What are you shooting with 400s in your 404s? Thank you.

I cranked mine up to 2,400 with RL-15.

Be sure your gun is well bedded. I Steel Bedded mine and it worked well.

DF

Wow 2400. I'm thinking 2200-2250.

You gotta be a Hoss to go 2,400...

But, it'll go there.

You can load down if you want, still with RL-15. Several others in that burn range will work, I just like RL-15 in the .404J.

DF

I kind of like the idea of loading to original ballistics or maybe just slightly more. Easy recoil for a big bore and enough to stop an elephant.

Here's a link to a bunch of .404J stuff.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/7846376/1

DF

Thank you, DF. My rifle is identical to yours. It has a factory Winchester wood stock and a slim barrel. I think it is around 8.25 pounds plus scope and balances well. I need to send it off for sights and finish. An Echols pattern stock may not be a bad idea, though the factory stock fits me well. I shot it with a load I am guessing was around 2200 with a 400 A Frame and recoil was mild for a big bore.

.404J is known to be a lethal big gun without taking a big bite out of the shooter.

Building a .404J from a RUM donor makes a lot of sense, dollars and sense...

DF

I know I'm jumping in late, but, other than RE15 what other powders have you tried?
So far, I have tried 748 @ 89gr for close on 2500fps, Varget @ 85gr for 2450fps and RE15 @ 84gr for 2490fps. This is in a custom CZ 550 with 25" barrel.
What bullets are you guys using?
The only bullets available to me are Woodleigh softs and solids, which is OK because they are quite cheap here in Australia.
My other question is, what brand brass are you using?
I have 100 Norma unprimed that I bought, and 20 Hornady given to me by the 'smith that he used to test fire the rifle.
Do you guys have a preference?

Cheers.

Mostly RL-15. IIRC, the brass was Hornady.

I had rotator cuff surgery and promptly traded the .404J for a 7x57 plus some cash. So, I didn't spend a lot of time with load development.

DF

H-4350 works as well. Another source of bass is 375RUM cases.

Unfinished rifle on a former Classic RUM.



New barrel. Limited ammo but got it on paper and three shots to see if it would shoot. Recoil was really tolerable but I didn't chrono so maybe load is too light. Shooting for 2150-2200 fps. Minute of elephant:



Now it is off to the gunsmith for sights and blue.