Ray,
I know you are a great fan of the .404. I have heard that there is trouble getting them to feed correctly. Have you ever had this problem in any of your rifles? Also on another thread I thought you said you got 2600 fps from a 400 gr. bullet. How hard is it to get 2400-2500 and keep pressure in the realms of reality for hot climates? Did you do this with a 26" barrel? I have been wondering how a 26" barrel does on a DGR. Thank You.

Well I am not Ray but I do know him and I had a 404j made with his advice.I had a crf 375hh win model 70 that an Idaho gun smith replaced the barrel with a 404 lother w cut to 25.5 inches. Beautiful job except for feeding.However I fixed that myself.The problem was when you put 3 in the mag the bolt closed too tight and when the top round tried too feed it popped out half the time.I widened the metal mag box with a dremel tool so the rounds were not stacked so straight on top of each other and replaced the spring with one that compressed a little flatter. Now she feeds slick.Killed an elk last fall using the north fork 380grain bullet.Shoots 3/4inch group . Talk about shock and awe on elk!!! Bill Rogers

I also am not Ray..................but I love the 404, and I have built several of them. Feeding is no problem at all, but you do have to work on the Magazines and/or feed rails.
I have no knowledge of 2600 FPS loads. I run mine at 2300-2400. I have not ever seen any reason to go faster than that. In fact, 2200 is plenty, but most American shooters like velocity. Nothing wrong with it, if you don't mind the extra recoil. The 404 made it's great reputation with a 400 at 2150 though.....

WyoJoe,
I have always used a Mauser or M-70 pre 64 action and Blackburn bottom metal that is specifically for the 404 cartridge, it has a wider box and gives you a wider stacked colum...thus you don't get the feeding problems that come with a too stright stack. Presently I am building a 404 on a CZ action and Brockman swears it will feed fine out of the big CZ magazine..He will do the metal work and I will do the stock work..I have a perfectly laid out piece of old dry Turkish that I have had rat holed for about 15 years I guess....

I get 2653 FPS with 95 grs. of IMR-4831 in a 27" barrel and in most 26" barrels, and its a max but not a hot load in most guns..I had that load tested by NorthFork bullet industries and it is perfectly fine...that said, I am not a velocity fan in big bores and when I hunt I use 93 grs. for about 2400 FPS...IMR-4831 is the ONLY powder for the 404 Jefferys IMO...RL-15 and 4350 are pretty good but why fix something that ain't broke...

The CZ is going to have a shorter barrel, as all my guns have 26" barrels and I need/want a short barrel gun for some unknown reason, just do....Guess it will be 20 to 24 inches, that changes every day, so its anyones guess where it will end up, but would make a good lottery.

Ray - Which Blackburn unit do you use for a 404 on a Pre-64 M70? His brochure doesn't list the 404 specifically. In Reno, I asked him which one to use for a 404 (on a 98) and he said the one listed for a 416 Rem. I don't even see one for a 416 Rem on a Pre-64 70 (in my brochure).

Thanks Ray. Does Blackburn have a web site?

WyoJoe,

I piacked up their new card at the Reno Gunmakers Guild Show.

www.smithsonblackburn.com

jim dodd

Ray,
Are you using the CZ magnum action for your 404 project? Is the CZ action they use for the 375 H&H, the same one they use for the 416 Rigby?

Ray, did you use a 375 or a 416 CZ as a platform to build on? Good hunting.D

Ray,
How is the recoil of the .404 Jeff. compared to the .416 Rem or .458 Lott. with every thing being equal?

Joe W.

Less recoil on both counts. The vast majority of Jeffery 404s didn't have recoil pads.

I just call Ted and tell him I want a 404 box and they have all worked...

404, 416, 375 all have about the same recoil as far as I can tell...With me recoil begins with the 458 Lott and up.

I am using a 375 CZ for my conversion, the 416 Rigby bolt face is too large for the 404....Brockmon tells me the CZ will feed 100% but if it wont, I will widen the box to get more stagger based on original spects. If it won't feed then I will send it to Dennis Olson, Plains Mt. and he can make it feed Lone Star Beer cans if you request it...