Following the lead of others in this and other web sources, I purchased bullet sizing dies to allow me to make .423" diameter bullets out of .429" jacketed pistol bulleets. Now that I have a supply of jacketed 300 grain .423" bullets, I need some advice as to the nature and weight of the powder charge to use in my .404 Jeffery rifle.

My DEVA handbook lists loads for 350 grain bullets, but nothing for anything lighter. 42 grains of N110 with the 350 grain Woodleigh leaps off the page as a possible starting point. (Vihtavouri N110 is virtually equivalent to IMR 4227.)

However, if someone else has already experimented with light bullets, I would greatly appreciate being privileged to share in his accumulated information.

email Accurate powder and tell them what bullet you are using and ask for some reduced loading information with 5744. Do not use any filler with 5744.
I have the same draw die and I am resizing Sierra Pro Hunter .429 bullets.

Great suggestion! This is what I got for a reply:

Caliber: .404 Jeffery.

Barrel length: 24”

Powder: Accurate – 5744®.

Bullet weight: 300 grains.

Low load: 40.0 grains (1700 – 1800 ft/p/sec)

Midrange load: 49.0 grains (1975 – 2025 Ft/p/sec)

I'm resizing Nosler bullets. Everything else was on backorder when I went to buy some 300 grain jacketed bullets.

Just checked some prices on Accurate 5744 and found that Midsouth lists 8 pounds as $196.82, while the maximum price on the rest of the Accurate powders is $169.82. Does anyone know the reason for this?

(Midsouth is located close to me and I can pick up components in person and avoid Hazmat fees.)

How light do you want to go? I shoot them o/ RL15 or Varget for about 2200fps. Prtty accurate, 1 1/2" @ 100yds. Plenty good for practice, cheap & light recoiling. I've used the Nosler & XTP for these.

What's your Varget load?

Send a pm to Von Gruff. He'll have ALL the info you could ask for on the 404 J.