I am posting this request for information here and on the Alaska and Africa boards because this is where those who would mostly likely know about this rifle might hang out.

I have a 98 Mauser marked .404 EXP. Under the .404 EXP. is FNB.

The rifle is .416 cal. I have made cases from 300 Win. Mag. and .375 H&H. 7mmRem Mag and 338 Win Mag Cases are to short. I do not have reloading dies so I haven't tried .458 Cases.

The measurement of the cases is quite similar to the .416 Taylor. These cases are just a few .001's larger and longer in the shoulder.

This is a good shooting rifle. With Barnes 300 gr. X bullets using .416 Taylor load data this rifle will shoot 3 shots into 1 inch at 100 yds.

It wears a Redfield adjustable rear peep sight and a Christy front sight. I have plans to scope mount it since my eyes are not working that well anymore with peeps.

I have used it White tail deer hunting and it's a good deer killer.

Does anyone know anything about the .404 EXP.?
Does any one know who FNB is? (Fred N Barnes?)

DD

[ 12-01-2002, 22:20: Message edited by: Double D ]

I wonder if this is a forerunner of the 425 Express, which is a 300 Win mag necked to .423. Cases are somewhat longer than the 416 Taylor, which is designed to use 338/458 brass. The 404 designation usually refers to .423 bullet diameter, so you may want to accurately measure the bore size; at least you won't harm yourself with .416 caliber bullets in a .423 bore, but the right size may be more accurate

The FN may refer to Fabrique Nationale, makers of Mauser actions? Not sure about the 'B.' There are others here who could be much more informative than I on this.

Good luck,
Todd

[ 12-01-2002, 22:58: Message edited by: Todd Getzen ]

Bore size was was determined by using LBT bore slugs. It's .416 no doubt about that. 338 Win Mag cases can be used to make cases for this gun, they just have short necks.

DD

Didn't realize you had already slugged it. Maybe this is the 416 version of the 425 express. I've heard it talked about, but don't know if it has an official name. Sounds like a nice rifle. Ballistics should probably be the same or a little better than the 416 Taylor which I own.

It's good for you that it is a 416, you can take advantage of the cheap Hornady 400 gr. bullets.

Post pics if you can.

Best,
Todd

Here also is a link to a 416 Taylor web page, which has some data on the 425 Express I mentioned, and even a bit about what you have -- BW tentatively calls it the 416 Express, I think. He is also a member of this forum.

http://www.geocities.com/bw_99835/

Ok, now you have slugged the bore and it is definately .416..Therefore you must have a 404 BJ Express that has been necked up from .411 to 416, which basically makes it very simiular to a a 358 Norma necked up to .416, which is only slightly different than the 416 Chatfield-Taylor...

BJ stands for Barnes-Johnson which follows your thinking to FNB for Fred N. Barnes.