Hi All,

Just to say I have finally received my new rifle. It is an original type A mauser in 404 Jeffery cal. It is the same rifle as featured in Jon Speeds book on pg 230, serial # 94289.

Am looking forward to shooting it this weekend. The balance is just fantastic. It looks to be in very good condition and the bore is bright and shiny. Not bad for a nearly 80 year old rifle. Will post some pix later this week. Am looking fwd to hunting with it later this year in Zim, have got an elephant, hippo & buff planned for it!

Would appreciate any loading data from you other 404 fans. I think I am going to stick with the orig. loading from what I have read and heard on these posts as well.

Thanks,

VAR

I would load 90 to 93 grs. of IMR-4831, 90 meets the original loading and 93 should meet the velocity of the later Kynoch and other ammo of the day at about 2300 FPS...I prefer the later load on buffalo....the IMR-4831 is a very mild powder and is bulky enough to come close to filling the case and thats a plus in those big cases IMO...It is the only powder I use in the 404..I have played a good deal with RL-15 but it didn't suit me.

I envy you owning such an original Mauser Mod A in .404 caliber, If you ever decide to part with it let me know...It is a dream rifle.

.

reddy375,
Congratulations on your immediate success!

I have looked at the pic in the Speed book, of your rifle, "Mauser Square Bridge Magnum." Does it hold 4 or 5 down in the box?

Definitely load it light: 2150 fps with 400 grainers. That is probably what the sights are set for anyway. Would that be one standing and 4 folding leaves?

We don't want you cracking the stock before another one of us gets a chance to own it.

Could you please tell us the weight of the empty/bare rifle and how long the barrel is and what the muzzle diameter is, excluding any band of course?

quote:

Originally posted by reddy375:
Hi All,

Just to say I have finally received my new rifle. It is an original type A mauser in 404 Jeffery cal. It is the same rifle as featured in Jon Speeds book on pg 230, serial # 94289.

VAR

HEY,

Is that the one that was listed on cabelas gun library out of Sidney NE. If it is you need to send me that rifle IMMEDIATLEY as you stole it out from under me you rotten so & so..

Congratulations and seroiusly if that is the rifle I did try to buy it. A dollar short and a day late AGAIN!

For all you .404 geeks there is a pre war W.R. .404 for sale on Guns America right now under the English Rifles catagory.

Does this rifle have a .423" bore?

Tim

Hello All,

Thanks for all your replies and for the reloading advice. To answer some of your questions. It has a 23" barrel, the outside muzzle diam is 18cms. The proof mark on the barrel says NP .404 "2.87". Next to the serial number are two letters U and R - the R might be a B with what looks like a crown stamp on top of it. The left hand side has the name: Waffenfabrik Mauser Oberndorf A/N

I guess the proof markings are British markings?

It has 1 standing and 4 leafs out to 500 yards. The magazine holds 4+1 in the chamber. I.e. you can put 5 in and close the bolt. The bore is super sharp and bright. It is not a takedown model.

I dont think I will ever part with it, as the first animal I ever shot with a rifle was with a type A 30-06, many years ago in India.

Pix and results of the test firing to follow.

REDDY375

Hi reddy375,

Is the .404 going to replace your .375H&H flanged?

George

can't wait to see the photos!

Hi George,

You figured out who I was ha How have you been? Hope all is well. We should get together sometime.

AR

quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeS:
Hi reddy375,

Is the .404 going to replace your .375H&H flanged?

George

Ray,

That apears to be a rather stiff load! If you look at "Shooting the british double rifle" the conversion rate of cordite to IMR4831 is 1 grain cordite x 1.33 which would make 79.8 grains of IMR 4831!

Reddy375

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
I would load 90 to 93 grs. of IMR-4831, 90 meets the original loading and 93 should meet the velocity of the later Kynoch and other ammo of the day at about 2300 FPS...I prefer the later load on buffalo....the IMR-4831 is a very mild powder and is bulky enough to come close to filling the case and thats a plus in those big cases IMO...It is the only powder I use in the 404..I have played a good deal with RL-15 but it didn't suit me.

I envy you owning such an original Mauser Mod A in .404 caliber, If you ever decide to part with it let me know...It is a dream rifle.

reddy375,
1.8cm = 0.71" muzzle. Perfect! Of course.

Might I suggest 70 to 72 grains of RL-15 or Varget Extreme with a 400 grain Woodleigh soft and solid, see what shoots best in your rifle and chronograph, of course.

The RL-15 or Varget will be lighter recoiling than the slow powders, as you know. We must protect the wood. The barreled action will stand much more, but be gentle to the octagenarian wood.

It wood be a shame not to hunt with it just as it is.

Was that 1.15 X cordite grains = RL-15 grains?
69 grains RL-15? Maybe 3 grains of Dacron fluff filler would be considered with that?

Original velocity with 400 grainer was only 2125 fps in COTW.

reddy375

Congratulations to your new rifle..

I'm hope you post some pictures of this fantastic rifle, don't be shy

Cheers
/ JOHAN

quote:

Originally posted by reddy375:
Hi George,

You figured out who I was ha How have you been? Hope all is well. We should get together sometime.

AR

quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeS:
Hi reddy375,

Is the .404 going to replace your .375H&H flanged?

George

Sure! You can PM or e-mail me through this site.

George

As you were. Brain fart.

The Seyfried formula is 1.19 grains of RL-15 per grain of cordite, not 1.15.

60 x 1.19 = 71.4 grains.