For years, I've found this cartridge interesting and wonder why it passed into obsolescence. What little I know of it, other than the obvious connection to Jeffery Mauser bolt-actions:
1.The British Army used a small number of these during WWI to penetrate the steel armor of the Kaiser's troops, apparently with success.
2. The cartridge was used successfully on elephant in the early part of the 20th century, using 300 grain bullets (solids?)
3. With 250 grain bullets the cartridge was/is very useful on a number of game, both in Africa and elsewhere.

I think it's amazing that the predecessor to the .338 Win Mag, etc. wasn't more successful than it was. Any opinions/fact/best guesses as to why it wasn't? Also some pros of the cartridge would definitely be welcome as well.

One thing, availability of brass.
Same happened to all cartridges made on the .404 Jeffery.
The .280 And .333Jeffery are almost identical to the later 7mm and .330 Dakota.

Original loadings was 300 grs loaded to 2200 fps, and 250 grs loaded to 2500 fps.

It WAS immensly popular, Taylor had one and was very pleased with it.
It was discontinued after ww2, when the market for Safaries was low and the .375 H&H had the medium bore market covered.
By the time the Safari arked had picked up again, the .338 Winchester was established.

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The .280 And .333Jeffery are almost identical to the later 7mm and .330 Dakota.

Yes, I'd forgotten about the Dakota line of cartridges that are based on the .404.

Great info, sir. Thanks.

I seems that it's like virtually every other previously discontinued cartridge. Some shooters somewhere will always want to revive it.

someoldguy,

I’ll bite, here’s my wag…The 333 Jeffery rimless was introduced in 1911, within an expensive line of firearms, just before WWI, then we had the Great Depression that affected much of the world in the 1930’s, followed by WWII from basically 1939 through 1945, followed by the Korean War from 1950-1953…so I’d say Wars cycled with financial hardship (which also adversely impacted African and Indian Safaris) pretty much held it back until economic prosperity finally arrived in the late 1950s/early 1960s. By then the 338 WinMag had been introduced (1958) and quickly became a darling of the scribes of the day, with the decreasing availability of .333†bullets simultaneous with the increasing availability of .338†bullets resulted in the 333 Jeffery passing into obscurity while the 338 WinMag became a staple light-mid bore by Americans who in the 1960s comprised as large part of African Safari participants. Anyway, that’s my wag.

Jim

That's as good a wag as any, capoward. Thanks.

Damn the good man Jens Poulsen and his stupid, beautiful rifle. No I can not get this cartridge out of my head, and it was one I was SURE I never wanted...

Yes, I need to go tell Jens what a bad boy he is.

I thought some might enjoy this.



Higher resolution jpeg here:
http://www.bunduki.com/bob/articles/Barnard-333Jeff-high.jpg

Cheers!
-Bob F.

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I thought some might enjoy this.

Thank you very much, sir.