All,

Spent the day yesterday working up my 404 loads.
For those that are interested here is the data I collected from the bench:

Norma Brass
Swift A-Frames 400grain soft nose
Federal 215M primer
Varget
C.O.L 3.53

76 grains Varget = 2420 fps 1 inch group
78 grains Varget = 2460 fps *
80 grains Varget = 2520 fps *
82 grains Varget = 2560 fps sub moa
83 grains Varget = 2602 fps sub moa

Barrel length 26 inches. Ambient temperature 65 degrees

In all cases recoil was moderate. Nowhere near where I thought it would be.
No discernable pressure signs; no sticky extraction, no flattened primers, nothing that would indicate a hot load.

These loads were chronographed in an Oehler and checked again with a chrony. The fps deviation between the graphs was less then 5 fps.

Just thought I would share this for all interested.

Hi Carmelo,
Looks like good results. The same job is waiting for me one of these days. I got the action for my 404 today. I cant to wait for the day mine is finished

What action did you get??

Next week I am shooting Woodleighs and Northforks, I suspect the NF's will reach 2650 fps with the same 83 grain of Varget charge. Don't know about the woodleighs. I'll keep you posted.

Carmelo,
You are more reckless than even yours truly!
I could translate your velocities to my 24" rifle if we were dealing with Woodleighs, but I have not tried the Swift A-Frame 400 grainers.
No doubt a great bullet, but I would guess that it is a bit "harder" and has greater bearing surface, and intrudes on the case capacity a bit more, so will get pressures and velocities a bit higher for a given Varget charge ... as it seems to be doing.

2400 fps with 400 grainers
2525 fps with 380 grainers
2700 fps with 340 grainers ... these are a few of my favorites in a 24 incher.

In your rifle:
2450 fps with 400 grainers
2575 fps with 380 grainers
2750 fps with 340 grainers

To each his own. Don't let me influence you one bit. You might want to make that COL 3.53" instead of 2.53". Typo.

RIP,
yeah I saw the numbers you posted in the BIG Bore section,
I actually started this load dev, from 72 grains and went up from there. I will keep posting my loads providing I don't kill myself anytime soon. (though I doubt I will be missed if I do) On a serious note I really found not even the slightest inkling of pressure probs with the Aframes and I suspect even less pressure with the NF's but slightly higher velocity. Will be doing the exact same load work up as before, we'll see.

OOPS thanks for catching the typo on the C.O.L

as I suspected....heads and tails better than the scrawny ole .416 Rem Mag!!!
If I send you some 350 grain Woodleighs will you try them too.....this is getting to be a good eland rifle too!!! Maybe have to rethink the decision to not use a scope on the .404!!

Vapo,
happy too. Shooting 400 grain woodleighs next weekend, lets see the results with those first.

Carmelo,
I got a double square bridge that is build in RSA, was quite expensive as they are quite scarces. I will start looking for a stock blank this week and try to pick up the barrel as well.
Then the hard work starts.

Ya wanna make that 404 sing, try working up to 95 grs. of IMR-4831, in that 26 inch tube..I got 2653 FPS in one gun and 2615 FPS in another...

I am building a 21" 404 Jefferys on a FN action with a modified drop box and I'm anxious to see what that short tube will do...It is going to be a strictly iron sighted gun with a 3/32 Ivory bead...

Thats good stuff, I will be using AR2208 when my .404J I am having built arrives and that is very similar to Varget, all I want is 2400 fps with the woodleigh 400 gr bullet.

Ray,

Why do you prefer the IMR 4831 to Varget?

With Vargets insensitivity to temperature changes and the lighter load [83gr/95gr] that produce almost the same fps [2607/2615] it would seem to be a wash.

Were your loads/speeds with the North Fork Cup-points or another bullet?

Les

I am a fan of all of the 4831 powders, to start with they are stable, do not create pressure or pressure jumps to any great degree..they fill a case full..I have never noticed any of todays modern powders being temperature sensitive, that for the most part is a technical rumor started by whoever and passed on to others until its become accepted and its BS IMO..unless of course you put too much powder in the case, then they all become temp sensitive...It is a great powder and has proven itself for many years..

This does not mean its better than other powders, but it does cover a broad spectrum of uses in various calibers..and 9 time out of 10 will get you more velocity and less pressure than its counterparts...

Nice thing about IMR-4831 is I can use the same load with any bullet of the same weight..I use it with GS Customs HP and fN solids, Bridger FN. solids, all Northfork bullets, and Woodleighs in the 404...I have been told by some experts that you cannot get enough IMR-4831 into a 404 case to damage the brass much less the gun, same with a 30-06 or .270..I believe they are correct, but I would not try to prove that, no reason to...

The only downside to 4831 is powder cutting and I lived so long with that that I pretty much ignore it these days...I guess you could say she is an old friend.

quote:

Originally posted by Jaco Human:
Carmelo,
I got a double square bridge that is build in RSA, was quite expensive as they are quite scarces. I will start looking for a stock blank this week and try to pick up the barrel as well.
Then the hard work starts.

Jaco be sure to post pics when she's done!