What is it about 404 Jeffery?

[Jack Stevens]

I have 2 BRNO ZKK 602 rifles in 375 H&H that I purchased with the idea of upgrading them to a 404 Jeff and a 500 Jeff. Since then I went ahead and bought 2 AHR 404 Jeffs and my Custom Heym which I just received. I'm also in the process of buying a Blaser 500 Jeff.
I'm not sure I will ever use the BRNO's but find it hard to part with such a great base rifle.

Do either of those BRNO 602s have the factory "pop-up" peep sight?

 

[Jack Stevens]

subject here is 404 Jeff. Pushing a 400 grain bullet to around 2300+ fps with a cut barrel can soon be unpleasant.

Exactly why I load my .404 to original muzzle velocity specs - which was 1975fps on the low end (Kynoch ammo) and 2125fps on the high end (Jeffery's spec m.v.).

Shot from a 9.5-10lb rifle with a 23" tube, even the 2125fps load is a pussycat.

The 2300-2350fps range you're talking about with a 400grn bullet was Hornady's attempt (at least in factory ammo) to turn the 404 Jeff into a 416 Rigby. Different beast.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Just to be clear, it's only the floorplate you're modifying for 4+1? The stock is still standard? I had the option of ordering "extended" bottom metal for 4+1 but I assumed it would require a custom stock.

Yes, it’s just a swollen floor plate , hangs down around 1/8” - 3/16” lower than factory one, really they just hold the mag spring and follower a bit lower than the bottom of the magazine well. Only the bottom part of cartridge number 4 just sits in there.
I could get really enthusiastic and make one that holds another cartridge, but that is a lot of work and I would probably need to modify the magazine well at the front to take the hinge in a different position
Gumpy

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

First picture is a Remington extended one to add a bit more depth, I would make it neater ,a bit like a rigby one. Second picture is a westley Richards one to hold an extra round. Both fit a standard stock
Gumpy

 

[Accidental Villain]

Exactly why I load my .404 to original muzzle velocity specs - which was 1975fps on the low end (Kynoch ammo) and 2125fps on the high end (Jeffery's spec m.v.).

Shot from a 9.5-10lb rifle with a 23" tube, even the 2125fps load is a pussycat.

The 2300-2350fps range you're talking about with a 400grn bullet was Hornady's attempt (at least in factory ammo) to turn the 404 Jeff into a 416 Rigby. Different beast.

Exactly! Thats what its all about is’nt it!
At one time I had the opportunity and privelege to examine over some time an original Jeff 404 and a pre WW2 Rigby BG not just to admire them but to compare and maybe understand some of the over all design features from a competitive shooters wiev.
To put it very short. The Jeff made an awful lot of sense being an exeptionally well balanced shooter made to deliver 400 grain pills at mentioned speeds.
And I understood why my father and his ele hunting friend both dreamed of a Jeff 404.
At a time Thea were both struggling with the totally crap available ammo. A Jeff would most certainly have made things less nervwrecking;D

 

[Ontario Hunter]

View attachment 674044View attachment 674045
First picture is a Remington extended one to add a bit more depth, I would make it neater ,a bit like a rigby one. Second picture is a westley Richards one to hold an extra round. Both fit a standard stock
Gumpy

I could maybe live with the first but not the second. I mean, a 404 that's 3+1 is already heavy. Adding an extra cartridge is adding a fair amount weight. Adding two more cartridges? Yes, added weight = less felt recoil but there is a point of diminishing returns when one has to carry the rifle all day. I'm no lightweight when it comes to carrying a heavy gun. Every fall every year I spend almost every day of six weeks hunting pheasants in Montana with a 30" barrel twelve gauge all steel magnum Browning A5 built in 1961 (well ... the receiver was made in 1961). But ten pounds is pretty much my limit. And if I can't kill a buffalo with four 400 gr bullets @ 2200 fps, I probably deserve to be stomped.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

The second one is more like I’m going to try for, the first picture one holds just the spring and follower, but the general idea is there, smooth rounded corners and avoid sharp edges
Gumpy

 

[Hunting Hitman]

][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]" data-quote="Jack Stevens" data-source="post: 0" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">

Do either of those BRNO [emoji6][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]s have the factory "pop-up" peep sight?

Yes,
of the BRNO’S has the pop-up sight.

HH

 

[Ontario Hunter]

View attachment 674073View attachment 674074
The second one is more like I’m going to try for, the first picture one holds just the spring and follower, but the general idea is there, smooth rounded corners and avoid sharp edges
Gumpy

Note that the stocks for both rifles have definitely been modified. They are not standard action stocks. It appears that more than the floorplate was modified. Looks like magazine walls were also lengthened? Here's the profile of magazine and stock on my 98 Mauser 404J. No drop in the stock ahead of trigger guard.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Note that the stocks for both rifles have definitely been modified. They are not standard action stocks. It appears that more than the floorplate was modified. Looks like magazine walls were also lengthened?

In the second picture the metal goes down around the front of the trigger guard, mostly for looks, and the mag well and opening has to be modified (lenghtened) or they won’t work, I’ve already done that when I remade the original one
Gumpy

 

[Ontario Hunter]

In the second picture the metal goes down around the front of the trigger guard, mostly for looks, and the mag well and opening has to be modified (lenghtened) or they won’t work, I’ve already done that when I remade the original one
Gumpy

I think you mean the wood (not metal) goes down around the front of the trigger guard mostly for looks?

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

I think you mean the wood (not metal) goes down around the front of the trigger guard mostly for looks?

No, I meant metal, where it wraps around the metal trigger guard
Gumpy

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

This bit in red
Gumpy

 

[Ontario Hunter]

No, I meant metal, where it wraps around the metal trigger guard
Gumpy

Okay, but see how the wood has also been "dropped down" in the red circle. In the photo of the underside of the rifle it's clear the stock around the back of the floorplate is thicker. This is not a "standard" Mauser stock. Is this buildup of extra wood necessary or asthetic? Good question. The typical Mauser floorplate overlaps the walls of magazine. Unless the stock is extended up around the extended magazine walls, the overlapping edges of the floorplate lid will be left hanging in space and the gap between magazine walls and stock exposed.