First, take it easy on me, I'm a new member and this will be my first post. That said let's get the ball rolling.

After a long 5 1/2 month wait I finally picked up my 404 Jeffery which I had built on a CZ550 .375H&H.
It is a great looking gun all around. Changed to a quarter rib and barrel band in the process. I couldn't ask for a better rifle for the price.

One problem I have run across is in chambering a round. It feeds fine but it's hell to get the bolt closed. I'm used to this from having to form fire various cartridges but didn't expect this with a new gun. Granted I made the mistake of loading the rounds before I had the rifle in hand.
The fired rounds when reloaded are much better and could actually be used in a hunting situation. There is no indication of pressure problems in the firing process either.

I am using new Norma brass but have another box of Bell brass on the way as a test to see if it is a problem with the neck wall thickness.

All cases were trimmed to 2.84" with an overall length of 3.51" when seated to the cannular. I see no evidence that the bullet is reaching the riflings to cause the hard to close bolt.
All cases were full length sized in the loading process.

There is minimal stretch to the once fired case as they still measure a hair over 2.84".

Does anybody have similar experience with new cases in their rifles?

I am having a hard time beleiving it is in the chamber reaming. Dennis Olson made the rifle and he has ample experience with the 404 Jeffery.

Am I stuck with having to form fire the cases to ensure they chamber properly before taking them on a hunting situation? What about lost ammo and having to purchase ammo should I ever stop buying guns and actually make it to Africa?

I appreciate all information you guys can provide.

Thanks.

MT-Man,
Some rifles will behave like this if the brass is not trimmed back far enough, or if, as you suggest, there is a neck thickness issue, that might be addressed by neck turning.

Maybe you have a chamber on the minimum side of tolerances and/or brass that is on the maximum side of thickness or length.

If the BELL brass is comparable in 404 J to the 470 NE, as compared to Norma brass, it will probably make the problem worse.

In 470 NE, the BELL brass is about 50 grains heavier in brass content than the Norma cases. It has lesser internal volume and will give higher velocities than Norma brass for a given powder charge.

Maybe you just need to trim that brass back a bit more in overall length or neck thickness? Do I hear someone suggesting a chamber cast?

HI,

I can see from your post you know more on this subject than I.I can tell you that MR.Atkinson could help you as he has been shooting the 404Jeff for 40 years and knows that cartridge very well. Thanks,Kev

Send the rifle back to Dennis and he will fix it..Some of the 404 reamers are different..your porblem is the shoulder needs to be set back or the chamber lengthened...put some black on the shoulder and close one in the chamber and see if you have some rub marks on the shoulder..Bottom line is its not right and needs to be fixed...I don't believe its the neck and if it is then that sure needs to be fixed, that's not a target or varmint rifle, it's a DGR and must perform to perfection, and thats the gunsmiths job....New brass should flop in sloppy...end of story.

Also remember that you cannot single load a mauser, you must place the round in the magazine and THEN close the bolt or you will have that same problem....

Does the case chamber OK if you do not run it through the die, that is, straight from the new packet into the gun?

Also, does a fired case rechamber easier if you do not resize it at all?

Mike

Dang.

I was hoping that it was in my loading process but it's not looking that way. I marked the cases, loaded new, loaded once fired and empty fired. All show signs of wear on the sloping section of the shoulder and at the neck end. There is definitely nothing sloppy about any round chambered. All rounds need to be chambered like you're mad at the rifle, the unfired new loads worse then the rest of course. Looks like the gun is going to need to be returned for some rework.

I guess another 2 trips to Plains is in my future. Was hoping to do some real shooting over the week of the 4th of July but I doubt if I will be able to have the rifle back by that time now. Sounds like sour grapes I know, I'll stop whining. Maybe.......

Thanks for all the information and help.

On the plus side it is a pleasant shooting rifle if you don't mind hammering the palm of your hand and I can fit 5 rounds in the chamber. Can't use them all of course but hey, get the bugs worked out and it should be a great rifle.

I'll give another report later.

Thanks

Guess I was beating around the bush about the tight chamber. Ray is absolutely right. A DGR needs some slop in the chamber. Back to the gunsmith with some dummy rounds for function testing after he reams it out some more.