I see where the OAL for the 404 is 3.530".

I'm wondering if anyone has an example of a spire-point bullet (seated to the crimp) that exceeds this OAL?

You can probably seat the bullet however long you want as long as: 1) it fits in the magazine box, 2) a loaded cartridge feeds and ejects with no problem, and finally 3) the bullet isn't getting into the lands of the barrel. But maybe your question is more about bullets in .423 and where the bullet manufacturer has put the crimping groove?

It doesn't take a spire point. You can't crimp mine in a groove at that OAL. Mine are for a 3.6" action and magazine IF you want a groove to crimp in.

I haven't used any spire points, who makes them?
With the 380grNF or 400gr Woodleigh, I seat to 3.580".

I'll rephrase my question. The magazine box on my 404 is being machined out of a solid piece of steel. With that in mind, the magazine box can be any length I want it to be.

Can you think of a factory bullet (seated to the factory crimp) that would justify a longer magazine box than that which is necessary to accommodate a cartridge OAL longer than 3.530"?

This is the time to ask (before the magazine box is made) if anyone is aware of a bullet (that I would likely encounter in the future) that needs more OAL.

Thanks,


Swift's 400gr is a spire point.


Thanks, Mike... that's good to know - as your bullet is one I'll use regularly.

/

Chris,

As you know I am planning a 404 Jeffery as well and I have/had a similar concern, given the CIP specs for the 404 Jeffery, when using new and improved bullets.

I have a few of Mike's (North Forks) Softs and Cups and I have made up "dummy rounds" in order to determine OAL, etc,. As Mike stated his 380 grain Softs (.423), crimped to the last groove, measure 3.590"/3.60".

The only bullet I can think of which may require a longer mag. box than 3.60"+/- (I would have Stuart determine mag. box just send him "dummy rounds") would be a Spire Pointed mono-metal, at 400 grains, ie the Barnes TSX's....but I do not have any of those to give you information...North Fork's are what I plan on using...

If you are in dire (quick) need of some dummy rounds with North Fork's Soft let me know, I can get some to you or Stuart fairly quick....

Chris,
My original Kynoch 400 grn. softs, measures 3.517.
My reloads, with Woodleigh 400 grn Weldcores are 3.540. I could seat them a bit more. They are seated to the middle of cannelure.

I would vote for a magazine box of at least 3.600" for a .404 Jeffery, and if the action could stand the full opening, I would specify 3.625" so as to handle the odd long spire point.

Here is one GSC bullet for .404 Jeffery ASR's: In a sturdy action like the M70 or 550M it will do 2800 fps, but do not do this to an opened up standard M98. Load it slower in those, maybe 2600 fps.

Gerard has designed it perfectly to fit the standard .404 Jeffery box and COL of 3.53" with no hanging down of bullet below the neck. Beautiful!



The 400 grain TSX will actually be a little longer than the old XFB Cannelured 400 grainer pictured above.

Here is an idea of how the .423 Lapua RIPoff handles the longer bullets with a shorter case and a longer box:

The first cartridge on the left is a .404 Jeffery, the ones to right of it are .423 LRO's:



The center cartridge below is the .423 LRO.
L to R: .338 Lapua, .375 LRO, .423 LRO, .458 LRO, 470 Mbogo (complete with spherical lens distortion):

I reckon my M98 .404 J will be woodleigh's only as there a snug fit when crimped in the cannelure, my smith took the smallest amount of metal he could away from the action to make it feed/eject reliably.

For those with a cz based .404 J they can pretty well use any bullet they desire in .404

PC,
Good on your gunsmith.
The .404 Jeffery CZ has a 3.8" box, aye, so the limit there will be determined by the throat they used.

IIRC, the .404 Jeffery throat has zero parallel-sided freebore, it is just a leade.

I have not experimented with seating bullets out to touch the lands in a CZ, but that needs to be done.

You have made a good point about an M98 action of standard length: keep the box short.

There is still the GSC African Sheep Rifle bullet for a short box ...

thanks RIP

ng, I was a bit confused, the only company I know making "spire" points is Hornady. I would think the Barnes 400 TSX & Swifts would be the longest bullets available. RIP has usde probably everyhting out there. I'm happy w/ the 380grNFs or 400gr Woodleigh.