Besides the Woodleigh, what other bullets are you .404 Jeffery shooters using?

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Won't Huntington's and Midway USA both ship to Canada? They both carry Woodleighs.

Besides the Woodleigh, the only other easily available .423 bullet (that I've found) is the Barns X. I have not tried them yet because the Woodleighs shoot so well in my gun.

I keep hearing the rumor that Swift is going to make some A-Frames available in this caliber, but have not yet seen any.

I just slugged a new European 404Ne barrel & it measured .418. Have any of you 404 shooters slugged your barrels? I am interested to know if they are .418 or .423?


[ 02-24-2003, 18:13: Message edited by: D Humbarger ]

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Doug:
Who made the barrel? I have a Lothar (that I have never slugged) but which shoots .423 Barnes X's just fine at pretty hot loads (2350 fps with 400 grain bullets). As hard as X's are, I can't imagine I'm "squeezing" a .423 down a .418 barrel with no pressure signs.

Why did you go and make me worry about a 5 year old rifle????


[ 02-25-2003, 06:56: Message edited by: JudgeG ]

I've been shooting the Woodleigh bullets and I'm quite happy. I have a box of the 350g Barnes but I've yet to have a chance to give them a go.

As for bore diameter, I'll fall in line with the Judge and say that while I've yet to slug a barrel, nor plan to for that matter, I have pushed a fair number of the 0.423 inch bullets down my barrel with no ill effects. This is from a FN Mauser built in the 50's.

I don't have my notes in front of me but it seems like the other brands available would be Rhino, and possibly North Fork. Ray may chime in soon and confirm and hopefully add to that list. I can't recall the manufacturer but I think he's worked with a monolithic solid in this caliber...I have a sneaking suspicion it's the GS line. Anybody else? Buehler?

I too would like to see the Swift's available.

In my limited time shooting this caliber I plan to purchase the Woodleigh on an on-going basis as they seem to have offered this diameter for longer than the others and I think they deserve a reward. Besides that, they shoot quite well.

Perhaps some of those other vendors can ship directly into Canada? Perhaps you need to go directly to the source with Woodleigh in Australia? If it stays out of the U.S. perhaps it can go directly into Canada. Just thinking while typing.

Good luck.

Reed

Judge... Lothar Walter. Made to European specs.

Reed all you have to do is use a soft cast 44 caliber pistol bullet to slug a 404 Ne barrel. Its VERY easy to do & will not damage the barrel.

[ 02-25-2003, 09:18: Message edited by: D Humbarger ]

Humbarger,
exactly how did you slug that barrel..You will get .418 or 19 if you just measure the bullet groove...

To measure a slug measure from one corner of the groove to the opposite corner of the opposite grove to get a true reading...Just a suggestion.

All the 404's that I have miked read .423

Reed,
I signed up for some 423 swifts at Dallas SCI, they will be from a run over they are making for some manufacturer..If the demand is there they will just keep making them...

North Fork is testing .423 bullets as we speak, I know he borrowed my reloading dies, so they are in the process..That I assure you will be a great bullet....

I have used mostly woodleighs over the years with not a single complaint, both soft and solid..They recently toughened them up and they will now penetrate better and I like that..

The GS Flat nose monolithics really work great in my English double rifle. The ridges really keep the pressure down and if fact I had to up the load a few grains to bring them back to 2200 plus, where my gun regulates (yes, Dagga I had to add powder not reduce, so out the window goes therory once again) welcome to the world of the double rifle....

The GS FN is about the best killer I have ever seen on Buffalo, it just plain works....I have used it in 416, 450-400-3" (.411), and 9.3x62 (.366)..I have some now in .375 also, but have not shot Buff with it....

Based on this, the GS HV should shoot in my double and that should be a dandy killer of a bullet...I have some loaded up in my 404, 416, 9.3, 8x57 and 375, in HV configuration, so I will be testing them on game as time allows..

So many bullet, so few Buffalo, so little time, but I'm working on it...now Woodliegh is testing the water with a flat nose solid. That should be something worthwhile, I like Geoff Mcdonald, he isn't afraid to run with the ball.

Ray,

Dance with the one who brung you...

Once I start getting back out to the range I'll be giving those Barnes a look. I'll have to look into the Swifts as well.

It would be hard not to shoot the Woodleighs though as they impresses me as being committed to that bore diameter moreso than any other vendor.

Thanks for the info.

Reed

Ray the MAX ID of the Lothar Walter 404 Ne bore is .418. Exactly as listed in their catalog. I used a soft cast 44 cal lead pistol bullet to slug the bore.

[ 02-26-2003, 18:40: Message edited by: D Humbarger ]

Humbarger,
Hmmmm, I just slugged and measured both of mine and got .422 on the European barrel, a 10.75 x68 barrel and .422 plus a bit on my Lothar Walther American...Are European and American barrels different??? This could be the reason my gun handles "hot loads" so well...

Humbarger and All,
The mystery is solved...I just talked to Woody at Lothar...The European barrels are indeed .418 for the use of Kynoch ammo....The American barrels are .423 for Woodleigh, Barnes, and all the rest of the available bullets other than Kynoch.

I strongly suggest the 423 bore regardless of where one lives...

Thanks guys, my .404 is in the works & I already have dies & brass. Where can I get "in line" for some Swifts or NF's?

Now we can get Fritz to make some 404 bullets in both diameters or split the difference & make them .4205

[ 02-27-2003, 01:42: Message edited by: D Humbarger ]

Doug-

I am planning to shoot .423" bullets.

Bob

Fred,

Good seeing you guys at the Auction!

I get most of my bulk bullets from the manufacturers or from Graf & Sons. You should call them on the Swifts. If they are NIS, call Swift directly.

Mike Brady at North Fork is testing his .404 bullets, so I would call him to put an order in his queue. The bullets he has sent me look realy good, and he is a great guy to work with.

jim

I spoke to Janey at Swift this morning. They are doing the tooling for the .404's now and will begin production in the next couple of months. They are taking orders now.

Their # is 785-754-3959

Thanks guys, I called Swift & the gal I talked to didn't have a clue. I left my name, etc. & asked to get a notice when I could order some. When the rifle is done, it looks like Woodleighs get the call.
Anyone try bullets from Hawk? They aren't much cheaper but maybe more available?

fredj338
I have used 300gr Hawks.015jkt in my 450/400 at @2330fps on deer and wild pigs. I have used 285 9.3 Hawks.035jkt at @ 2350fps on deer and wild pigs. They have performed perfectly at the velocities I drive them and on the game I have used them on. On bigger game or at hightr velocities I would use a thicker jkt or a premium bullet, such as Woodleigh or Swift when they get .423 bullets on line.

North Fork is getting pumped up for .423 bullets, I know because I loaned him my dies for the testing...and if Jim got his bullets before I did I gonna get in the middle of somebody

If one wants a source of cheaper bullets for blasting milk jugs or other plinking then 44 magnum bullets .429 can be drawn down to .423 with a reloading press die. CH4D http://www.ch4d.com/ or RCE http://www.rceco.com/index.htm makes them and probably others do too. 300 gr. bullets are not as heavy as most hunting bullets, so the practice shooting is not quite the same but it would be practice nonetheless.