Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only .404 Jeffery Barrel Contour ?

How much meat in the barrel does the .404 Jeffery need? #5 @ .700 or #6 @.750? I would think a .725 #5.5 would be perfect but no one makes such a contour...

Sure they do, you just haven't asked them yet. Most manufacturers will turn whatever you want, you just have to ask. Some will charge you a little extra over their standard contours, but some will do it for free.

I used the #1450 contour Walther for my .404J project. the muzzle diameter is .700". I left it 24" on my SS M-70 Classic, .300 RUM donor action. It seems to have enough heft without being too heavy. Now, if I went with quarter rib, etc. that would add some beef.

Stock is a dense walnut M-70 factory take off I got from Gunner500, which adds some weight. Bottom metal is Williams. Shank is 1.230" and I left it long.

DF

DF, that is one awesome looking rifle. What does she tip the scales at? How many rounds does the magazine hold? Is there a reason you used a 300 RUM action other than length? Feeding ease? Have you decided what iron sights you are going to put on?

Of course. However, it may make finding things like iron sights a bit more difficult/overly expensive with a non-standard contour. But it is still an option. Thanks for the reminder.

9 pounds, 15 ounces with a Conquest 3-9x40 in Talley QD rings.

I'm going to work up loads with this configuration.

Not sure about irons or future configurations. I'll have to go with a different stock for irons, as this one is too straight, but perfect for scopes.

It feeds great from the mag, even feeding empties pretty well. I used the .300 RUM, as it's set up for the wider bodied round, as the .404J is the parent for the RUM series. Just the rim being a bit larger on the .404J.

Didn't check mag capacity. I think it's 3 down. Will double check that later.

DF

DF, what twist did you use - 1:14 or 1:16?

14 is the only twist offered by Walther.

DF

You're not going to find sights specifically for a #5 or #6, they're not "standard" contours either. The only standard contours are what come from the rifle makers themselves. First, the contour numbering system isn't uniform across makers, a #5 Kreiger is going to be different from a #5 Rock, there isn't a standard across barrel makers. Take a look at NECG sights, they come in a range of sizes and the final fitting has to be done by a gunsmith. The only way you're going to find sights to that fit perfectly without adjustment is to duplicate a factory contour and put factory sights on, which you probably don't want.

I've had quite a few custom barrels made and only a couple of times have I used one of the in house contours. Most of the time I've told them to turn them to factory contours so I could avoid messing with the stock inlet. If you want the barrel to finish at .725" then have them make it that way, any barrel maker that contours with a CNC lathe can easily do this. I ordered a barrel from Bartlein about a month ago that I specified the dimensions for, it wasn't one of their listed contours but they didn't bat an eye at it.

Don't make it more complicated than it is. It's a custom barrel, have them make what you want.

I went with a lilja 375b contour on my win classic 404 Jeff worked great with a custom shop safari express stock. I used a 26 inch barrel,but at 24 it is .720

Another suggestion for a .404 Jeffery, rebore a .375 H&H M-70 Classic, as those barrels are too heavy for caliber. They'd be about right for a .404J. You'd have to open the bolt face slightly and get a RUM box mag with the windows, or cut windows in the std. mag. as shown in the photo below. This .300 RUM M-70 Stainless Classic donor action had the feeding ramp lowered. I don't know how much one would need to alter a .375 H&H ramp.

The windows give more lateral room for the wide bodied cases.

DF

DF, the pictures make your point very well. Thank you.

The current plan is to go with a MRC 1999 LA. It has the features I want, is already outfitted for RUM class cartridges and since it is a Winchester clone there are plenty of options for bottom metal, etc. I have neither the patience or inclination to hunt down a pre-BACO donor action when the MRC action fits the bill for equal or lesser cost. The rebore would be a nice cost saving step if I was doing this bargain basement but I intend to do this rifle right the first time around with quality components.

MRC seems to have gotten its act together in the last year or two so I am willing to give them a shot. I am still in early planning stages for this project. I will be doing up a .30-06 before this one and will use that as a gauge on component quality etc.

I had looked at the MRC and agree, it's a solid option.

Keep us posted as your project evolves.

DF

Have a look at this link to Nitro Express and the 1905 404 Jeffery for a lovely old rifle.

http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=226111&an=0&page=0#Post226111

Nice to see a bit of practical history every once and a while. Great shape for a rifle obviously well used and over a century old. Only 8.5 lbs and with a 26" barrel it looked like, definately some intelligent design there.

Neat.

Talk about box mag windows, that old Mauser has wall to wall "windows". In fact, the stock mag well IS the mag, only the back of the original box mag remains.

Pretty light for a .404J. Those old guys must have been a lot tougher than modern day folk. But, I don't think those old rounds were as hot as ours, today.

Sleek lines, I like it.

DF

some will do it for free.
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Diablo 3 Gold|Diablo 3 Gold Kaufen|Aion Kinah

DF is right; the old load was 2150 to mimic the double barelled 450-400 of yore. I am sure it would be as adequate today. Local Cabela's had a Cogswell and Harrison 375 on hand and, at 26", the barrel mics .620 and it is dreamy. Tip Burns in Texas was working on one last year I held with a LW 5130 profile in 404J with a .625 MD at 26" and, it too, was awesome. Receiver was a Whitworth and all I can say is, Balance, Balance, Balance!

The weight of my 1905 404 Jeffery is under 8 1/2 # and the majority of it is in the uniquely tapered 24" barrel.
the original 404 did only provide around 2200 fps with the 400 gr bullet and so could be built light and handy, yet powerful enough for anything needed in Africa, Asia or Alaska. In fact mine was purchased by an American specifically for an Alaskan Brown bear hunt.

There is no doubt that the 404 can be loaded to match the Rigby but when you do you usually end up with a rifle as large and heavy as the Rigby.

Here is the 1905 Jeffery on right compared with a 416 Rigby with the magnum, drop box action. You can see that the original 404 is a lot slimmer and easier to carry.



You can see the how the barrel starts thick and quickly tapers to the barrel sling attachment and then steps down. I have seen other early English bolt rifles done this way and it really keeps the balance and weight centered between the hands and makes for a lively feeling rifle.

Thanks for posting, Phil.

You have some of the neatest rifles...

DF