Given a choice, which one would you actually buy?

Question:
Which one would you buy if given the choice?

Rich
I own both

Choices:
416 Rigby
404 Jeffery

 

Rigby, only because of the availability of ammo and components.

John

I voted Ribgy because I believe that set the standard of the ideal killing ctg for africa. The 416 seemed to be the most missed of the big magazine guns over my early and impressionable years - reading books and magazines. I like the big ctg size too.

Since I already have a 416, I might be more inclined to add a 404 than another 416 (given a suitable choice gun). I dont think that was the spirit of the survey, so I voted my favorite.

404, My Maurice Ottmar Safari built on a pre-64 action in 404 Jeff is awaiting a new owner???? Probably have 120-150 rounds of ammunition as well.

404 Jeffery, cause I own one!

Rich,

Why not expand the poll to include the 416 Ruger?

I voted.... 404 Jeff

I prefer .404J over .416 Rigby for no specific reason

.404j..... ive got a new unfired stainless m70 in .300 rum..... just a barrel change away.....

Have a 416 Rigby Dakota Traveler
Niceeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Larry

The effect on game is the same, especially if the 404 is loaded to around 2300fps. While the 416 seems more popular these days, the 404 Jeffery supposedly has killed more game than any other single big bore cartridge going! Definitely more than the 416 rigby which was actually pretty uncommon in those great days of yore!

Young men prefer the .416 Rigby.
Wise men prefer the 404 Jeffery.
Letter Rip

Now if one was wise AND young....what a decision to make! I own a 404...and absolutely love it. I must say, however, that I have never owned a 416 Rigby. I don't see how you could go wrong with either...and the game won't be able to tell the difference. Can't even claim nostalgia on this one...they both fit that bill!
Heck...buy both.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

I own both but I prefer the 404 because it is built on a standard length action.

quote:

Originally posted by jimatcat:
.404j..... ive got a new unfired stainless m70 in .300 rum..... just a barrel change away.....

Don't be 100% sure it's that easy. My right hand Mod 70 .300 RM won't even begin to feed .404's out of the mag box. Whereas my LH 7mm STW feeds them out slick. Go figure

i've owned 4:1 rigby va jeffery ... until horndy started the bullets, i hated the limited bullet sources ...

i currently have neither, i have the 416 AR .. which can do it all!

It would depend on the particular rifle I wanted to buy...

I can say this, whether it was a 416 Rigby, 404 Jeffery, 416 Rem Mag or even a 416 WBY mag [I had one of them] I would load 400 gr bullets at 2200fps...

Baised on my use of my 450/400 3 1/4" double rifle, on cape buff, lion, and bull elephant that is all I need.

Needless to say, NE 450 No 2 has sipped deeply and often at the DR Kool-Aid dispenser!!!!!

Hey biebs, where are pics of the rifle Maurice built? I bet it's gorgeous. gun porn wanted!

Red

I voted for the 404 because that is what I did buy.

I voted 404 Jeffery because that was my decission when I did my build. As has been said standard length action, but a 400gn bullet at an easily achievable 2300fps + will do it from either cartridge.

Von Gruff.

Both great calibres, I voted 416 Rigby
I bought the 416 Rigby mostly because of ammo.
Brass here at home and 416 ammo on the shelf in
Africa. And a good deal on the gun. A little better bullet sectional density on the .416 but I'm sure the buffalo won't know the difference, just shoot straight.

I cant imagine a caliber which has killed more African game than the 404 Jeffery in the last 100 years.

quote:

Originally posted by fourbore:
I voted Ribgy because I believe that set the standard of the ideal killing ctg for africa. The 416 seemed to be the most missed of the big magazine guns over my early and impressionable years - reading books and magazines. I like the big ctg size too.

Since I already have a 416, I might be more inclined to add a 404 than another 416 (given a suitable choice gun). I dont think that was the spirit of the survey, so I voted my favorite.

.404 Jeffery

quote:

Originally posted by eurocentric:
I cant imagine a caliber which has killed more African game than the 404 Jeffery in the last 100 years.

Truth be told, I believe the 458 Win has the 404 beat by a fair margin.

quote:

Originally posted by eurocentric:
I cant imagine a caliber which has killed more African game than the 404 Jeffery in the last 100 years.

*I* can.... how about
22lr
303
8x57
7.62x39
308
just to name a few

quote:

Originally posted by PSmith:
.404 Jeffery

My, MY, My....that is a beautiful rifle.

Details? And congrats

404j northfork bullets deadly combination

I have a 416 Rigby and that's what I voted for but after seeing PSmith's rifle all I can say is "Oh my what a beautiful rifle".

404

I voted Rigby, Maybe some people have Dakots rifles in the big bores they will show off!

416 Rigby a more pleaseingly asthetic cartridge and that is what I own

I voted for the .404 but, I have both. When loding 400 gr. bullets to 2350 fps., the felt recoil of the .404 is somewhat more pleasant.

404

But I am biased to that bore size. I am building a 10.75.

I already have my CZ 550 458 Lott Not that I wouldn't like another big bore but not the 404 Jeffery. Thats why I chose rigby.

I think I'd vote for the .404, but both are fine cartridges for bolt actions. As a lover of DR Kool-Aid like NE 450 No 2, might I suggest that the .450/400 would be better than both since you can have both a double and a single loader chambered that way.

Biebs wrote:
"Needless to say, NE 450 No 2 has sipped deeply and often at the DR Kool-Aid dispenser!!!!!"


PSmith,

That .404 is a real beauty. Those classic lines are so nice. Too bad the bolt is on the wrong side. Left handers of the world - Unite.


Biebs, JudgeG and Idaho Sharpshooter - Where are pics of your new Searcy DRs. I need ogling material while my .450 NE is being built.

Thanks Gents:

It is a J. & L. Wilkins .404 Jeffery which I understand might have been made by Trevor Proctor. It's the only rifle I have that has any engraving, and I do like the color case hardening.

If I were to build one it'd be a .404, but if I were to buy one it'd be a Rigby......why I am on my second one.

This is an interesting poll. I see 58 votes for the 404 and climbing! This would seem to suggest the new Winchester/Browning company could run off a batch of 100 M70's in 404 and sell them ok? A subject raised on another thread a while back.

I own one of each. If I want another one of either it will be a custom, and I will get a 404.

quote:

Originally posted by fourbore:
This is an interesting poll. I see 58 votes for the 404 and climbing! This would seem to suggest the new Winchester/Browning company could run off a batch of 100 M70's in 404 and sell them ok? A subject raised on another thread a while back.

I bet if Winchester made 100 South Carolina produced Model 70s in .404 Jeffery the rifles would all be sold in a week. I would leave 99 of them for you guys.