I've been looking for a 404 Jeffery for a long time, but with my frugal New England ways, needed to find a deal. A few weeks ago I found one at an auction, LNIB and got it for a fair price--much to my wife's chagrin!

Why a .404? The combination of manageable recoil, enough power for the big stuff and the history of a classic cartridge. I considered a .375 and have used one several times, but there was something about the .404.

I'll pick up some Alaska Arms QD rings and a Nikon monarch 1-5x20 to complete the setup soon.

Now to start looking for a buff hunt....

My new CZ Safari Classic

You forgot to mention that it gets 5 down in the box, and is the slickest and best feeding rifle that CZ makes.
The 404 Jeffery is the biggest head/base-sized cartridge that is mathematically perfect-sized for feeding
from a staggered stack in the CZ 550 Magnum
or any other rifle I know of.
(Mauser Cosine Law of Nature)
The 404 Jeffery arrived in 1905, the first magazine-rifle DGR and all-around rifle, and it is still as good as it it gets.
.416 Rigby of 1911: A Wannabee.
.375 H&H of 1912: A Me-Too.
None of the other pretenders of the era are worth mentioning.
You did good.
I have one that I re-barreled to .410/404 Jeffery Rimless Nitro Eclipse.
But I still have the take-off barrel,
could switch back anytime.


Rip
.

Good looking gun I like it a lot. If it wouldn't of been for you that gun would of come to TX

The CZs seem to have one of the best reputations as big-bore DG rifles. Pity the pistol hand looks so short - I wonder if the addition of a metal or ebony grip cap might mitigate that appearance.

Not so sure about the scope you're looking for, though. Because virtually all modern riflescopes have the erector set assemblies suspended on springs and are subject to battering under heavy recoil, less is more. Since variables have to include power scrolls and, often, more lenses in a brass erector tube, they are going to be subject to more punishment than a fixed-magnification scope.

I wouldn't trust any scope with a constantly centred reticle for too long, but some on AR with much experience recommend fixed low-power scopes by a well-known American maker.

i have a nikon monarch 3 with german 4 on a 458 win and can t destroy it.

pretty sure it will hold on the 404.

nice rifle btw.

You did good. I have taken Elephant with the 404J. I really like that caliber.

I came to that conclusion about 50 years ago, and never had any reason to doubt your choice..The 416 Rem or Ruger is just as good but it has no NOSTALGIA, and to me that counts a bunch..

THanks for the comments everyone. I'm looking forward to getting it set up and to the range--not to mention hunting with it. But that will have to wait until grouse season ends here in New England.

As for nostalgia and the history of the caliber, it's part of what makes hunting a great sport; I Spent this afternoon hunting grouse over my setters with a 100 year old Parker 16.

NTO, did I outbid you at Rock Island a couple weeks back?

quote:

Originally posted by medved:
i have a nikon monarch 3 with german 4 on a 458 win and can t destroy it.

pretty sure it will hold on the 404.

Long may it be so!

Congratulations on a real nice classic caliber.

I wanted a 404 Jeffery but could not get one in NZ. So I bought the 416 Rigby.

I have a set of cz 30mm Alaskan arms rings if you want a deal.

Yes you did outbid me. Which has caused me to start gathering parts for a build.