404 Jeffery Range Time

[8x68]

Target results using .423cal 400gr Woodleigh RN Weldcore bullets. Had to use plastic coroplast target as it was raining/snowing and very windy.
Left square is three rounds (0.50"). Two almost through same hole.
Load 77.8gr IMR4350 Fed 215 primers, Hornady case. 3 shot avg velocity over a chronograph 15ft from muzzle (any closer and muzzle blast blows everything everywhere) was 2038fps with deviation of 13fps

Middle is OK (1.40"). Load 82.2gr IMR 4350. Fed 215 primers, Hornady case. 3 shot avg velocity 2208fps. Deviation 6fps.

Right is decent also (0.90"). Load 80gr H4350. Fed 215 primers, Hornady case. 3 shot avg velocity 2111fps. Deviation 24fps.

Rifle is a Win M70 conversion from 375H&H to 404. Barrel length is 25"

Had more loads to test but ran out of day. Will play some more when I get back from deer hunting.

 

[matt85]

looken good, what distance were you shooting at?

-matt

 

[8x68]

looken good, what distance were you shooting at?

-matt

100yds. Too miserable to shoot any farther. Loads were test loads. I'll be trying 200yds+ when I get back from deer hunting.

 

[nztimb]

Good to see someone who understands that the 404 can stretch out a little more than the usual 50 yd big game usage.
I ran 84gn H4350 under the same Woodleigh bullet for 2315fps in my 404 and got superb accuracy.

 

[matt85]

at 2300fps the 404 Jeffery is plenty capable of taking game over 100 yards. at 2038fps you might find things start to drop pretty fast though.

-matt

 

[8x68]

at 2300fps the 404 Jeffery is plenty capable of taking game over 100 yards. at 2038fps you might find things start to drop pretty fast though.

-matt

I have heavier loads to try just didn't get that far. The Woodleigh reloading manual says I can go up to a max of 79gr's of H4895 (2405fps), 81grs of Varget (2405fps), or 89grs H4350 for just shy of 2400fps. The IMR 4350 loads were my concoction as it is not listed in the Woodleigh manual. Will "play" some more in a few weeks hopefully. I'm guessing I might get a about 50fps more from my 25" barrel....what say you? Since I have the slightly longer barrel length I wonder if IMR 4064 would work since it is a bit slower than H4895, but faster than IMR 4350?
Sorry for the yellow "dots" on the target. I was sighting in my 35 Rem as well to take deer hunting. Didn't want to go down range and get wet.