.416 to .404 Jeffrey?

[Rumrunner]

I have a Model 70 in .416 rem mag I am considering putting in a new barrel. Bought the rifle used. Current barrel has quite a bit of pitting although it shoots well so may be unnecessary. What I am wondering is it possible to re-barrel and chamber to a .404 Jeffery? Would something like this be cost prohibitive?

 

[ThinusS]

If the barrel shoots well, why do you want to replace it? Ballistically there is no noticeable difference as far as performance on game is concerned.
If you really want a .404 for the sake of having a .404, re-barrel it, it is certainly possible, but otherwise, you are not gaining anything. Cost prohibitive is a very relative term, depending on how much you are willing to spend on re-barreling to a caliber that might make you happy but won't offer any real advantage.

 

[Rez Exelon]

I've got a weird wild cat that I have a thread about somewhere. Let me just say you do NOT want to take a 416 barrel and make it into a 416/404 Jeffery (404 Jeffery case using a .423 bullet). Ugh, this project really just bakes my cake.

 

[uplander01]

If it shoots I wouldn't mess with it. Wait and find the right 404, and buy another rifle

 

[Rumrunner]

Thanks for the replies. Greatly appreciated. Since it’s not broke I won’t fix it. If issues arise in the future I’ll replace the .416 barrel with another .416.
I really would like a .404 Jeffery but I’m too practical to spend money if it’s not going to be a significant difference or capability.
Again the replies are greatly appreciated.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I think it can be done but involves more than just swapping barrels. 416 has a wider case rim which MIGHT require changing the extractor to one with more claw. The cartridge overall length is also significantly longer than 404J which would require putting a spacer in the mag box and maybe/probably shortening the follower. I THINK there might be enough meat left in 416 feeding rails to hold the narrower 404 cases in the wider box.

If you can get your hands on a couple of dummy 404J rounds, it would be interesting to see if the bolt face picks them up from the magazine. Push both cartridges to the back of the box and try closing the bolt. Hopefully they won't jump out from under the rails prematurely. Too late is okay (but I think unlikely). That means the rails can be reshaped. If the cartridges won't stay under the rails or jump to the bolt face too early, that usually means not enough metal on the rails for a thinner cartridge. If the 404J cartridge dummies load out of magazine okay, then order a barrel and go to work shortening the box and follower.

 

[fourfive8]

Good decision on staying with 416 Rem! Other than the 404 Jeff being trendy and rolling off the tongue in camp fire discussions, the 416 Rem is as good as if not a better choice to begin with. And, especially so since your M70 action is already set up for it. Very straight forward to replace barrel and chamber to 416 Rem in future if needed.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Good decision on staying with 416 Rem! Other than the 404 Jeff being trendy and rolling off the tongue in camp fire discussions, the 416 Rem is as good as if not a better choice to begin with. And, especially so since your M70 action is already set up for it. Very straight forward to replace barrel and chamber to 416 Rem in future if needed.

Exactly!

A .404 Jeffery is nostalgic but not significantly, if at all any better than any of the .416 cartridges. In an older British rifle, a .404 would be a dream. In a modern rifle, it’s just personal preference. Factor in availability of ammunition and/or brass and those .423” bullets compared the .416 Rem or Rigby, and the .404 is but a personal preference. But hey, whatever flips your trigger!

Here's one of my recoil, energy, and Knock Out Factor charts for comparison...

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I thought he had a 416 Rigby. My mistake. Conversion to 404 from 416 Rem would be easier than 416 Rigby. I actually used 416 Rem bottom metal for my 404J build on 98 Mauser. It worked perfectly without modification. The 416 Rem follower and loading ramp should also require no modification. The bolt face might need to be opened slightly but that's not a big deal. Leaves only feeding rails. That should not be a big problem. 416 Rem has a narrower shoulder therefore the 416 Rem in theory will have more metal in the rails. It's possible to trim metal from rails as needed but much more difficult ($$$) to add metal to them.