404 Jeffery

William Jackman Jeffery introduced this cartridge in 1909, as a rimless version of his then popular 400 Jeffery. Despite the name, 404 bullet diameter is 0.423 inch. Chambering the 404 does not require a magnum-length action; the more affordable standard-length Mauser and other actions were easily adapted to this round with only magazine and bolt face modifications. For this reason, the 404 became one of the most popular all-around chamberings in Africa. In Europe, it was designated 10.75x73. Unlike most British cartridges, European manufacturer, RWS, loaded this round. This fact kept this old workhorse active, long after most old big bores had been retired (sometimes temporarily), due to lack of ammunition. This case also became the basis of entire lines of wildcat cartridges, including those under the Dakota banner. With a smaller case diameter and a shorter case length, the 404 cannot match feasible 416 Rigby ballistics. Original 400-grain 404 loads generated 2125 fps muzzle velocity and 4020 foot pounds of energy. However, with modern propellants, this chambering easily matches original 416 Rigby ballistics, as reflected in modern loads. With availability of top-quality expanding and solid bullets, the 404 is a fine choice for all-around hunting in Africa and for hunting of the largest species in North America and Europe. Norma now offers 404 cases for handloading and wildcatting.