Hey guys, I see posts sometimes on building the 404 Jeffry, just wondering why nobody is interested in the .423 VanHorn anymore? I was looking through my wildcats book this weekend and read up on it, it looked like a good way to step up from the 404 without going extreme.

Anybody have one?

Red

Why not a 404 Dakota?

I am not familiar with that? What is the length? I was just thinking that since the 404 is supposed to work well in standard length mausers with some metal removed from the bridge that the vanhorn is the same length so would function as well, but give greater case capacity.

I will look for the 404 dakota specs.

Red

Red,

I have been rooting around in the history and current status of the .404 Jeffery in the US of A, and I would choose the .404 Dakota too if I were building a .423" caliber rifle today.

I know it is proprietary, but at least you can get headstamped brass or even loaded ammunition with no headspace worries.

Doing the same rifle choice in Africa or Europe, I would just go with the .404 Jeff without a doubt.

jim dodd

Dago Red, the Dakota is on their website.
It's basically a modern-shaped Jeffery, i.e., caliber-length neck, modest taper, 30 deg shoulder or so. I think it is a 3.6" round, but might be longer.

Dago Red why not the 425 Express Mauser, a twin ballistically to the 416 Rem but with a shorter round. Faster than the 416 Taylor and it beats the 404 Jeffery.

Just to throw a wrench into your plans

How about the 416 Dakota? It should be the ideal 416 cartridge in terms of ballistics and case capacity. Thanks.

I think I'd take the 416 Dakota myself.
416 for the bullet selection, and Rem capacity/velocities w/o the pressures.
It is so hard to beat the idea of a Ruger or CZ in 416 Rigby over-the-counter, though.
And no need to go "extreme" with it, either.

Gil Van Horn. One of the real classic teachers in firearms. Email me, and I'll intro you to a smith that has a ton of respect for Van Horn, and would do if for you, at a REASONABLE price.

gs