Reloading 404 Jeffery

[Roughneck]

Hey guys was wondering what powders or loads you recommend for the 404 Jeffery. I have following powders available- IMR 4350, Accurate 4064 and Accurate 4350. I will be shooting a 400gr Hornady bullets and Barnes 400gr TSX. Any info is greatly appreciated. I wanted to try to keep the speeds somewhere around 2200-2300 preferably. thank you.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I load 80 gr Accurate 4350 behind Barnes X and TSX bullets. No chrono but I estimate they are running about 2200 fps. The load data given to me said start at 77 gr with that powder but those were too soft with primers pushing out. 80 gr group well and recoil is tolerable (barely!). Try it at your own risk, of course.

If you look at the thread on history of 404 recently revived a couple days ago, you will see images of a published compilation of various load data for 404 on page one. Be advised the old boy who is cited for many recipes liked to load em hot! Start at his minimum ... and consider staying there. I tried his recipe for 300 gr Hammer bullets and IMR4831. Boy, did they buck! Absolutely flattened one primer. I quickly gave up on those bullets. The original poster of that thread is no longer with us so you cannot message him. He also liked to supe his 404 to 2300 fps. There really is no point in gassing up 404 to those speeds. Just as well go buy a 416 Rigby ... and make an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon.

 

[Roughneck]

OH, appreciate the info and I will give that recipe a try. Will also look for that thread. Thanks

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Thread '2023 Range Report: 404 Jeffery w/ 400 gr Swift A Frame'

Feb 13, 2023

A few years ago, I bought a used Win M70 Super Grade in 300 RUM and had it converted to a 404 Jeffery. I purchased a bunch of Hornady and Swift factory ammo, as well as several boxes of 400 gr Swift A Frame bullets, Federal 215 primers and 8 lbs of H4350.

@Shootist43 gave me a magic load, which he got from @Von Gruff: 400 gr Swift A Frame over 84.0 grains of H4350. Since I hadn't reloaded in 30+ years, I went over to a friend that is big into reloading and got a little refresher coarse from him. Using his reloading equipment and MagnetoSpeed, with my dies and components...

• 375 Ruger Fan
• Replies: 12
• Forum: .375 & up

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[Grumpy gumpy]

Nztimb (von gruf) is still alive, he’s just not on the forum anymore, more the shame. I load a 400gn Bertram bullet with 84 gns of adi 2209
Gumpy

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Nztimb (von gruf) is still alive, he’s just not on the forum anymore, more the shame. I load a 400gn Bertram bullet with 84 gns of adi 2209
Gumpy

Yes, I didn't mean he died, just now longer on the forum. Interesting that Hodgon online database has zero load data for 404J but a whole lot of data for wildcat cartridges I've never heard of. I sent them an email suggesting they add 404J and just got a generic robot response ... twice.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Umm, ADI 2209 is 4350, they make it for them
Gumpy

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Umm, ADI 2209 is 4350, they make it for them
Gumpy

Which 4350? Accurate, Hodgon, or IMR?

 

[Atticus]

I’ve been loading my 404 to 2225+- with 400grn TSX and 78.5 gr H4350. The folks at Barnes gave me a minimum expansion velocity of 1600 fps so no problem there.

 

[Olvast09]

For a 400gr bullet at 2200–2300 fps, IMR 4350 is your powder. Not Accurate 4350. Not Accurate 4064. IMR 4350.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

OH, appreciate the info and I will give that recipe a try. Will also look for that thread. Thanks

Okay, but be careful. I noted today while looking through the mountain of data he compiled one load for 400 gr bullets that supposedly achieved 2495 fps. That would be way beyond pushing the envelope. If it didn't blow the gun up, I'm sure it would blow out the shooter's shoulder. Ugh!

For whatever reason, many seem to prefer 84 gr H4350 behind 400 gr bullets to push them to +2300 fps. Too much recoil for me and the added velocity really doesn't accomplish much given the intended range of 404 is relatively short. 80 gr Accurate 4350 is about my limit. Yes, it is a different powder from H4350 but looking at comparative loads for other cartridges, obviously not a huge difference.

 

[Captain Munro]

Novice reloader here. Why are some 404 J components .422 and others .423. I thought .423 was the correct number. I'm looking for a trimmer pilot for my 404J on the Lyman Universal Trimmer.

 

[Roughneck]

For a 400gr bullet at 2200–2300 fps, IMR 4350 is your powder. Not Accurate 4350. Not Accurate 4064. IMR 4350.

What charge weight of IMR 4350? Thank you

 

[uplander01]

I have a H Varget load that is remarkably consistent @2200 fps, 72gr, F215 GM primers, Barnes 400 gr TSX and Solid same point of impact even though he solid is moving 2250fps.....seat to top of crimp groove and then crimp lightly. Recoil is modest, probably because its operating extremely efficiently with its powder charge......

 

[Roughneck]

Okay, but be careful. I noted today while looking through the mountain of data he compiled one load for 400 gr bullets that supposedly achieved 2495 fps. That would be way beyond pushing the envelope. If it didn't blow the gun up, I'm sure it would blow out the shooter's shoulder. Ugh!

For whatever reason, many seem to prefer 84 gr H4350 behind 400 gr bullets to push them to +2300 fps. Too much recoil for me and the added velocity really doesn't accomplish much given the intended range of 404 is relatively short. 80 gr Accurate 4350 is about my limit. Yes, it is a different powder from H4350 but looking at comparative loads for other cartridges, obviously not a huge difference.

Yeah I don’t need crazy hot loads as my rifle is shooting factory Hornady at an 1” at 100 yards. I forgot to bring my chronograph to test their velocity but it seemed like a warm load. I have tons of powder but most of my reloading supplies are already packed on a trailer so had to go to the local store and they didn’t have much for powder. I just figured I would work up a load to see if I can get more accuracy before I head to Botswana. Thanks

 

[Roughneck]

A buddy of mine just sent me these loads from the Hornady book so those will give me some charge weights to work off of and I guess I am going to grab a pound of IMR 4350