404 Jeffery Hodgdon H 4350 loads feedback?

[Gert Odendaal]

Good day to all Members. Please share your experience using Hodgdon H4350 loads?
I have read reports of 404 Jeffery hunters who has great accuracy results using Hodgdon H4350 , 84gn, 400gn bullets giving around 2300-2350f/s.
I want to use this propellant, I do not have any experience in using this propellant .
Feedback will be much appreciated...

 

[RR 314]

Subscribed for feedback. My pet load for 400 gr Aframes is 75 gr of RL15. Right at 2260-2275 fps. Have never felt a need to switch to anything else (or increase speed). Thankfully I have a stockpile or 15!

 

[Rare Breed]

Good day to all Members. Please share your experience using Hodgdon H4350 loads?
I have read reports of 404 Jeffery hunters who has great accuracy results using Hodgdon H4350 , 84gn, 400gn bullets giving around 2300-2350f/s.
I want to use this propellant, I do not have any experience in using this propellant .
Feedback will be much appreciated...

This was exactly the powder and load I used on this past Aprils hunt. Two kills out at 300 yards speaks for the rifle with load certainly not me given I am just an average shot

 

[Gert Odendaal]

This was exactly the powder and load I used on this past Aprils hunt. Two kills out at 300 yards speaks for the rifle with load certainly not me given I am just an average shot

Rare Breed, it sounds great , especially the accuracy out to 300 yards..

 

[Hunting Hitman]

It simply works. The problem for us is finding H4350 in stock.

HH

 

[Gert Odendaal]

It looks like we have some products here in South Africa, would make sure to buy at least two containers of H4350...I will be using BARNES TSX 400 gn bullets as a combination.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Good day to all Members. Please share your experience using Hodgdon H4350 loads?
I have read reports of 404 Jeffery hunters who has great accuracy results using Hodgdon H4350 , 84gn, 400gn bullets giving around 2300-2350f/s.
I want to use this propellant, I do not have any experience in using this propellant .
Feedback will be much appreciated...

This is the load I use with 400 gr Swift A Frames. I use the Swift COAL of 3.530". Note that 84.0 grs of H4350 is over the max load (78.9) published in Hornady 10th edition.

I use H4350 in a lot of different calibers and find it extremely easy to do a ladder and quickly find a load with low SD and ES. You might sacrifice a bit of velocity, but not much.

I've attached a powder relative burn rate chart, which also shows temperature stability (which isn't that important at hunting range distances). It does show H4350 is one of the more stable powders. I don't know the origin of this data, so take it for what it's worth.

 

[SkullKeeper]

I use H4350 in my 404 also. I can use RL15 with same results but the H4350 is easier to find. I’ve only shot out to roughly 200 yards (sable). My loads are
1) Norma brass, 400 gr North Fork, 85.5 gr H4350 @ 2375 fps, COAL 3.55”
2) Norma brass, 430 gr North Fork, 84.0 gr H4350 @ 2320 fps, COAL 3.55”
This is a 5 shot group at 100 yds from a sitting bench ( sighting in scope) using three 400 gr softs and two 400 gr solids…

 

[tward1604]

I load with 80 Grains of H4350 and get an average velocity of 2210 in my rifle. I personally don't need to load it up to 2300 fps. The difference on game is negligible. For me anywhere in that range and find the load for accuracy.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Members, your informative replies are much appreciated for sure. Yes, I managed to find Hodgdon H 4350 propellant. I did prepare the new Hornady 404 Jeffery brass today, waiting for Monday to drive to Middelburg where this propellant are available at a gunshop.
A friend of mine worked on loads for his 404 Jeffery today, NORMA brass cases, H4350 , 84gn, BARNES 400gn bullet , good groups, using a scope at 100 meters ...
Velocities :
2288 f/s
2289 f/s
2299f/s
I am not sure if he shot more rounds..I received only these velocities..but it gives me and idea of what to expect...
I have to use open sights to shoot over the chronograph next week, since the visiting American hunter and his friend here in South Africa who will use my 404 Jeffery is bringing his own Smidt & Bender Zenith 1.1-4x 24 mm rifle scope /30mm tube..I already ordered the Lynx stud type scope bases and rings..
My friend Wollie from Aranos /Namibia will mount this scope before the hunt commence...this is why I have to shoot at 100meters open sight..will see how accurate I can get the 404 Jeffery to group...I know the 404 Jeffery rifle is 100 x times more accurate than what I am able to shoot..

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Accurate 4350 was the only reasonably close burning powder available last year after I finished building my 404. I load 80 gr for 400 gr Barnes X and it puts bullets on top of each other at 50 yards. Don't have a chronograph but judging from recoil I expect they are about 2200 fps. I definitely don't need any more gas than that.

 

[Spearhead]

This was exactly the powder and load I used on this past Aprils hunt. Two kills out at 300 yards speaks for the rifle with load certainly not me given I am just an average shot

Hey @Rare Breed what was your sight in distance and what was the drop at 300 yards? I'd like to get a 404 barrel for my R8. Not sure I need it since I have a 375 h&h, but a guy needs choices

 

[Spearhead]

I use H4350 in my 404 also. I can use RL15 with same results but the H4350 is easier to find. I’ve only shot out to roughly 200 yards (sable). My loads are
1) Norma brass, 400 gr North Fork, 85.5 gr H4350 @ 2375 fps, COAL 3.55”
2) Norma brass, 430 gr North Fork, 84.0 gr H4350 @ 2320 fps, COAL 3.55”
This is a 5 shot group at 100 yds from a sitting bench ( sighting in scope) using three 400 gr softs and two 400 gr solids…View attachment 625311

Nice and tight!!! Kudos sir.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Something interesting in regards to the H4350 propellant load , 400gn bullet at OAL 89mm. The African Dangerous Game Cartridges book of Pierre van der Walt do list the load as:
H4350, 83gn (minimum) to 86gn (maximum) , 2221f/s , 24" barrel .
I did reload according to this data . Will chronograph these loads tomorrow , see how the groups are and give feedback.
Interesting observation, the BARNES X 400gn bullet is a long bullet, it seats quite deep to be able to obtain the 89.81mm AOL of the round.
I noticed that SONCHEM LOADS indicated to be 72.5gn starting load to 76gn maximum load for a 400gr HP-EXP "GOODNEL" Copper Spitzner.
Quite a difference in grains total..maximum load gives a velocity of 2106f/s

Barnes X round left, Impala 400gn round nose solid right hand side
The Impala 400gn bullet is loaded into a fire formed .375 H&H Magnum brass case

 

[Josh P]

Gert, any plans for the 404 to make a YouTube appearance?

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Gert, any plans for the 404 to make a YouTube appearance?

Josh, my 404 Jeffery will shortly be use to hunt two buffalo cows, I will ask the camera man to make a video if possible of the hunt..will share it on the forums media page..

 

[Josh P]

Fantastic. Good luck on the hunt.

 

[Rare Breed]

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Hey @Rare Breed what was your sight in distance and what was the drop at 300 yards? I'd like to get a 404 barrel for my R8. Not sure I need it since I have a 375 h&h, but a guy needs choices

I sighted in 1 inch at 100 yards. My experience with practice on my farm out to 300 yards was a drop of 24 inches. I therefore knew how far to hold over my two kills. I will say if you have never held over an animals back out to this distance don’t take the shot. I also would share even though I had practiced this shot in my dreams I never would have thought this shot presented itself not once but twice. Please remember I am nothing more with my monthly practice than an average shot. Practice, practice, practice all off sticks. Nothing can make up for knowing what your rifle can do with the choice of bullet, powder and load.

 

[KCSafari]

Following since I am switching to H4350. Thanks for all the good info

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I am seating Barnes X 400 gr to OAL 3.53" or 89.75mm.

They cycle in my 98 Mauser and group well at 50 yards. Taking my time working up to 100 yards. I'm only good for half a dozen rounds per range trip. I killed my first buffalo at 110 yards but that is outer limits in my opinion, especially for 404. That 400 gr bullet won't have enough gas at 150+ yards.