or magazine carrier not quite right? Seems like it should be similar to mine...

@Nevada Mike does yours look similar to this?

 

[Nevada Mike]

@Nevada Mike does yours look similar to this?
...

View attachment 435612

Mine looks the same as yours, but the follower appears to be very slightly different. The back end of the follower opposite the feeding port (the raised part) is somewhat more rounded at the end. I know that I gave the builder several dummy rounds with Woodeigh softs, solids, Barnes banded solids and some practice rounds with lead bullets. He worked with these as well as some Double Tap factory ammo to assure smooth feeding. Do you know who made the dropped magazine - I assume GMA?

 

[ay2626]

Mine looks the same as yours, but the follower appears to be very slightly different. The back end of the follower opposite the feeding port (the raised part) is somewhat more rounded at the end. I know that I gave the builder several dummy rounds with Woodeigh softs, solids, Barnes banded solids and some practice rounds with lead bullets. He worked with these as well as some Double Tap factory ammo to assure smooth feeding. Do you know who made the dropped magazine - I assume GMA?

Thanks. I am also assuming the magazine is GMA but don’t know 100%. I’m going to see if GMA will send me the specs / dimensions of their 404 mag and follower. I should be able to narrower some things down from there.

 

[Nevada Mike]

Good luck!

 

[Bert the Turtle]

404 Jeffery related post :
Members of the great 404 Jeffery hunting fraternity ...
Question to all of you......
What boat tail type of bullet can I use to shoot/hunt out to 400 meters at Eland , Oryx and Blue Wildebeest , all heavy bodied game animals..if possible I want to be able to shoot out to 500 meters target shooting???

I really would like to push the envelope on the 404 Jeffery ...as a long distance hunting Kalahari dune hunting rifle..
I am awaiting your overwhelming response to my "out of the box " thinking..

Up until the point where the bullet goes transonic, it isn’t going to matter much what you use. Shy of a custom high BC bullet, you are going to be doing pretty much what the black powder cartridge rifle shooters do: chucking big chunks of blunt lead at a known distance. If you have a good range finder and know your come-ups well, you’ll hit what you are aiming at.
I was astounded at how consistent a black powder 45-70 can be at 300 yards. Probably miss the target entirely at 320 yards unless the sights were adjusted, but if your rifle shoots consistently, you can do it with a 404!

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Up until the point where the bullet goes transonic, it isn’t going to matter much what you use. Shy of a custom high BC bullet, you are going to be doing pretty much what the black powder cartridge rifle shooters do: chucking big chunks of blunt lead at a known distance. If you have a good range finder and know your come-ups well, you’ll hit what you are aiming at.
I was astounded at how consistent a black powder 45-70 can be at 300 yards. Probably miss the target entirely at 320 yards unless the sights were adjusted, but if your rifle shoots consistently, you can do it with a 404!

Jip, you are correct. On the end of the day the 404 Jeffery is not manufacture to do this long distance shooting even if I want to test my theory....I rather use a Mauser 8x68S with a 250 gn Barnes bullet design .
I think the only dangerous game caliber able to be converted into a long distance rifle would be the Rigby .416 caliber..
According to knowledgeable hunters the .500 Jeffery is quite accurate out to 200 meters as well.

 

[Bert the Turtle]

Jip, you are correct. On the end of the day the 404 Jeffery is not manufacture to do this long distance shooting even if I want to test my theory....I rather use a Mauser 8x68S with a 250 gn Barnes bullet design .
I think the only dangerous game caliber able to be converted into a long distance rifle would be the Rigby .416 caliber..
According to knowledgeable hunters the .500 Jeffery is quite accurate out to 200 meters as well.

You aren’t wrong. I still think you should do it!

 

[Nevada Mike]

Gert

The 400 gr Swift semi spitzer A Frame or some of the older Barnes TSX type bullets may be a bit more efficient for shooting at longer ranges.

I used my 404 on an eland at 200 yards plus with the rifle sighted dead on at 100 yards. I needed to hold higher on the shoulder. I did, but should have held a couple inches higher.

 

[Bert the Turtle]

I’ve been playing with the ballistics app and much to my surprise, it looks like the best zero distance for my 404 is about 160 yards. Puts the point of aim/ point of impact very close together inside of 50 yards, which is great, and no more than 2 inches high at any point. Three inches low at 200 yards and dropping like a stone from there.

All recommendations I’ve seen are to zero for a shorter range, and I will have to verify before settling on 160 yard zero, but I’m certainly going to check it out as it seems quite promising.

This is with a North Fork 430g bullet- relatively high BC for a 404; other bullets will be slightly different but I encourage people to run the numbers at longer ranges. Gives nothing up for close-in work (May actually be better as far as point of aim/point of impact) compared with conventional (70-100) yard zero and extends the point blank range a lot farther than I expected.