The .404 Jeffery is a large-caliber rifle cartridge introduced by W.J. Jeffery & Co in 1905 that typically uses a .423-inch (10.75 mm) diameter bullet and is used for hunting dangerous game such as elephant, rhino and Cape buffalo in Africa.
The 404 Jeffery is not listed in SAAMI’s rifle (Z299.4), handgun (Z299.3) or rimfire (Z299.1) standards, so there is no SAAMI reference velocity, pressure limit or test barrel to quote for it. This guide charts what the makers of the loads we stock publish for them instead, and compares the 404 Jeffery with the 416 Remington Magnum, which SAAMI does standardise.
404 Jeffery ballistics chart: manufacturer-published loads
These are the manufacturers’ own figures for specific loads we stock, taken from each maker’s page for the item number shown. There is no SAAMI reference for this cartridge, and each maker chose its own test barrel, so the figures should not be laid directly beside another brand’s.
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Load | Item no. | Bullet weight | Bullet | Muzzle velocity | Muzzle energy | Ballistic coefficient | Test barrel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norma Woodleigh Soft Nose | 20110302 | 450 gr | Woodleigh Soft Nose | 2,150 fps | 4,620 ft-lb | 0.36 G1 | Not published |
| Norma Solid | 20110352 | 400 gr | Solid | 2,325 fps | 4,802 ft-lb | 0.247 G1 | Not published |
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Load (test barrel) | Muzzle | 50 yd | 100 yd | 150 yd | 200 yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norma 450 gr (barrel not published) | 2,150 fps / 4,620 ft-lb | 2,041 fps / 4,162 ft-lb | 1,935 fps / 3,741 ft-lb | 1,832 fps / 3,356 ft-lb | 1,734 fps / 3,004 ft-lb |
| Norma 400 gr (barrel not published) | 2,325 fps / 4,802 ft-lb | 2,160 fps / 4,143 ft-lb | 2,001 fps / 3,557 ft-lb | 1,850 fps / 3,039 ft-lb | 1,706 fps / 2,586 ft-lb |
What the numbers mean for a shot
The 2 loads charted above, from Norma, run from 400 to 450 grains, with published muzzle velocities of 2,150 to 2,325 fps and published muzzle energies of 4,620 to 4,802 ft-lb. Each maker fired its load in its own test barrel, so a difference between two brands can come from the barrel as well as the load. Downrange velocity, energy and drop appear only where a maker publishes them, and only out to the last range it publishes.
None of this is SAAMI data. Each product in our 404 Jeffery ammo range lists whatever its maker publishes for that item.
Chamber and pressure
This page states no SAAMI pressure limit for the 404 Jeffery. Fire 404 Jeffery ammunition only in a firearm chambered for it, and follow both the ammunition maker’s and the firearm maker’s instructions. Several unrelated cartridges share a number, so match the full designation on the box to the marking on your barrel.
404 Jeffery vs 416 Rem Mag: what the data supports
A like-for-like comparison needs both cartridges measured the same way. SAAMI standardises the 416 Remington Magnum, so its figures come from one standard test barrel. The 404 Jeffery has no SAAMI figures, so its numbers come from individual makers and their own barrels. The table sets them side by side with the source of each figure stated, and should be read that way.
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Specification | 404 Jeffery | 416 Remington Magnum |
|---|---|---|
| Listed by SAAMI | No | Yes |
| Maximum average pressure | Not published by SAAMI | 65,000 psi (SAAMI) |
| Bullet weights | 400 to 450 gr (loads we stock) | 350 to 400 gr (SAAMI reference loads) |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,150–2,325 fps (manufacturer-published, each in its own barrel) | 2,400–2,525 fps (SAAMI reference, 24.000 in test barrel) |
| Muzzle energy | 4,620–4,802 ft-lb (where the maker publishes it) | 4,954–5,115 ft-lb (computed from SAAMI velocity) |
What this cannot settle is which cartridge is more powerful in your rifle: the two columns come from different sources and different barrels. We stock the other side of this comparison too: 416 Rem Mag ammo.
404 Jeffery ballistics questions
Does SAAMI standardise the 404 Jeffery?
No. SAAMI’s rifle, handgun and rimfire standards do not list the 404 Jeffery, so there is no SAAMI maximum pressure, reference velocity or test barrel for it. The figures on this page are the ones each maker publishes for its own loads.
What muzzle velocity do manufacturers publish for the 404 Jeffery?
For the 2 loads we stock from Norma, the makers publish muzzle velocities from 2,150 to 2,325 fps, for bullet weights from 400 to 450 grains. Each maker measured its own load in its own test barrel, so these are not reference figures and are not directly comparable between brands.
Is the 404 Jeffery more powerful than the 416 Remington Magnum?
The two cannot be compared like for like, because SAAMI publishes reference data for the 416 Remington Magnum but not for the 404 Jeffery. The 2 loads charted here for the 404 Jeffery publish muzzle energies of 4,620 to 4,802 ft-lb, each in its maker’s own barrel, against SAAMI reference loads for the 416 Remington Magnum that compute to 4,954 to 5,115 ft-lb from a 24.000 in test barrel.
What is the effective range of the 404 Jeffery?
Effective range is not a published specification for the cartridge; it depends on the bullet, the load and the shooter. Where a maker publishes downrange velocity and energy for a load, the tables above show it, and only out to the last range that maker publishes.
How much does the 404 Jeffery drop?
Where a maker publishes a trajectory, the trajectory table above gives the drop with the zero range stated. A drop figure is unusable without its zero, so use the table for the specific load.
Where to buy these loads
Hilltop Armory carries 404 Jeffery ammunition from Norma, Hornady, Kynoch, Swift High Grade Dangerous Game Hunting and Nosler. Browse the full 404 Jeffery ammo range.
