What are the (practical) performance differences between the 400HH and the 404Jeffrey?

//VOYAGER

The 404 Jeffery probably has about 150 f/s extra velocity when loaded to the same pressure. About 35 f/s of that will come because the 404 uses bullets of .423 and the 400 is smaller at .411 bullets and the rest from the 404's larger case capacity. Alternatively the 404 couldbe loaded to the same velocity as the 400 but with lower pressure.

The 400 H&H cases can be easily made from readily available and cheap 375 H&H cases.

Rebarreling an existing 375 H&H rifle to 400 H&H will be more straight forward than rebarreling a 375 H&H to 404 Jeffery.

Mike

[ 06-24-2003, 10:56: Message edited by: Mike375 ]

Yes the 404 handloaded will out perform the 400 H&H by a good deal, but building a 400 Jefferys properly can be quite expensive in that you must use a special magazine box and probably a Mauser action...the 400 H&H is a simple rebarrel job, nothing more...

I might add a 416 Rem. will do all that the 400 H&H will do and more and almost all the 404 will do and is the least expensive route to a big bore, you can even buy one across the counter.

/

Alf,
you really don't have to be a seventh son of a seventh son to figure out what the 400 H&H will do, inasmuch as it is a 375 necked up or a 416 necked down....It will shoot a 400 gr. bullet at 2400 FPS for all practical purposes..as will a 404 Jefferys, but the Jefferys haveing considerably more powder space can in fact out do the 400 H&H by about 150 to 200 fPS when loaded to max in equal barrel lengths, Wanna bet?

All that said, like most of the big bores they are all about equal from a practical stand point as to trajectory, killing effect etc.

Has anyone on this board done a re-barrel to .400 H&H yet ??

Ray have you got one ??

The only practical performance difference between the 400 H&H and the 404 Jeffery:

400 H&H shooters are required to extend the pinky fingers of both hands when shooting. 404 Jeffery shooters are not so required by proper etiquette.

Thank you all for your comments...
The reason for my question is a part of my "decision-making" for my ruger#1 bigbore project..
458lott is suggested to me...
I kind of fancy the classic bigbores as well..
Any one who have other good suggestions with respect to performance and "economy"

//voyager

As Mike375 and Ray Atkinson have both stated; converting from .375H&H to .400H&H would be easier and cheaper than to .404 in most cases.

However, the exception is when converting a BRNO ZKK602 to .404 Jeffrey (and I am assuming that the Cz550 would be the same but why bother when it can be had in .416 Rigby). Only minor modifications are required to the ZKK602 bolt face, extractor and magazine and you can fit 5 rounds in the mag which gives you a six shot .404!

Needless to say, my .375 ZKK602 is scheduled for this conversion, very soon.

[ 06-28-2003, 13:54: Message edited by: BwanaBob ]

BwanaBob,
I am not convienced that the CZ magazine is wide enough for the 404...I have seen several of these conversions and they do hold a ton of cartridges but they look like to me that they are stacked too straight, which means they will work MOST of the time, but knowing Murphy???

All I'm saying is that I am suspecious, too few gunsmiths understand big bores and dangerous game hunting, the don't have the time or the willingness to thoroughly test these guns as that would run the cost up too much..That gun should be shot fast at least 200 times IMO, allowing it to cool every magazine full...

I still like that big wide box that Ted Blackburn makes for the Mauser and I have tried many times to stick it...It works.