Unknown 404 Caliber 1903a3

[hperk9.3]

Hello all,

This may be a long shot but I figured I’d ask. This rifle is supposedly a 404 Jeffery. Here are the facts:

- 404 Jeffery does not chamber, stops a good inch or more before the bolt closes
- 10.75 x 68 Mauser fits the chamber, but will not extract from the chamber.
- The bolt face fits the case head dimensions for the Jeffery
- both the Jeffery and the 10.75 Mauser fit in the mag box.

The only other “404” round I can think of is 404 Hoffman. I looked through my loading manuals but was unable to find it. Questions:

-could someone send me the case specs for the Hoffman?
- do you know of another 404 wildcat I should look into?

I plan to get a chamber cast, but in the mean time, I wanted to see what some of the options are.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Possibly 425 Express? Takes 404 bullet on a 300 Win Mag case. The 300 has rim that's 0.532" and 404 rim is 0.543". 425 Express would fit on a 404 bolt face with a little room to spare but a bit of slop would not be terribly unusual. 425 Express definitely would not close as it is blown out without 404 tapered shoulder. If you can find a ridge in the chamber for belted cartridge, that might indicate 425 Express.

See how a 300 Win cartridge fits on that bolt face.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

What's with the gash in the receiver!

 

[hperk9.3]

What's with the gash in the receiver!

I blacked out the serial number in the photo!

 

[hperk9.3]

Possibly 425 Express? Takes 404 bullet on a 300 Win Mag case. The 300 has rim that's 0.532" and 404 rim is 0.543". 425 Express would fit on a 404 bolt face with a little room to spare but a bit of slop would not be terribly unusual. 425 Express definitely would not close as it is blown out without 404 tapered shoulder. If you can find a ridge in the chamber for belted cartridge, that might indicate 425 Express.

See how a 300 Win cartridge fits on that bolt face.

375 h&h fits okay on the bolt face and the bolt goes into battery with it in the chamber

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I blacked out the serial number in the photo!

Heh, heh. I should have figured that out. I shoot an 03A3. Mine was made by Remington. Who made that one? The partial lettering doesn't make sense.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

375 h&h fits okay on the bolt face and the bolt goes into battery with it in the chamber

And how does the 375 bullet fit in bore at muzzle? Is the barrel stamped 404?

 

[hperk9.3]

Heh, heh. I should have figured that out. I shoot an 03A3. Mine was made by Remington. Who made that one? The partial lettering doesn't make sense.

Says national ordinance but all original markings have been removed then stamped back in
That’s why it looks so odd!

 

[hperk9.3]

And how does the 375 bullet fit in bore at muzzle? Is the barrel stamped 404?

So there is no rifling after the ports in the end of the barrel. The 404 is slightly smaller than the bore and 375 isn’t even close.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Have you checked to see if it’s a 458 Lott?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Have you checked to see if it’s a 458 Lott?

If 404 doesn't close in the chamber, a 458 Lott certainly won't. But maybe 458 Win? That's a much shorter cartridge. So, there's nothing stamped on the barrel?

 

[AustinM]

Sounds like the best course of action is to have the chamber cast by yourself, or a knowledgeable gunsmith. To see, is to know, in these situations.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Can we see what the rifle looks like? I am curious why the brand of maker was defaced and then an attempt to restore. Perhaps someone filled the holes tapped for scope and then ground the brand off? Apparently there is nothing stamped on the barrel for cartridge. Perhaps that was also obliterated. You certainly have acquired a mystery. Hopefully not too buggered up. Springfield is a wonderful action. I agree with above, the only safe course is to make a mold of the chamber.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

So there is no rifling after the ports in the end of the barrel. The 404 is slightly smaller than the bore and 375 isn’t even close.
View attachment 634325

425 Westley Richards?

Edit: Nope. The rim of 425WR would be way too small for that bolt face to pick up.

 

[PerH]

I know some has cut down .404 brass to 68mm also , but chamber cast and see .

 

[hperk9.3]

Have you checked to see if it’s a 458 Lott?

Don’t have a round to test with!

 

[RR 314]

Why do you think that it is 404 (.423)? Where did you acquire the gun. Did you mean .404 Dakota? George Hoffman had a .416, but I don’t think he ever did .423.