Light weight 404Jeff or 416Taylor?

-------------------------------
Will / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun.
---------------------------------------
and, God Bless John Wayne. NRA Benefactor, GOA, NAGR
_________________________

"Elephant and Elephant Guns" $99 shipped.
“Hunting Africa's Dangerous Game" $20 shipped.

red.dirt.elephant@gmail.com
_________________________

If anything be of note, let it be he was once an elephant hunter, hoping to wind up where elephant hunters go.

25 January 2008, 14:03

Wink

If your donor action is a long action, I would build the 404J. I hear that Hornady is going to be loading the round so factory ammo will be available, fireforming or specially headstamped brass won't be necessary.

25 January 2008, 14:09

mouse93

404 Jeffery:

- history patina
- RWS and Norma factory ammo available
- beltless

25 January 2008, 16:10

Die Ou Jagter

416 Taylor, hands down.

25 January 2008, 16:47

lb404

I have both and a couple of copies of each. Either will work . Head stamped brass is available for both but 416 bullets are easier to find.

26 January 2008, 01:04

J Bennett

425 Express
Best of both. Short action of 416 and .423 dia. bullets of 404.

James

26 January 2008, 01:41

Indlovu

Where's RIP? 395 Tatanka, of course!

26 January 2008, 02:27

JudgeG

Want something light (and deadly at both ends)?

First, aquire a short action Ruger MKII, preferably in a WSM caliber. Get a laminated stock for a Frontier Ruger Model 77 and put on a limb-saver pad, dump the skinny barrel (modify the bolt if you didn't have a WSM caliber to begin with) and put on a .423 WSM barrel with NECG sights (or a scout system using a peep in the rear base, use the the rib off of the old barrel for the forward mounted scope with QD rings and a fiber optic front) and you'll have, even with a 16" barrel, a 2100 fps, 400 grain bullet out of a 6 pound rifle... less than 7 #'s with the scope attached... and may God have mercy on your soul, because the dad-gum rifle won't.

The only problem with the Ruger is that I can't figure out how to get three down in the magazine... two fit fine, btw and feed like greased poop out of a squeezed duck.

I like the .423 because it has just enough shoulder to not cause headspace problems and the bullets available don't use up as much powder space as .411 or .416 400 grain bullets.

26 January 2008, 02:53

Will

quote:
Originally posted by JudgeG:
Want something light (and deadly at both ends)?

First, aquire a short action Ruger MKII, preferably in a WSM caliber. Get a laminated stock for a Frontier Ruger Model 77 and put on a limb-saver pad, dump the skinny barrel (modify the bolt if you didn't have a WSM caliber to begin with) and put on a .423 WSM barrel with NECG sights (or a scout system using a peep in the rear base, use the the rib off of the old barrel for the forward mounted scope with QD rings and a fiber optic front) and you'll have, even with a 16" barrel, a 2100 fps, 400 grain bullet out of a 6 pound rifle... less than 7 #'s with the scope attached... and may God have mercy on your soul, because the dad-gum rifle won't.

The only problem with the Ruger is that I can't figure out how to get three down in the magazine... two fit fine, btw and feed like greased poop out of a squeezed duck.

I like the .423 because it has just enough shoulder to not cause headspace problems and the bullets available don't use up as much powder space as .411 or .416 400 grain bullets.

Are you hitting the sauce in Reno?

26 January 2008, 02:54

ozhunter

quote:
Originally posted by J Bennett:
425 Express
Best of both. Short action of 416 and .423 dia. bullets of 404.

James

I have a WR 425 on it way already but this classic wont have a scope.

Reloading components aren't an issue for me.
It will not be a modern short Mag with a ugly laminated stock.Thats for sure.
The action will most likely be a M98 of some description, so I think ether caliber will fit.
I want this rifle light but it doesn't need to be ultra light.
Cheers .

26 January 2008, 05:02

JudgeG

Will:

I'm stuck in my office in Georgia on a Friday night!

I actually have a such an animal in .416 Short Mag. I'll try to upload a picture.

26 January 2008, 07:03

RIP

quote:
Originally posted by Indlovu:
Where's RIP? 395 Tatanka, of course!

Heh, heh.
Better make that a .395 Ruger Max for light and handy and more powerful than a .375 H&H.
My original "African Sheep Rifle" is a .404 Jeffery M70 Classic stainless in Brown Precision fiberglass, lightweight, accurate, and gets
2800 fps with 320-gr HV
2700 fps with 340-gr North Fork SS
2525 fps with 380-gr North Fork SS
2400 fps with any 400-grainer, no sweat:

That is Antarctica surrounding the swivel stud on this geographic stock. Beyond this point there be dragons!

I am all wildcatted out, so Da Judge's scheme is not tempting me at all.

26 January 2008, 15:34

Will

Two 416 Taylors.

26 January 2008, 20:42

Dave Bush

.404 Jeffery without a doubt. It's a classic!

Dave

Dave
DRSS
Chapuis 9.3X74
Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL
Krieghoff 500/.416 NE
Krieghoff 500 NE

"Git as close as y can laddie an then git ten yards closer"

"If the biggest, baddest animals on the planet are on the menu, and you'd rather pay a taxidermist than a mortician, consider the 500 NE as the last word in life insurance." Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (8th Edition).

26 January 2008, 22:06

crl

quote:
Originally posted by Dave Bush:
.404 Jeffery without a doubt. It's a classic!

Dave

I'm with Dave. Just to much of a classic to not have one. Oh and by the way, I am having one built and soon to be coming home.

crl

27 January 2008, 11:46

ozhunter

quote:
Originally posted by Will:
Two 416 Taylors.

Lovely hunting rifles there, Will.
Could you fit a 404 in those actions?

27 January 2008, 12:15

Karl S

I would go for the .404
1) its a classic
2) pressures are generally lower with full power loads.
3) it does not have a belt
4) your PH will know it

27 January 2008, 14:03

Will

They are the regular CZ 550 actions, too short for the antiquated Jeffery!

27 January 2008, 16:45

Bryan Chick

I am going to horn into this discussion: Since my 375 was stolen last week I have nothing between 30-06 and 458win. Which would make a better medium: 404 jeffery, 416 rigby or just find another 375h&H. thanks

27 January 2008, 17:40

Wink

The 404 Dakota will fit in a regular length action I think, like a Mauser 98 or a Ruger or... Not a bad choice for a lighter weight large caliber rifle.

27 January 2008, 19:19

Will

quote:
Originally posted by Bryan Chick:
I have nothing between 30-06 and 458win.

Maybe not a bad idea.

It depends upon your dreams! What are you hoping to hunt in the future?

I wanted an "elephant gun" but as lightweight as I could get. The 40 calibers are the minimum in my opinion, and the Taylor inherently will give you a rifle that is about as lightweight as one could get and still have a reasonable magazine capacity. I made some drop floor plates so I could get 4 down.

But I'm sure there are other options.

Unless I were still in the market for plainsgame, lion, and/or leopard, I wouldn't bother with a 375 H&H (or all its cousins) again.

The good thing about getting another 375 or similar, though, it is cheaper and less abusive to shoot for practice. The essentially same rifle as my Taylor but in 9.3x62 is a lot easier on me.

27 January 2008, 19:26

Shumba

quote:
Originally posted by Will:

I wanted an "elephant gun" but as lightweight as I could get. The 40 calibers are the minimum in my opinion,

Hey, didn't you recently shoot a cow ele with a 9.3x74. Did you feel undergunned?

Tim

27 January 2008, 20:05

Will

quote:
Originally posted by Shumba:
quote:
Originally posted by Will:

I wanted an "elephant gun" but as lightweight as I could get. The 40 calibers are the minimum in my opinion,

Hey, didn't you recently shoot a cow ele with a 9.3x74. Did you feel undergunned?

Tim

Yes.