New member--416 Taylor Question

Good morning, all.

Been lurking for a while as I've been wanting to read about African hunts and get all the info I could for 9.3x62, 375H&H, and other big bores. I got the bug and bought both 9.3x62 (Husqvarna) and .375 H&H (Winchester) but not before I bought a custom Charles Daly/Zastava commercial DG gun from an estate that was supposedly a .375 H&H but unmarked. It was most definitely not a .375 as the bore was much too big, and the rounds were too long for the magazine. It took me down the rabbit hole of what it could be and I came up with most likely a 416 Taylor. I read a lot about the Taylor on here and it's a very cool and capable cartridge for the standard Mauser length action, but I will most likely never have a need for it. I paid for a chamber cast to be made, and it is indeed a 416 Taylor, and now the barrel is marked as such.

Since I will most likely never use it, I'm considering getting rid of it. Any idea of a fair asking price for this?

Charles Daly/Zastava Commercial Action.

Two position safety that locks the bolt when on "safe."

Unknown custom barrel with banded front sight and robust rear.

Kick-Eez recoil pad.

Weighs right at 10lbs as pictured, from what my bathroom scale reported.

Well how much did it set ya back?

It is a very useful caliber. About a year ago I gave a Remington 798 (same rifle) in 375 H&H to a nephew. I can't help with price, but I can help you set the price. Buy, beg, borrow or steal at least 4 dummy or 20 live rounds.

The builder might never have finished the work. If I was looking at buying, I would ask how does it shoot? Does it feed? Will it feed flat points? With dummies you can check feeding. I assume with the chamber cast and stamping, a gunsmith looked it over for safety? If you fire a few live rounds and like it, keep the 416 and send the 9.3 and 375 down the road. Otherwise, being able to say it feeds and shoots adds to the value.

Ask on the forum, maybe somebody will loan you some dummies. I shoot its brother the 375 Taylor so I cannot help. Norma loaded for it. Superior and Hendershot's also IIRC. Search hard and ask around.

to AH.
I am sure someone will take it off your hands if the price is fair

Thank you, gents! When I bought it, and subsequently when I was offered a refund, I still figured it was worth at least the sum of its parts, regardless of caliber. When I brought it to my local Cabelas/Bass Pro gun library, he threw out around $1500-$1800 if it was marked, but he couldn't make a solid offer with it being unstamped. That's why I decided to invest in a chamber cast. I've seen values on Zastava, Whitworth, Interarms, (all the same action, I know) in DG calibers being astronomical compared to a few short years ago. I'll probably take it back in tomorrow to see if they can give me an offer now that it's properly stamped 416 Taylor.

As far as investing in ammo, I'd rather not sink another $150+ into something I'm ultimately not going to use, but I suppose that would be a pretty failsafe way to give the platform a whirl.

Thanks again, all.

I’d at least shoot it, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with it.
Gumpy

416 Taylor is a great cartridge! I just got a Belgian browning FN that was modified into a 416 T, it shoots great and very effective on all DG. I think its recoil is similar to a 375. A lot less than a 458 Lott or 470 NE that I have hunted with in the past!

the444shooter said:

a custom Charles Daly/Zastava commercial DG gun, unmarked. a chamber cast, it is indeed a 416 Taylor, and now the barrel is marked as such.

Charles Daly/Zastava Commercial Action.
Two position safety that locks the bolt when on "safe."
Unknown custom barrel with banded front sight and robust rear.
Kick-Eez recoil pad.
Weighs right at 10lbs as pictured, from what my bathroom scale reported.

Click to expand...

This may be a good buy, depending on how much you now have into it.
The commercial Zastava actions are good but not the most desired for a custom rifle.

arniet said:

I would ask how does it shoot? Does it feed? Will it feed flat points? Otherwise, being able to say it feeds and shoots adds to the value.

Ask on the forum, maybe somebody will loan you some dummies. I shoot its brother the 375 Taylor so I cannot help. Norma loaded for it. Superior and Hendershot's also IIRC. Search hard and ask around.

Click to expand...

These questions lead into establishing the value of this custom rifle. I it shoots an inch or less at 100 yards with top of the line hunting bullets, and will reliably feed flat nose solids, it probably needs no major gunsmithing. The value is increased. Not knowing this the buyer may receive a project rifle. Thus, an experianced buyer may pass on this rifle unless the price was equal to the parts.

the444shooter said:

When I brought it to my local Cabelas/Bass Pro gun library, he threw out around $1500-$1800 if it was marked, but he couldn't make a solid offer with it being unstamped. I'll probably take it back in tomorrow to see if they can give me an offer now that it's properly stamped 416 Taylor.

Click to expand...

The Leupold scope is probaly worth $200 to $300, if it is a Vari-X 3 in around a 1.5 to 5X magnification.
If you could offer the rifle with scope, stating the rifle shoots well and feeds flat nose solids, if should sell for $2,000 here. You might receive $2,500 if you post in on Guns International and wait for a buyer.
Without knowing how it shoots and feeds, you may want to take the scope off and accept $1,500 from Cabelas or $1,800 with the scope.

The above stated, I really like the .416 caliber and have rifles in .416 Taylor, Remington, and Rigby. They all shoot and feed flat nose solids well.

Your competition is the recently available Winchester M70's in .416 Remington. I've seen them for sale recently for $1,800 on Guns International. Add tax, shipping, and receiving FFL fee and the cost to buyer should be less than $2,000. I love the concept of the Taylor but logistically, the .416 Rem is better for most.

Good luck with this!

the444shooter said:

Good morning, all.

Been lurking for a while as I've been wanting to read about African hunts and get all the info I could for 9.3x62, 375H&H, and other big bores. I got the bug and bought both 9.3x62 (Husqvarna) and .375 H&H (Winchester) but not before I bought a custom Charles Daly/Zastava commercial DG gun from an estate that was supposedly a .375 H&H but unmarked. It was most definitely not a .375 as the bore was much too big, and the rounds were too long for the magazine. It took me down the rabbit hole of what it could be and I came up with most likely a 416 Taylor. I read a lot about the Taylor on here and it's a very cool and capable cartridge for the standard Mauser length action, but I will most likely never have a need for it. I paid for a chamber cast to be made, and it is indeed a 416 Taylor, and now the barrel is marked as such.

Since I will most likely never use it, I'm considering getting rid of it. Any idea of a fair asking price for this?

Charles Daly/Zastava Commercial Action.

Two position safety that locks the bolt when on "safe."

Unknown custom barrel with banded front sight and robust rear.

Kick-Eez recoil pad.

Weighs right at 10lbs as pictured, from what my bathroom scale reported.

Click to expand...

Greetings.
The rifle you are talking about was never made in .416. Zastava M70 DG was produced in two calibers. .375 H&H and .458 win mag. If you made a casting and you are sure that it is a .416 caliber, then it is not a Zastava factory barrel

Miletic said:

Greetings.
The rifle you are talking about was never made in .416. Zastava M70 DG was produced in two calibers. .375 H&H and .458 win mag. If you made a casting and you are sure that it is a .416 caliber, then it is not a Zastava factory barrel

Click to expand...

Yes, that is why the OP clearly stated this was a CUSTOM rifle and…
“Unknown custom barrel with banded front sight and robust rear.”

The information is there if one looks for it…

Mark A Ouellette said:

Yes, that is why the OP clearly stated this was a CUSTOM rifle and…
“Unknown custom barrel with banded front sight and robust rear.”

The information is there if one looks for it…

Click to expand...

Dear Mark, thank you for the clarification

Mark A Ouellette said:

This may be a good buy, depending on how much you now have into it.
The commercial Zastava actions are good but not the most desired for a custom rifle.


These questions lead into establishing the value of this custom rifle. I it shoots an inch or less at 100 yards with top of the line hunting bullets, and will reliably feed flat nose solids, it probably needs no major gunsmithing. The value is increased. Not knowing this the buyer may receive a project rifle. Thus, an experianced buyer may pass on this rifle unless the price was equal to the parts.


The Leupold scope is probaly worth $200 to $300, if it is a Vari-X 3 in around a 1.5 to 5X magnification.
If you could offer the rifle with scope, stating the rifle shoots well and feeds flat nose solids, if should sell for $2,000 here. You might receive $2,500 if you post in on Guns International and wait for a buyer.
Without knowing how it shoots and feeds, you may want to take the scope off and accept $1,500 from Cabelas or $1,800 with the scope.

The above stated, I really like the .416 caliber and have rifles in .416 Taylor, Remington, and Rigby. They all shoot and feed flat nose solids well.

Your competition is the recently available Winchester M70's in .416 Remington. I've seen them for sale recently for $1,800 on Guns International. Add tax, shipping, and receiving FFL fee and the cost to buyer should be less than $2,000. I love the concept of the Taylor but logistically, the .416 Rem is better for most.

Good luck with this!

Click to expand...

This is all great feedback and is very appreciated.