I'm planning a cape buffalo hunt in the not too distant future and, of course, part of the fun is looking around at guns. I've shot .375 H&H and .416 Rigby at targets and do ok. Minute of squirrel from 50 yds offhand. But I'm looking for something a little offbeat. I would really appreciate some discussion on the .404 Jeffrey for buffalo and as a general game rifle.

I have one that I use as a spare and a loaner and although it's not as much of a stopper as my 500, it does the job in a pinch and as a client rifle it's an excellent choice. - Not the only choice by any means, but it is a very good choice.

Basically the same and needs some Balls would be a Ruger #1 in 450/400.

I'm partial to the 404 and am taking one (Heym) to Zambia in August for buff and leopard. My best loads are 400 gr Swifts and Woodleigh solids in front of 83 gr of H4350 for right at 2275 fps. It should get the job done. Great caliber IMO.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
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I own a 404 Jeffery rifle. You can load it up, and it will be happy to kick your ass while it's killing what you are shooting. You can also load it at historical velocities and it will continue to do what it has been doing for a 100 years or more, getting the job done!

You are going to have a fair amount of recoil either way, however like the 450/400 NE you don't have to beat yourself up to have a decent Big Bore rifle.

I have a 404 Jeffery in which I shoot 92 grains of IMR 4831 behind a 400-grain A-Frame for a velocity of 2350- to 2390 fps, depending on the heat of the day. This is exactly what you can expect from .416 factory loads, so I don't think anything on the receiving end will be able to tell the difference.

That said, be careful with what action and it's chambering you have converted to 404. Although actions chambered for the .375 H&H are long enough, some folks, including me, have had trouble getting such actions to feed reliably. It is best to start with one that uses the 404 as it's parent, like the ultra mag series of cartridges.

quote:

although it's not as much of a stopper as my 500

It seems the myth will never die!

It has proven to be a good stopper for me on 3 ocassions as I recall, I think I had the 404 in each of those instances but wouldn't swear to it, if not I had the 450-400 and its about the same except a bit less in velocity..I have shot a lot of Buffalo with both and the 416s and also a lot of other DG...

I can't think of a better caliber..I don't use the old time loads however..I have had all good strong Mausers, CZs and pre 64 M-70s over the years and they all maxed a 400 gr. bullet at 2653 FPS with 95 grs. of IMR-4831 in 26 inch barrels. North Fork industries got amost 2600 FPS in their test with that load in a 24 inch barrel as I recall.

My hunting load is 93 grs. of IMR-4831 for a tad over 2400 in a 24 inch barrel..It is a killer and as far as I can tell kills about as wel as my 416 Rem. 416 Ruger or a 416 Rigby..

You will like the 404, I never met a person that used the 404 on game, that wasn't fond of it.

It's offbeat, but in a good way. The .404 has a certain nostalgic charm that many other cartridges lack.

So I say go ahead. If you hurry, you might be the first on your block to own one!

Thanks for the input. Everything I have read says it should be a great round and gun. I see that CZ makes them new so I won't have an issue about rechambering. Is there anyone else that has them in production?

My .404 is on a MRC 1999 action....if you can't kill it with the .404.....you need a tank!

Hello, I am reading interesting things about the 404 Jeffery. Let me make you some questions about him, compared with 458 WM. What difference forcefulness have? Is Difference setback? Does the price difference of ammunition? Can Factory Ceska rifles in this caliber?

Thank you,

Oscar.

Just returned from Botswana where I used my CZ 404 on Cape Buffalo. I loaded it to traditional levels ( 400 gr woodleigh at 2185 ) and it worked very well. I know that a sample size of 1 is statistically meaningless, however when I fired the Buffalo was staggered, not just hit. the additional 100 gns, as opposed to the 375 H&H that I used on my first Buffalo, makes a difference. One shot through the shoulders and he was staggering, another and he was down. The recoil at traditional loadings is not much more than a 375.
The only drawback is that you will have to reload. Factory ammo is virtually impossible to find.

TerryR

So I think I opted for the 458 WM, because there are more commercial ammunition. In Spain to recharge must obtain prior authorisation, in addition to a course. This involves money and that's not me well. Thank you for your expertise.

Oscar.