Looking for advice on a Rare Left Hand 404 Jeffery Stock

I'm looking for some advice from members who may have faced a similar situation.

I have a left-hand Charles Daly/Zastava Mauser 98 chambered in .404 Jeffery. It wears an older MDI fiberglass stock that was damaged in shipping after returning from my gunsmith. Unfortunately, after an extensive search by both my gunsmith and myself, we've been unable to locate a direct replacement.

The rifle has several features that make replacement more challenging:

• Left-hand Zastava/Charles Daly Mauser 98
• Sunny Hill 3+1 drop-box bottom metal
• Heavy .404 Jeffery barrel
• Custom bedding

I've investigated new custom synthetic stocks and custom walnut stocks, and I've also looked at adapting semi-inletted stocks, but before deciding on a path I'd like to ask those with more experience than I have.

Have any of you dealt with a similar situation involving a damaged composite stock on a rare rifle?

Specifically, I'd appreciate hearing:

• Has anyone successfully adapted another Mauser stock to a left-hand Zastava .404?
• Does anyone know of a stockmaker who may have patterns or experience with these rifles?
• Has anyone had a composite stock structurally repaired on a heavy-recoiling dangerous-game rifle and been satisfied with the results?
• Does anyone happen to know of an older left-hand stock that might be adaptable or available?

My long-term goal is simply to return this rifle to a condition worthy of the rifle itself, and I'm open to hearing about solutions I may not have considered.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

Buy some fiberglass and epoxy watch some YouTube videos on casting rinse and repeat.


There are tons of tutorials to do what you are trying to do. I recommend you search google for whate you need.

In my opinion that looks like it can be repaired then repainted. There's a place here in Northern California called Spyder Composites that does high end composite repairs (carbon fiber wheels on cars, carbon fiber bikes etc.) I'd think a place like that could handle this repair more than adequately. I had these guys repair a cracked carbon fiber bike frame and you would neve know it had been damaged. You might contact some bicycle shops around you to see if there is someone local to you that does carbon repair.

Also, if you have it repaired and need someone to repaint it, Bell and Carlson repaints synthetic stocks at a very fair price, about $75 with a quick turnaround time. I've had them do a number of stocks for me, here is a .257 I built for my son that they painted for us.

Very nice paint job. Good advice I’ll look around

DaBill said:

I'm looking for some advice from members who may have faced a similar situation.

I have a left-hand Charles Daly/Zastava Mauser 98 chambered in .404 Jeffery. It wears an older MDI fiberglass stock that was damaged in shipping after returning from my gunsmith. Unfortunately, after an extensive search by both my gunsmith and myself, we've been unable to locate a direct replacement.

The rifle has several features that make replacement more challenging:

• Left-hand Zastava/Charles Daly Mauser 98
• Sunny Hill 3+1 drop-box bottom metal
• Heavy .404 Jeffery barrel
• Custom bedding

I've investigated new custom synthetic stocks and custom walnut stocks, and I've also looked at adapting semi-inletted stocks, but before deciding on a path I'd like to ask those with more experience than I have.

Have any of you dealt with a similar situation involving a damaged composite stock on a rare rifle?

Specifically, I'd appreciate hearing:

• Has anyone successfully adapted another Mauser stock to a left-hand Zastava .404?
• Does anyone know of a stockmaker who may have patterns or experience with these rifles?
• Has anyone had a composite stock structurally repaired on a heavy-recoiling dangerous-game rifle and been satisfied with the results?
• Does anyone happen to know of an older left-hand stock that might be adaptable or available?

My long-term goal is simply to return this rifle to a condition worthy of the rifle itself, and I'm open to hearing about solutions I may not have considered.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.View attachment 783019View attachment 783020View attachment 783021View attachment 783022

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I believe it could be repaired & re painted

One of my concerns is if I repair it at some point in time when I go to sell it on is disclosing that the stock was damaged in this way and repaired. As a buyer I might be worried about buying a once damaged rifle even though it was repaired properly and re painted.