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Gundog01
.333 member

Reged: 16/05/15
Posts: 291
Loc: Ohio usa

Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser?
#288315 - 25/09/16 02:21 AM

Looking for a book written by an author who primarily used a .404J. I read allot of George Rushby and I know he used one for the man eating lions, anyone else that you can recommend? Thank you!

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Rockdoc
.400 member

Reged: 07/12/06
Posts: 1212
Loc: NSW, Australia

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: Gundog01]
#288325 - 25/09/16 10:58 AM

Ian Nyschens did for a while after losing his double 450 No.2 in the river (Zambesi?).

Rushby did after selling his double 9.3mm to pay for leave to England, he tried to buy his double back when he returned but the new owner wouldn't sell.

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Rockdoc
.400 member

Reged: 07/12/06
Posts: 1212
Loc: NSW, Australia

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: Rockdoc]
#288329 - 25/09/16 01:47 PM

Interesting that on reading some testing of original Kynoch 416 Rigby loads velocities were around 2150fps, not the 2350 or so fps advertised. The 404J may have been lower than advertised 2150fps as well.

I had a nice little takedown 404J many years ago. Hard to reload for (handmade dies and before Woodleigh bullets) however RWS ammo was reasonably cheap and available. From reports I have read, it chronographed in excess of 2300fps. I never had a problem with high pressures, and reloaded the fired cases.

It certainly is a cartridge for which I would like another rifle, having a set of RCBS dies and a Lothar Walther Prefit barrel to suit a '98!

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casper50
.400 member

Reged: 18/10/07
Posts: 1344
Loc: Alaska

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: Rockdoc]
#288331 - 25/09/16 04:23 PM

I really like my 1913 Mauser by G. E. Lewis. Took my largest bull with it 3 years ago.

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Rockdoc
.400 member

Reged: 07/12/06
Posts: 1212
Loc: NSW, Australia

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: casper50]
#288332 - 25/09/16 04:35 PM

Nice looking rifle Casper! And great moose!

Do you reload for it?

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Gundog01
.333 member

Reged: 16/05/15
Posts: 291
Loc: Ohio usa

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: Rockdoc]
#288347 - 26/09/16 06:36 AM

I have a Mauser Model A worked over by Holland & Holland, really looking for a book that I can read about similar mausers in the field!

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Claydog
.375 member

Reged: 17/08/12
Posts: 934
Loc: Katherine, Northern Territory ...

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: Gundog01]
#288353 - 26/09/16 09:21 AM

Gundog I have read a lot of the old hunting books and to my recollection not many noted the 404 a great deal. I suppose it came from them being used by game departments and not as much by professional hunters. If you come across anything I would be interested to hear about it.

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eagle27
.400 member

Reged: 24/01/09
Posts: 1124
Loc: Nelson, New Zealand

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: Claydog]
#288359 - 26/09/16 03:24 PM

As noted by others the 404 doesn't get a lot of press but is often mentioned in articles and books e.g. J A Hunters "Hunter" where someone grabbed a 404 in the hunting car and used it to successfully put down a wounded rhino that was busy chasing one of the native trackers. The 404 was said to be of the most prolific cartridges used on African and Indian game including use by some of the game control units in Africa, especially on elephant, but didn't seem to attract the attention of the writers of the day.
Perhaps the 404J was just too low key efficient at what it did in the field that there was nothing to write up about or embellish as most writers of note tended to do.

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sbs470
.333 member

Reged: 15/04/04
Posts: 378
Loc: Sheffield Tasmania

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: eagle27]
#288364 - 26/09/16 08:22 PM

Jon Speed's book Original Oberndorf Sporting Rifles pages 340,341 ,342 lists these shooters using the 404
Mickey Norton
Pete Pearson
John (Pondoro ) Taylor
Bruce Kinlock
Jos'e Simoes
Alfred Pease
Denis Lyell
Edison Marshall

If you get a copy of Legends of the African frontier .It gives a pretty good history of most of these guys.
hope this helps

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Pretorius
.224 member

Reged: 22/04/15
Posts: 37
Loc: Sweden

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: sbs470]
#288365 - 26/09/16 08:38 PM

I have a signed edition of a book written by an old poacher from bechuanaland. His African name is Ra da piri, his English name escapes me, it's been a while. This guy moved from a 7x57 as his only rifle, to a pair of 404's as he started to sell ivory. His tales are riveting.
Shoot a mail to Rowland ward books, and mention Ra da piri. In the meantime, I'll go scratch around for the book.

Tucker's in the dust, was the name of his first book which l no longer have. The second book l have somewhere. The author was nearly ninety years old when he dictated these memoirs

--------------------
Mr P

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Rockdoc
.400 member

Reged: 07/12/06
Posts: 1212
Loc: NSW, Australia

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: Pretorius]
#288367 - 26/09/16 09:40 PM

Frederick Everett

I wonder if this is available electronically.

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mart
.300 member

Reged: 20/01/04
Posts: 107
Loc: Alaska

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: Rockdoc]
#288418 - 28/09/16 05:13 AM

Lee Sherman Chadwick used a 404 to take the famed Chadwick ram. In the book, "Classic Hunting Tales", he states he prefers a 404 Magnum built by Frank Hoffman for all big game hunting. I can only assume he is referring to a 404J.

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458Win
.333 member

Reged: 15/12/06
Posts: 340
Loc: Alaska

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: mart]
#288587 - 02/10/16 04:49 AM

This Jeffery 404, completed in Jan of 1907, was purchased specifically for an Alaskan Brown Bear hunt and is still as useful as ever.

--------------------
Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either never used one - or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship
Phil Shoemaker
www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com

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ducmarc
.400 member

Reged: 14/07/14
Posts: 1207
Loc: fla

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: 458Win]
#290979 - 28/11/16 12:23 PM

How hard is the fit into a standard mauser military action?

--------------------
'killed by death' Lemmy.. ' boil the dog ' Elvis Manywounds "my best friend is my magnum forty four" hank willams the third.

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epoletna
.224 member

Reged: 25/12/16
Posts: 3
Loc: Nevada, USA

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: ducmarc]
#293753 - 13/01/17 11:51 AM

Gundog01:

Jon Speed and I used to hang out in Tanzania in the 70's: when he was in Dar es Salaam he'd stay at my house, and we made several safaris into the Masaai Steppe. Those were the days!

He took me to his "office" in the wildlife office one time and showed me the rifles used by the anti-poaching guys he worked with. The rifles were all, as I recall, Mausers chambered in .404. I was not impressed by the cartridge then, so when he encouraged me to pick one up I passed it up. I'm sorry now I did.

My go-to rifle in those days with a Winchester Model 70 in .375 H&H, a cartridge I absolutely loved and used for everything from duiker to cape buffalo. It's obviously too much rifle for a duiker or a Thompson's gazelle, but with a solid bullet it does not do the kind of tissue damage my 7 mm Rem Mag did with soft point bullets.

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458Win
.333 member

Reged: 15/12/06
Posts: 340
Loc: Alaska

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: ducmarc]
#293759 - 13/01/17 01:58 PM

Quote:

How hard is the fit into a standard mauser military action?

it's not particularily hard today with correct bottom metal - and it can even be done like Jeffery did it in 1906

--------------------
Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either never used one - or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship
Phil Shoemaker
www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com

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Rockdoc
.400 member

Reged: 07/12/06
Posts: 1212
Loc: NSW, Australia

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: 458Win]
#293763 - 13/01/17 05:06 PM

Quote:

Quote:

How hard is the fit into a standard mauser military action?

it's not particularily hard today with correct bottom metal - and it can even be done like Jeffery did it in 1906

Phil, that must be one of the earliest 404's!

Lovely rifle.

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relics6165
.224 member

Reged: 15/12/12
Posts: 26
Loc: USA

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: Rockdoc]
#293800 - 14/01/17 01:02 PM

Is this it?

Frederick Everett:

Heat Thirst & Ivory; Elephant and Other Hunting Adventures in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Angola

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cordite
.333 member

Reged: 29/01/07
Posts: 341
Loc: NW Montana

Re: Did anyone primrly use a .404 mauser? [Re: relics6165]
#293828 - 15/01/17 03:59 AM

Yes. Everett used a 404. There is also a followup book "Tuskers in the Dust" where I understand he tried a 10.75 and got into trouble with poor bullets.

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