I just got my first copy of "Any Shot You Want" (based on recommendations from you good folks), and eagerly opened up to the page on the 404 Jeffery. I expected to read infinite praises on this most "African" of African calibers.

Instead, I got stuff like: too anemic for elephant; problems in the past with penetration; too slow; etc.

It did say that it is an excellent buffalo round, if ...... (enter use of A-Square proprietary bullets), and could be used of Jumbo, in a pinch. (This was soon after admitting that it may well have cropped more elephants than any other caliber, period.)

Of course, you can couple this with it's loading info that lists the top velocity with a 400-grain bullet well under 2400 fps.

It wouldn't be so bad, had they not sung the praises of the .416 Rigby as the baddest muther ever to come down the pike! (Ok, slight exaggeration).

I feel the same way I felt when I found out that my favorite singer (Jimmy Buffet) is a Democrat! (Not just a person that vote's Democratic -- but a card carrying, died in the wool, manatee huggin', money raisin', Gore kissin', Democrat!)

I'm depressed!

If you want to read some utter nonse, read what is written on page 613 about the 577 T.Rex.

GA,

As a fellow ParrotHead I share your pain! I feel so bad that I will have to go to Texas Stadium May 29th to see Alan Jackson, George Strait and Jimmy Buffett in concert!

Alan, George and Jimmy!



As far as my 404 Jeffery, I didn't buy it to be the big boy on the block! I'm having it made to be a companion to my 450/400 3 inch double. I'm just romancing the cartridge, plan and simple! It's like Jimmy's music, just makes me feel good! That the only reason I need! Fins to the Left! Fins to the right!

Hey Ga Hunter...

you are now fully in the "marketing sheep" madness that made AA such a pain.



If you load it with ANY bullet but his, you are taking your life in you own hands... but with HIS bullets (and what, 50fps faster) you are safe...



This is called an "appeal to fear" with a "poppa knows best" solution.



It's unfortunate how many people don't look beyound the FIRST possible solution to view the choices... and, when the first solution is presented, it's "easy" to get the person being marketed TOO to buy his bullets... besides, he/they'll figure, they already paid(too much) for the book, they may as well leverage the info in it



jeffe

I consider the .404 Jeffery to be the ballistic twin of the .416 Remington, but with greater nostalgia.
Who cares what AA thinks?

George

Alphin is indeed extremely conservative on pressures--but don't forget that the .404 Jeff was originally set up for 2,100 fps and 4,000 fpe with a 400 gr. bullet.

Alphin's velocities are on the low side throughout the book. But I do like the fact that he scrupulously pressure tested all of his loads and didn't try to hot rod anything over SAAMI or CIP specs.

His view is that if you want more power, go to a bigger cartridge, and I generally agree with that. Now, having said that, is he too conservative with the .404? Most certainly yes.

As for Alphin's marketing hype, A2 bought and paid for the entire book, and yes, indeed, it shows on every page. But you have to take all that with a grain (or block) of salt. Any Shot You Want is still a great handloading resource that every big bore shooter should own.

As an aside, Alphin is a great proponent of slightly compressed powder charges and crimping bullets. All of which seems to me to be sound practice--no bullet jumping or jamming, better uniformity of ignition, etc. Compare that with Seyfried's claim in this month's Handloader that he doesn't crimp anything but shotgun shells.

I can hardly believe that. It just makes no sense to me, especially since I generally find what Seyfried writes makes a hell of a lot of sense.

Jeff,

Not that I bought into their marketing scheme, but I did buy two boxes of their mono-solids for my 404. I bought them because they are the only monos readily available, now that Barns has quit making them (in .423). BTW, they shoot REAL good! Presently, I've only tried them with a max of 78 grains of Re. 15. I've loaded some all the way to 80 grains and will see if I can work up that high this weekend. I will stop when I get close to, or hit the "magic" 2400 fps.

Rusty,

Since I found out about Jimmy (and you are talking to a guy who named his boat "Old Parrotheads" and who has been to 30 JB concerts), I have not been able to look a Margarita in the face or drink a Corona Beer -- with or without the lime.

I MISS YOU, JIMMY!

A-square sux! Rifles, Customer service, reloading manual etc, etc......