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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Big Bore Rifles
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Homer
.416 member


Reged: 07/04/09
Posts: 3081
Loc: Canberra, Australia
Finally shooting the .404 Jeffery
      #147708 - 12/12/09 12:15 PM

G'Day Fella's,

Finally after far to long a wait, I've been shooting the .404!
A couple of weeks back, I received my loading dies from Bwana Bob, so I got to it and initially loaded some of Von Gruff's cast bullets (that he very kindly posted to me from NZ)!

Using the same recommended powder load as Von Gruff (63gr ADI AR-2209) but with RWS cases, Remington 9 1/2M primers and in my slightly over size bore for caliber. The rifle shot Five of the 340gr Gas Checked cast bullets into under an inch (0.875" best group), at 50 meters at a velocity of 1600 fps but with a large extreme spread, in velocity.

I also noted that there was a lot of unburnt powder left up the barrel after each shot (maybe 2 or 3 grains in weight), so I changed to CCI 250 Mag primers and also crimped the bullets in place. Next trip to the range there was no difference in the amount of Unburnt powder but the velocity was an average of 1705 fps, with a smaller extreme spread and std deviation (Oehler 35P).

The rifle still shot very well but I flinched a few shots this time which blew the groups out to around 1 1/2" in size. I have the worst flinch on the planet but I have a pretty good excuse for that. Anyway going on those results, I was still very pleased!

Just another Thank You to Von Gruff and Lindsay (Forgot your Forum name, is it Eagle 27?) for there advice and help with this project. You Kiwi Blokes, Are The Best!!!

HooRoo
and Merry Christmas to you all
From
Homer

--------------------
"Beware the Lolly Pop of Mediocrity,
Lick it Once and You Will Suck Forever"

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eagle27
.400 member


Reged: 24/01/09
Posts: 1165
Loc: Rolleston, Christchurch, New Z...
Re: Finally shooting the .404 Jeffery [Re: Homer]
      #147757 - 12/12/09 09:15 PM

Hi Hommer

Great to hear you are finally able to get shooting the 404. Strange that you are getting rather poor performance from that cast bullet load. I shoot the same bullets and powder load as Von Gruff in my long throated 404 and am getting groups with bullet holes cutting each other at 50m with no unburnt powder (same as Von Gruff in his 404). I do use a TCBK wool wad over the powder and a CIL magnum primer. I seat those 350gr slugs to the crimp groove but do not crimp. We get these wool wads from "The Cast Bullet Kid" here in NZ. Von Gruff does not use a wad. You may need a higher powder charge in your 404 to get a good burn?

Going to try my 400gr plain base bullets tomorrow with the same 63gr 2209 load. I got good groups with them when gas checked and using Von Gruffs light load of 56grs 2209 but have not tried them plain based with 63grs. Hoping that they work well at this loading level with 2209 as it would save a step on the lathe to modify them for gas checks. Will keep you posted.

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ozhunter
.400 member


Reged: 18/08/04
Posts: 1692
Loc: Sydney, Australia
Re: Finally shooting the .404 Jeffery [Re: eagle27]
      #147949 - 14/12/09 04:58 PM

What about using 2208 with the 400grn bullets?

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eagle27
.400 member


Reged: 24/01/09
Posts: 1165
Loc: Rolleston, Christchurch, New Z...
Re: Finally shooting the .404 Jeffery [Re: ozhunter]
      #147953 - 14/12/09 05:51 PM

I don't have any 2208 but in earlier years have tried faster powders without success with these 400 grainers. Tried the 63 gr load of 2209 yesterday and no luck, hardly keep them on an A4 sheet of paper at 50m where the 350 grainers with gas checks nearly drop down the same hole. Actually softer to shoot too, the 400's starting to bite in recoil at bit. Not like full power factory stuff but just not as nicer cast load to shoot. Will gas check and go from there.

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ozhunter
.400 member


Reged: 18/08/04
Posts: 1692
Loc: Sydney, Australia
Re: Finally shooting the .404 Jeffery [Re: eagle27]
      #147956 - 14/12/09 08:02 PM

A friend of mine uses 86grns of 09 with his 404.
I have some info from anther mate that indicates 2160fps with 82grns of 09.
These are obviously full hunting loads.

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VonGruff
.400 member


Reged: 08/02/09
Posts: 1119
Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.
Re: Finally shooting the .404 Jeffery [Re: ozhunter]
      #147981 - 15/12/09 05:55 AM

I have 84gn of 2209 under the 400gn Woodleigh for 2300fps but that is a whole nuther thing than the cast bullets under discussion .
With the 400gn cast lino bullet Eagle 27 is talking about I had from 62gn up to 70gn 2208 under for max of 2262fps but accuracy was just not obtainable. I tried from faster as in 2206 to the slower 2209 and velocity from 1500 right up to the 2262 for the 2208 load but it was only with the 56gn 2209 for 1712fps that I could get anything like an exceptable grouping, that is under 4in at 55 yds so they would stay on my 8in x8in steel plate.I put over 200 bullets down range in an atteampt to get an exceptable "play" load for the steel plate. It is simply the design of the bullet that precludes better accuracy, and what lead me to come up with the data to have a mould made for the 350gn GC design that has worked so well in both Eagle 27 and Hommer,s respective 404's as well as a member of another forum's 10,75x68 and all with thier differing barrel dimensions that cover different continents makers and time spans..

Von Gruff.

--------------------
Von Gruff.

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12

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Homer
.416 member


Reged: 07/04/09
Posts: 3081
Loc: Canberra, Australia
Re: Finally shooting the .404 Jeffery [Re: VonGruff]
      #147999 - 15/12/09 09:27 AM

G'Day Fella's,

Thank You for the good wishes and advice!
Very much appreciated!

Hopefully in the new year, I will be casting my own pills and sending these down range along with some of the 400 Woodleigh's, that I purchased earlier in the year.

I will be utilising the loads provided by Von Gruff and Eagle 27 and some of the other Forum users loads. What i need to see is, how the .404 likes them but also to see how I handle these loads, off the bench?

Merry Christmas
and
HooRoo
From
Homer

--------------------
"Beware the Lolly Pop of Mediocrity,
Lick it Once and You Will Suck Forever"

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