Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Help with 404 Jeffery Rimless NE loads

Just starting to load for a Ruger #1 in 404 Jeffery. I'm using Barnes 400 solids and TSXs. I can find data for both bullets, but I have some Woodleigh 450 grain solids I'd like to try - can't locate any data for those. Any favorite loads for the Woodleigh 450 or experience with them on buff? Thanks

Reloaded 15 is your friend.

I used Woodleigh 400's in my CZ .404 Jeffery in Africa in 2006 -- but only on blesbok . I used 400 gr TSX's on the buff...

I loaded 76 gr of Re 15, but you could likely use more or less...

Dennis

I have no experience with the 404, but I could run it though a QuickLoad or LFD if you wanted, to see what it comes up with

Dan, thanks. I already tried QL including the latest update download, but the 450 Woodleigh solid is not included in the data base. Muledeer, thanks. I'll try the RL 15 this week. I tried an interesting experiment today, turning 375 RUM cases into 404 Jeffery. Reversing the process I guess. I plan to use the converted 375 RUM cases (all it takes is a single pass through the 404NE sizing die with a tapered expander button) for load development and practice and save the (expensive) 404-headstamped cases for hunting trips to places where customs is watching the ammo. Have you tried this?

Yes I have...somewhere on here is a thread with pics where Con and I were discussing this exact possibility. Rutten sent me three .375 RUM cases and I ran them through the die. I loaded them with RWS 400-gr solids and went to the range. I think the rim is a touch smaller, but my CZ fed and ejected them without a bobble.

If you check the .404 Jeffery data in Barnes #4 you can see a pic of my buff... .

Dennis

There is a small difference in rim and head diameter, as well as in the extraction groove configuration. However, so far my Ruger #1 extracts and ejects the 375RUM-404NE cases without problems. I hope to get to the range next weekend and try out some loads. I still need to compare case capacities to determine starting loads. I'll look up your photo next time I see the Barnes #4 (not one of my on-site resources).

Muledeer, got a hold of the Barnes #4 today - great buff in the picture and some real interesting loads there. I also got H4350 load data for the 450 grain Woodleigh bullets from Geoff McDonald @ Woodleigh. Since the SD of the 450 grain .422 bullet is very similar to the .458 500 grain bullet and their data shows max MV of 2160 fps I think this may be the bullet I initially work with for buff. I'm planning a buff hunt in Mozambique for 2009 so it was interesting to read the description of your hunt.

I think whatever bullet you choose in .422-.423 is likely to work for you -- not a caliber with a bunch of bad bullets running around, I think.

Have you booked your hunt yet? What part of Moz are you going to? I'd be happy to tell you about my experience, if that would be useful.

Dennis

Yes, we've booked in the Marameu Coutada 10 area with Phillip Bronkhorst. As far as I can tell from the maps I've seen the area extends inland from the coast, generally between Beira and the Zambezi. A friend has hunted with this safari outfit and has had a good experience, although this will be our fist hunt for buffalo. I would certainly find it helpful to hear about your experience in Moz. Thanks

That's pretty much the same area I hunted. I'm about to walk the dog and go to bed, but within the next couple of days I'll send you a PM with pics and a description of my hunt.

What month are you hunting? I was there in August, which is allegedly winter -- though it was hotter than the hinges of hell.

More to follow, via PM.

Dennis

We'll be there 1st week in August.

The 404 Jefferys is my all time favorite African caliber and I have used it for close to a century!! I have shot about everything Africa and the NA continent have to offer with it..

For a near max load try 95 grs. of IMR-4831 with any 400 gr. bullet for 2653 FPS in a 27 inch barrel and about 2600 FPS in your 26" barrel..pressures are low and its the best velocity of any powder and accuracy is usually outstanding..recoil is offensive. It is a full case of powder but not compacted.

Northfork Industries used my load of 95 grs and tested it for pressure and velocity and came up with almost the exact figures as I had, although they had more safisticated equiptment than I.

My hunting load is 93 grs. of same for a bit over 2400 FPS and recoil is much milder..

I have used RL-15 and 4350s with satisfactory results but the above is by far the best velocity and accuracy in every 404 I have owned or tested and that is quite a large number of 404 rifles...

Good luck and you picked a winner.

Thanks Ray. Just loaded some 450 Woodleigh solids and 400 Barnes banded solids to get started. I hope to get to the range & chrono them this week to get an idea of what my rifle (24" bbl) will do. I'll try your 4831 & RL15 loads in my next batch.

Any idea where that thread is? I've come up empty.

thx ......

The loads I made up today were all in cases re-formed from 375RUM, so if I can get to the range before the week ends I can post the results of this experiment, if there's interest. Preliminary measurements done on random 5-case samples of 3 batches of cases (2 from BeLL and 1 the re-formed 375RUMs) show internal capacity (to the case mouth using BL C-2) to be: BeLL 1 = 113.6 grains, BeLL 2 = 113.0 grains and 375RUM-404 Jeffery = 113.2 grains. So capacity doesn't seem to be a problem. Rim diameter is 0.542" for BeLLs and 0.534" for the 375RUMs, not a problem extracting before firing, but we'll see how the expanded fired cases do.

I can't find it either . But here's the pic of gthe cases...


It's like Wildcatter said -- case head is slightly smaller, but that seems to present no problems in my CZ either. Case capacity does seem to be equal, and the ammo shoots to point of aim.

If I didn't have a goodly supply of Norma .404 brass, I would be reforming .375 RUM brass without a care. It seems to work.

Dennis

This photo shows the BeLL 404 Jeffery case on the left and the reformed 375RUM case on the right, both unfired. The only visible difference is the extraction groove dimension and shape.

muledeer,
Stop showing those pictures! I have a 375H&H length max box in the mail for a Ruger, know the wherabouts of a cheap donor stainless 7mmRemMag ... I dont need the temptation to build a stainless 404Jeffery to use up my 300RUM brass!
Cheers...
Con

You could always trim the necks and build a .404 Short like we talked about before...

Just trying to be helpful from half a world away .

Dennis

Con...I will now make you crazy... .

I went out to the shop this morning, dinking around while smoking venison (my project for the day), and made two...are you ready?....404 Ruger cases!

Here they are, one loaded with a 400 gr RWS solid, next to .404 Jeffery cases, one loaded with a 400 gr Woodleigh Weldcore.


Here they are next to the parent .375 Ruger cases, one loaded with a 300-gr Hornady RN.


No particular reason to do it, other than rebarreling a Ruger .375 African to .404 Ruger... .

Now...what can I sell... .

Dennis