Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only .404 Jeffery vs .416 Rigby

Trying to decide on a new rifle to buy, and want to try one of these two calibers. Does anyone have any comments for one over the other?

I'll probably never make it to Africa, but will be using it on bear in Alaska. Also, I don't handload ammo, so what's available from the factory will be a consideration.

Looks like the 404 actually shoots a .423" bullet?

How do these compare as bear hunting calibers?

David

Federal is thonly company that I know of loading the 416 Rigby. Don't know of anybody loading the 404. Both of these calibers are good for their intended purpose. Factory ammo will be hard to come by for either in Alaska. I have owned 2 Rugers that were chambered in 416 Rigby, but I am a handloader.

Since they were both designed for killing elephants and rhinos, I suspect they will work just fine on our bears. CZ has a readily available and affordable .416 out. So does Ruger, but it costs a bit more. If they -- or anyone else -- would build a .404 Jeffrey, I would have one in a heartbeat. Not that there is any difference, for practical purposes, between the .404 and the .416 Rigby, .416 Remington Mag, etc. I just want one. I reload, so factory ammunition isn't a problem. If I just had to have a .416 of some description, and I were dependent on factory ammunition, I would find a CRF Win 70 in .416 Rem Mag.

I hear that Ruger made chambered rifles in .404J during the 90's, and that Dakota does. I don't think I can afford a Dakota, but I think there's other ways to have one made up that might not be quite as expensive.

I'm working on getting a .375 setup just the way I like, after that I think I'll turn to the .404J project. As I said, I don't know how to reload, but might have to learn.

There's something cool about the .404, it's history or something. Same can be said for the .416 I guess..

dmd

Apparently Ruger had some chambering problems with their .404's, and dropped them. I'd love to see CZ start chambering them.

I too am contemplating having one built. I'm thinking about a CRF stainless Winchester, synthetic stock, 21.5" bbl, irons and low-power Leupold scope, maybe tefloned in addition to being stainless. The other side of me wants a classic Africa rifle with circassian walnut, dropped magazine, shallow-V standing leaf sight with two folding leaves, etc.

Where in Alaska are you? I'm in the wet part.

I live in Wasilla but am on the slope right now. I love southeast though, I was born in Juneau.

I had been wanting a .375 for a long time, finally got one for Christmas and I love it. Now I'm getting big bore fever and really want a .404. I'm going to try to get a semi-custom .375 project together, and after that I'm hoping to figure out a way to make a .404 just the way I want it, though I'm not sure what that means yet! Heh..

dmd

If it were me, and I didn't handload, I would put ammo availability right up at the top; even a big-bore makes a lousy club.
Any reason you're not considering the Remington? Looks to me to be the same cartridge, and available.
-And let me know if you need some convincing as to how easy it is to start reloading, cause myself, I'd get the Rigby and a set of dies....

Well, to tell you the truth..I wasn't considering the Remington simply because the other two are calibers I've read and daydreamed about since I was younger. Not a good reason, I know.

As far as reloading goes...I guess I'm about ready to try it. I just bought the new Hodgdon's Manual and am trying to make some sense of it..

dmd

Well, keep in mind, you don't have to get all into the science and art of reloading just to reload.
You can find a good load or two that works in your rifle, leave the dies set where they are, and knock out a dozen rounds whenever you want to shoot.
(You aren't talking a varminter, where you might blow through a few hundred rounds in an afternoon.)
You could even just get yourself a Lee Loader for -what is it? - $30?

That's not to say there's any way of escaping eventually getting into the art of reloading, and trying out every powder in every bullet weight; but just that there's no rush1
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, you're right. I'm getting pretty interested in it. Seems like a shame not to take advantage of the flexibility reloading gives. Also, the fun of experimenting. It must be cool to take game with your favorite rifle using loads you developed yourself..

dmd

I killed my first deer with factory ammo, somewhat more than a quarter of a century ago. I believe I have killed one since then with a load I didn't assemble myself. Yeah, it's a pretty good feeling. Fun hobby, makes you a better shooter and more familiar with ballistics and what's going on with your rifle. With something like a Rigby or a Jeffrey's, reloading will be a requirement, because factory ammo availability can be pretty iffy.

Finding fodder to feed my Rigby isnt a problem.....the cost is though, Federals run a little over $100 a box and A-Square's run about $150 for 20. Been there and done that! Handloading is the way to go, it's only slightly more than conventional cartridges due to the brass, more powder,bullets but it's way cheaper. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I messed up when several years ago now the local Federal distributor sold out. He was letting Federal 410 grain Woodleigh Solids go for $39 a box and I only bought one box <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I figured I didnt have a use for solids but heck, the brass is worth that alone. It's one of my biggest blunders <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />


AA

AA, Some time back I found a classified ad here or at Saeeds place that had 416 Barnes 400gr solids for sale. I bought over 4 and a half boxes for $50. Was my lucky day.

Bill in NE

Bill...go ahead and rub it in! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> What I let go was loaded ammo at $39...........ahhhhhhhhhh I still kick myself <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

David,

I like the rigby. The 416 rem is a great round in a handier package, but pressures are higher, and I notice the recoil is different in a somewhat lighter gun than my ruger...the 404 is great but harder to get components for in general...I just necked up a 375 ultra mag to 416, so I'll let you know on that project. All great calibers, so pick one and enjoy.

FWIW, I've been requested to mule some .416 Rigby components to my PH in South Africa this coming May. Doing some elementary price checking has convinced me that it is an expensive rifle to feed, and outrageously so if you don't handload. Best brass is supposedly Norma, best price I've found is at Cabela's.....$77.99/50....which is just back in stock after a period of not being available anywhere. Bell brass is a bit cheaper and rumored to be as good but the PH wanted Norma so he gets Norma. Quality hunting bullets are just as expensive, with the exception of Hornady FMJ they run about a buck to a buck and a half each. IF I was going to buy a rifle in this caliber to shoot extensively in practice, I would certainly look into casting bullets for it.

On the other hand, the few people I've talked to that actually used one loved the caliber and it seems to perform as well as or better than the .416 RM at substantially lower pressures.

I have owned and used them both and both are excellent calibers...I prefer the 404 hands down simply because it will work great in a standard lenth action (actually shorter than a 375 H&H) and save me packing that couple of extra pounds around which isn't any big deal but the smaller trimmer rifle is a big deal to me....

I have a couple of 404's and one that is for sale if anyone is interrested, it is a sleek trim little gun that shoots, feeds and extracts well..and it won't cost you and arm and a leg....

404 brass, dies, bullets are in abundance these days and always will be it appears....I can get 2600 plus FPS with a 400 gr. bullet in a modern 404 jefferys..but I'm perfectly happy with 2400 FPS and have used it at 2150 with excellent results on Buffalo...velocity is not a major part of the killing equation on big animals like it is on plainsgame and our deer and antelope.

Both the 416 Rigby and the 404 have simular powder capacity and are both underloaded a good deal, as they should be.

Ray -- just sent you a PM on the for-sale .404.

Sent you photos and reply, did you get them..

Got your message and photos; sent you a response. What a classic rifle!