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True. I didn't pick ypmthe misspelt "Jeffrey", on both of the first two graphics. Seeing the author got the name right, I'm guessing whoever created the graphics got it wrong.

I don't know about the veracity of the images.

No my rifle is not in the photos. The photos are linked from the African Expedition Magazine article. I only copied part of the text, and linked only some of the images. Go to the article link for the full story.

I might have a box of 450 grs ,404s to try. Good to see both Weldcore SPRNs and FMJs. Essential to have both for buffalo, and FMJs for elephant. The 450 gr brings the .404 into .450 type performance, certainly superior to a .458 Win Mag using 450 gr projectiles, for penetration at the same or similar speeds. Only minor differences is the lesser frontal calibre size.

I agree, it's nice to see Rigny offering the 404cJeffery as a choice for its Big Game Rifle models.

Curl carried my Mauser M03 with the .404 Jeffery barrel when he visited We had opportunities for a huge Brahmin scrub bull, but he declined he take it. It also felt a bit of a shame to me, to waste most of that huge beasts excellent beef, Feed a family for a year! A good choice as well, as we were maybe 300 metres away from the water buffalo wetlands, and it would have vacated them off. They did detect us though and we very gooey and ran off. For good, I learned, they did not return at all. We wasted two more walks there, and they never returned The wetlands there were five times the size as when JB visited. It was much wetter this time.n And far more water areas. A reason the Buffalo left for elsewhere,

Later we came across water buffalo right near camp An opportunity to take a water buffalo cow, which was also declined. That area was wet this trip, previously with JB all that area had been dry. One learns from each trip, more information on a hunting area, Alas that was the last trip to that cattle station. Another visiting Hunter messed it up for everyone non local.

So my .404 has not yet been blooded on water buffalo at least. I usually do carry my .450 Nitro Express double rifle as a choice.

My next trip, whenever it is, I'd like to very much to give my Westley Richards 10-bore double rifle a gominbwater buffalo, scrub bulls, banteng!, boat, donkeys and whatever. Return it to its memories of India and the Raj.

Maybe even try it on deer here in SA. I need to work up loads for it, to see what it will be capable of. A local BP shooter, I shoot no handguns with, I learned a fortnight ago also bid on this rifle! Years ago. Somivebbeen requested to take it to the next handgun shoot So I also need to get some ammunition loaded up for it, next year, so they can shooting as well.

But maybe carry my working rifle 404 as well. For longer range shots? I'd like to give it a gomon water buffalo and the rest of Top End species. My .450 Jeffery will get jealous.

The .404 barrel is the top barrel on the zebra skin under the case. With a good rear open sight. And a banded front sight. It's a bit shorter than some of the other barrels, The 8x68S is 650 mm. Most are 600 mm. Maybe the 404 is 550 mm Makes a good handy length dangerous game bolt action. A 1x scope or open sights. Not a nice vintage Jeffery .404 but a useful DG rifle in any weather conditions, in the Mauser M03 Extreme model rifle. Two magazines allows sustained firepower.

My .404 is not a pretty vintage Jeffery Mauser 98, alas. Maybe one day I'll have one. It's one of my only two synthetic stocked rifles. With the 8x68S barrel, the .404 was desired for a trip to Alaska one day,or Wild parts of Canada. I do have a second M03 with a somewhat Germanic walnut stick as well now. That rifle was purchased to create a classic modern custom Mauser styled rifle with. Another future project!

My Mauser M03 Alpine model, which could wear the .404 barrel

The Mauser M03 rifle allows a solid turn bolt rifle platform.

The .404 needs some good lighter well constructed medium game bullet. Originally it had the 300 gr. No kidding it wasn't suitable for Dangerous Game. That's a no brainer, and was never an intended use. Does anyone make good 300 gr .423 bullets? Woodleigh makes 350 gr .423 bullets. For me, theres not enough difference to a 400 gr to bother with it. A 300 great 75% of the normal weight makes sense. Same as ,458 350 gr and 480/500 gr bullets. A .423 350ngr and 450 gr bullet loads might make sense. I do have some Raptor 257 gr .423 bullets to try out. A flat shooting 250 gr .423 at fast velocity might make a very versatile .404 scopec bolt action.

Of course using different loads and bullets in the same rifle assumes reasonably close point of impacts.

Back to the article. I don't think I've ever heard of the ,404 used in India? I'm sure it would have been. Being an affordable Mauser 98 bolt action choice for lesser wealthy colonial officials. The .404 was the game department working rifle choice in various African colonies. Can anyone expand on this? Expand on any authors or famous hunters using it?

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John aka NitroX

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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"