Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only 404 jeff or the 416 taylor

In the "40 bores" I believe the 416 Taylor to be the best option for a custom build because it is the simplest to make on a STANDARD length Mauser. A 400 grain 416 at 2350 is the same as the old 416 Rigby,and I know of no one who says a 416 Rigby is a poor choice.

I have made about fifteen 416 Taylors and I kept 2 of them for some years and loved them. But today I don't have any. I do have a 404 Jeffery. Why? Because I used a 404 when I was in my 20s for nearly a year, and came to respect it and found it lacked for nothing, even using the old Kynoch ammo that shot a 400 grain at 2150 FPS. I used more of the newer RWS ammo however that fired a 400 at 2350. Those are deep and important memories for me, and so a few years ago I decided to make a similar rifle for Old Times Sake". I just like it .......because of the memories even though it's not exactly the same and the old 1920 made Jeffery was. My current 404 is just a nostalgia piece for me now.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]

But for "African style rifles" you have a budget, and if for example that was $2700 and you need to spend $ $1500 on an action that will leave $1200 for the stock, barrel, sights, sling swivels, mounts, pad sling and enough ammo to set the gun up and zero it in, AND THEN have some to pay the man to make it for you.

$1200 is not a lot for all that.

But with a 416 Taylor the action is a LOT less expensive,------------------like about $1000 less! That give you $1000 more to spend on goodies and labor and that makes for a WAY nicer gun for the same budget.
My 416 Taylors were nicer to carry too. Because of the standard size action they carry easier in the hand. Not "fat' like the Jeffery was and is.
416 Taylor Mauser by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]

416 #2 by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]
another with a peep sight:
Sig's 416 Taylor by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]
So if I were to want an "African 40" to use instead of "to own" I would certainly go with the Taylor in preference to ANY other 40, 41 or 42 cal. Just makes a nicer gun for the same budget.

Or a plane gun for a lot less money.