I'm having a .404 done by rebarreling a .300 rum. I would like to keep the barrel short, but how short can I go and what is the proper rate of twist? Help the ignorant, please.
kh

CIP
Twist = 1:420.00mm = 1:16.5"
(same as for .416 Rigby and 450 Rigby)

Most use a
Lothar Walther 1:14" or
Krieger 1:16" or
McGowen 1:10" or 1:14"

I am partial to the 1:10" McGowen, stainless, 24" No.5 sporter contour.

Lothar Walther barrels might be a little tighter in the grooves. Mike Brady slugged one at 0.4226".

Krieger advertizes 0.424" groove and .413" bore.
My McGowens are 0.424" groove diameter, just as they are advertized.

Other CIP trivia:
groove diameter: 10.77mm = 0.4240"
land diameter/bore: 10.46mm = 0.4118"
projectile diameter : 10.72mm = 0.4220"

Shoulder Junction cone angle:
cartridge: 16-degrees 59' 26"
chamber: 17-degrees 04' 44"
About 17-degrees so shoulder angle = 8.5 degrees

COL: 89.66mm = 3.530"

CIP Maximum Average Pressure: 3650 Bar = 52,925 psi
that for "404 Riml. N.E."
that is as of May 15, 2002: surely includes 400-grainers at 2300 fps at least.

416 Rigby: 3250 Bar = 47,125 psi
450 Rigby, modern upstart: 4000 Bar = 58000 psi, for comparison

Original 404 Jeffery bolt actions had 24" barrels.

My personal preference would be no shorter than 23". No longer than 25".
Whatever floats your boat, however.

I went PacNor, 23" 1-14. It shoots far better than I do. I call it my 42cal varmint rifle. I don;t think I would go less than 22", but some guys like short bbl.s & would go 21", but the balance seems wrong for my 5'-10" frame.

My 404J wears a Lothar-Walther 26 inch barrel!

My .404J started life as a Model 70 Super Grade in .300 RUM. It wears a 26" Krieger 1-14 twist barrel. Krieger will do a 1-14 twist if you ask.

My MRC 1999 sports a #5 23" barrel.

Oh yeah, Krieger will make a 1:14" twist instead of their standard 1:16", if you ask.

And I forgot PAC-NOR, great barrels.
They advertize a .423" groove diameter, 9-groove, 1:14" twist.

I would certainly rather have a 26" barrel than anything shorter than 23".
My .416 Taylor is 26".
But the 404 Jeffery needs less velocity help from a longer barrel, unless you just want really low pressures and classic ballistics.

Where are the 404 Jeffery short barrel proponents?

I'm going to pile on here....404 Jeffery built on a Winchester classic 300 RUM...barrel is a Lilja 1-14 twist and....26 inches. Btw Lilja's Win375b contour matches the factory win safari classic contour.

Oh yeah, another 404 Jeffery barrel by another really good barrel maker, Dan Lilja.
.423-caliber claimed, .423" groove implied, and 1:14" twist, like a Lothar Walther.

I'm having mine done at McGowan. Really appreciate the input. I'm not very big, so if I go the long barrel route I end up with something longer than I am!

Good choice, McGowen.
Chromoly or stainless?
1:14" or 1:10"?
Barrel contour? No. 5 is just right.
Barrel length?

23" is a beautiful thing on a bolt action.
Anything shorter is just ugly.
You going ugly?

Even a 20" 404 Jeffery could make 2200 fps with 400-grainers and stay within the lowball CIP pressure limit, I guess.

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
Good choice, McGowen.
Chromoly or stainless?
1:14" or 1:10"?
Barrel contour? No. 5 is just right.
Barrel length?

23" is a beautiful thing on a bolt action.
Anything shorter is just ugly.
You going ugly?

Even a 20" 404 Jeffery could make 2200 fps with 400-grainers and stay within the lowball CIP pressure limit, I guess.

Oh man, a 20" #5 404jeffery would be fugly.

I have a Encore barrel, full bull, 28", 1-14 twist. Talk about a rock buster!

fredj,
I'm trying to not go ugly. Or more ugly than I am in person, that is. I don't think my looks would be improved by an ugly rifle. Besides, a rifle ought to be like a lady: the pretty ones are just better. Mine should hit McGowen's late this week, so I have some deciding to do.
kh

My 404 has a 26in Lothar-Walther barrel with a 1-14 twist. It shoots 400gr Woodleighs at 2365fps with 77grs of RL-15. Clover leaf groups at 100yds.

quote:

Originally posted by kevin henderson:
fredj,
I'm trying to not go ugly. Or more ugly than I am in person, that is. I don't think my looks would be improved by an ugly rifle. Besides, a rifle ought to be like a lady: the pretty ones are just better. Mine should hit McGowen's late this week, so I have some deciding to do.
kh

If you want a short bbl. 21" would be my min. I like the balance of my 23" #5. I weighed it the other night, ready to hunt it's just over 10#.

Kevin,

How did your 404 turn out?

AzGuy,
I'm glad you asked. I've been meaning to write it up but I need to review my info. Short story is that McGowen's made me a great barrel and the rifle shoots better than I could have hoped. I'll get this together and post the long version.
kh

Pac-Nor 25 in 1 in whatever their standard is on mine; 300 RUM M70 conversion.