I am having a 404J built. Hornady's ads say their 400 gr. bullets are going 2300 fps. Have any of you folks had the chance to verify this? I've been told that their 500 gr. 458 Lott ammo runs 2200-2250, but is advertised at 2300 fps. I realize, of course, that this is dependent upon barrel lengths and fast/slow barrels, etc., but in general, what have you found to be true? Thanks for your time.

I can respond to the 458 Lott data. The Hornady DGS old round nose shot 2250 FPS out of my CZ with the barrel bobbed to 23".
The newer flat nose shot right on at 2300 FPS. Ohler Chrono; 12' from the muzzle to the first screen.

quote:

Originally posted by surefire7:
I am having a 404J built. Hornady's ads say their 400 gr. bullets are going 2300 fps. Have any of you folks had the chance to verify this? I've been told that their 500 gr. 458 Lott ammo runs 2200-2250, but is advertised at 2300 fps. I realize, of course, that this is dependent upon barrel lengths and fast/slow barrels, etc., but in general, what have you found to be true? Thanks for your time.

I ran a few 404 Jeffery Hornady Factory loads through a chronograph, 24" barrel, my results ran 2300-2350 fps...this would include DGS and DGX, 400 grain bullets. My hand loads run 2400 fps with North Fork 380 grain Softs and Solids.

Each rifle is different buy a chronograph and find out.

50 to 100fps doesn't make a different to the animal

The best way to ruin your best hunting rifle is to chronograph it.

The wiz bang kill them all rifle you been using for decades.

Just might not live up to your velocity hopes.

I have chronographed both the Hornady DGX and DGS from a couple of 404's and get 2300 to 2360 fps.

My .404 with Hornady shoots at 2325-2350 with their ammo. Accurate also.



Cal30

I think, as shown, Cartridge companies
are a lot more accurate now. Too many
people have chrony's etc and they would
cop a lot of flack if they fudged the
figures too much.

thats pretty good velocity with a 404, but ammo is expensive and a good handload like 93 to 95 grs. of H4831 or IMR-4831 will get you much more velocity..93 grs will get your right at 2400 FPS plus some. 95 will crowd 2600 or a bit more in a 26 inch barrel, and with pretty mild pressure. I got these loads from Cameron Hopkins some years ago in a magazine and since you don't see 4831 loads in most books I gave it a try and thats all I've used since.

quote:

95 will crowd 2600 or a bit more in a 26 inch barrel, and with pretty mild pressure.

Ray is that with a 400 grain bullet?

I get @ 2400 fps using 86.0 grains of Imr 4350 and that has a wollop not so sure Id want to touch one off @2600 fps.


Cal30

Yes, thats with a 400 gr. bullets..The 2400 FPS load is what I use, but I shot several buff with the 2600 FPS loads also..BTW that was an original Jefferys 404 and it had a 27 inch barrel not a 26 as I said in the previous post.

I lent Jim Brockman a box of the 2600 FPS loads to test a customers rifle with..He cussed me good and said I tried to kill him..Those 2600 FPS loads do kick like a mule!

IMR 4831 is the only powder in a 404 as far as I'm concerned and according to my chronograph. Some years ago my good buddy at Northfork bullets used my 2600 FPS loads in their test gun and 24 inch barrel and got almost 2600 FPS and safe pressures.

Hopkins was spot on about IMR-4831 IMO. but I suggest 93 grs. and 2400 FPS and cases will last forever and recoil is relitively mild, and they have all the ooomph one needs for any animal on this planet.

AND your right, God did create the .270 Win.

Thank you everyone for your replies.