The 404 was Africas darling for one reason, and that is because FN made utilitarian rifles and the Game Depts purchased many of them with large amounts of ammo, later sold them off to the public although many still remain in game depts such as Tanzania where you still see a few rough FN in that caliber...Cheap cost, ammo ability and a caliber that did the job made the .404 popular..
The 416 never was widely used nor accepted, but was made popular by such scribes as Hemingway and Rourke, and a few very well known PHs later picked up on it and its fame spread. Its fame is mostly in the minds and hearts of the nostalgic American Sportsman that believed it was widely accepted in Africa...This does not mean that it isn't a wonderful caliber, it is a very effective caliber and, in effect, is a 416 Wby without a belt or visa versa.
I hope that my history lesson has not offended the sacred cow, least I be stringhaultered and gilflurted.:)
