404 Jeffery Plains Game Load

[Scrumbag]

Hello folks,

Looking for advice, what would people recommend as a plains game load for the 404 Jeffery?

Best wishes and thanks in advance,

Scrummy

 

[nztimb]

Ballistics expert Keith Luckhurst ran some trajectory tests comparing a .404 Jeffery loaded with 400-grain bullets at 2280 fps, a .458 Winchester Magnum loaded with 500-grain bullets at 2090 fps, and a .375 H&H leaded with 300-grain bullets at 2550 fps, all sighted in at 100 meters. According to Luckhurst, “At 250 meters the .375 Magnum has dropped 11 inches, the .404 has dropped 13 inches and the .458 has dropped 18 inches. But at 150 meters there is a spread of only one inch between these calibers, and at 200 meters it is four inches. Most gunwriters would describe the .375 Magnum as flat shooting and the descriptions of the .458 tend to include words like ‘rainbow trajectory.’ In reality, the point of aim for any of the rifles is virtually the same out to 150 meters.” Luckhurst concludes that the .404 Jeffery, with better penetration and less recoil than the .458, a trajectory almost as flat as the .375 H&H, and overall performance similar or equal to the .416 Rigby, is a particularly well-balanced rifle for the largest and most dangerous game.

I would stay with the proven load of the 400gn bullet at 2300fps with 84gn H4350

 

[Bert the Turtle]

I can say from experience that a 400g bullet from a 404 works admirably on plains game

 

[IvW]

Hello folks,

Looking for advice, what would people recommend as a plains game load for the 404 Jeffery?

Best wishes and thanks in advance,

Scrummy

What plains game and where?

 

[Scrumbag]

I can say from experience that a 400g bullet from a 404 works admirably on plains game

Good to know

 

[Scrumbag]

Ballistics expert Keith Luckhurst ran some trajectory tests comparing a .404 Jeffery loaded with 400-grain bullets at 2280 fps, a .458 Winchester Magnum loaded with 500-grain bullets at 2090 fps, and a .375 H&H leaded with 300-grain bullets at 2550 fps, all sighted in at 100 meters. According to Luckhurst, “At 250 meters the .375 Magnum has dropped 11 inches, the .404 has dropped 13 inches and the .458 has dropped 18 inches. But at 150 meters there is a spread of only one inch between these calibers, and at 200 meters it is four inches. Most gunwriters would describe the .375 Magnum as flat shooting and the descriptions of the .458 tend to include words like ‘rainbow trajectory.’ In reality, the point of aim for any of the rifles is virtually the same out to 150 meters.” Luckhurst concludes that the .404 Jeffery, with better penetration and less recoil than the .458, a trajectory almost as flat as the .375 H&H, and overall performance similar or equal to the .416 Rigby, is a particularly well-balanced rifle for the largest and most dangerous game.

I would stay with the proven load of the 400gn bullet at 2300fps with 84gn H4350

Thanks Von Gruff.

Maybe I am worrying too much.

Scrummy

 

[Scrumbag]

What plains game and where?

Impala and up in Africa and European deer

 

[IvW]

Africa has vast differance ib terrain.....if in the bushveldt syandard loads are fine down to lighter bullets as well but keep the velocities diwn and sensible....

 

[Proneshooter]

Scrumbag,
I have used my 404 on Buffalo 2x, Eland, Warthog, Grysbok, and Klipspringer. All with the 400gr. Swift A frame and Von Gruff's load he listed above. I'm having a new 404 built and I plan to start and hopefully finish my load development with that same load.

 

[Scrumbag]

Thanks Proneshooter.

Scrummy

 

[264]

I run the 350 woodleigh RNSP as my light game load works well on boars, small buff and scrubbers. Absolutely wrecks pigs.
boar 404jeffery

scrubber 350 woodleighs Brno 602 404 jeffery

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

My 404 loves the @Von Gruff recommended and @Shootist43 endorsed load of 84.0 grs of H4350 and a 400 gr Swift A Frame.