Sid Post
AH senior member
I have been shopping the common places for a 404 Jeffery bolt action rifle but, they seem rather rare for whatever reason or are super expensive. Sure, I'd love a Heym Express but, at that price, I'm either not hunting with it ($ all gone) or I'm getting another double rifle!
On the cheaper end of my options, I'm not wanting a 'gun plumber special' but, getting above what the former CZ USA custom shop rifle costs is a bit more than I would like to commit. With gently used Winchester Model 70's in 375/416/458 Magnum I'm beginning to wonder about using one of those for a custom rebarrel option.
I live in East Texas, USA so, imports from Europe or Africa are not going to be realistic if there are some used options in a foreign land. What sort of build cost would I be looking at with a good donor rifle for a 404J? I'm assuming something in a 458 Win Mag would be a good place to start with feed rails, recoil lugs and stocks, and similar 'basics'. Using a standard common rifle as a starting point should make any stock upgrades, sights, etc. cheaper and easier to find.
Then we get to who and where to look for a gunsmith. American Hunting Rifles would be a good option but, those seem to run $5~$6K and generally use a CZ Safari Magnum rifle as the base to work from so in addition to cost may be problematic considering COVID and factory availability of donor components. A donor Winchester Model 70 is ~$1k which seems to be cheaper and easier to find than a basic non-German stocked CZ 550 option.
So coming full circle, how do I get a 404J bolt action rifle in a relatively modern representation of a Winchester Model 70 pattern rifle? What should I expect it to cost and who are the better gunsmiths to do the work? Finally, what have I overlooked in a gently used option in something like a Mauser 98 style rifle that isn't a super expensive custom?
Thanks!
Sid
On the cheaper end of my options, I'm not wanting a 'gun plumber special' but, getting above what the former CZ USA custom shop rifle costs is a bit more than I would like to commit. With gently used Winchester Model 70's in 375/416/458 Magnum I'm beginning to wonder about using one of those for a custom rebarrel option.
I live in East Texas, USA so, imports from Europe or Africa are not going to be realistic if there are some used options in a foreign land. What sort of build cost would I be looking at with a good donor rifle for a 404J? I'm assuming something in a 458 Win Mag would be a good place to start with feed rails, recoil lugs and stocks, and similar 'basics'. Using a standard common rifle as a starting point should make any stock upgrades, sights, etc. cheaper and easier to find.
Then we get to who and where to look for a gunsmith. American Hunting Rifles would be a good option but, those seem to run $5~$6K and generally use a CZ Safari Magnum rifle as the base to work from so in addition to cost may be problematic considering COVID and factory availability of donor components. A donor Winchester Model 70 is ~$1k which seems to be cheaper and easier to find than a basic non-German stocked CZ 550 option.
So coming full circle, how do I get a 404J bolt action rifle in a relatively modern representation of a Winchester Model 70 pattern rifle? What should I expect it to cost and who are the better gunsmiths to do the work? Finally, what have I overlooked in a gently used option in something like a Mauser 98 style rifle that isn't a super expensive custom?
Thanks!
Sid