.404J - who would make your custom all-weather rifle?

[Killo]

Parkwest or D’arcy Echols

 

[MacJenkins]

Parkwest or D’arcy Echols

Isn’t D’arcy going to be well north of $10k for this build? Like over 20k?

 

[RR 314]

Isn’t D’arcy going to be well north of $10k for this build? Like over 20k?

Closer to 20 than 10 for sure.

 

[Beck]

Well you stingy son-of-a-guns (pun intended) refuse to sell me the Heym Martini in 404J at anything in my budget SO, I am considering having Hill Country build me one of their customs. They use the Dakota 76 action and have a cool DG RDS red dot back-up config that with my eyes approaching 60 years, looks damn handy.

I have spoken with Matt there as well as Wars at Parkwest. Both rifles seem like they would fit the bill. For this project it is all about a rifle that can live in rain and mud. Synthetic stock a must but needs to weigh enough and be built strong enough to handle the .404J (not known for massive recoil anyway). $10k or less is the budget.

Any and all suggestions for different makers, stocks you would really want, other desirable features you would want would be most welcome.

I'd buy a .375 H&H in CZ-550. Send it to Tipton Burns in Texas. Have him rebarrel it, and do everything else you want done. I am betting you can get all of that done for around 5k

 

[Andrew NOLA]

I am waiting on 2 from Parkwest. I looked at their offerings in Nashville. Black cerakote and synthetic stocks. Run under $10,000 each (not much under). Far quicker delivery with synthetic as well. 416 Ruger and a 458 Lott.

I am a big fan of synthetic stocks. I don't cry as much when walking thru thorns with them. Function over form. Pretty is as pretty does.

 

[Killo]

Isn’t D’arcy going to be well north of $10k for this build? Like over 20k?

Yes, Sorry

 

[RR 314]

I skipped over your budget in the initial post. . I have an all weather AHR DGR in .416 Ruger (not as hip as the Jeff) effectively as new for under half of your budget with a lot of ammo/dies. I give--it is what I do.

 

[deewayne2003]

I would add Tipton Burns to your list to check with. Wayne at AHR recommended him.

He’ll be doing mine when the gunsmith in. Montana returns my parts he’s had for 3 years.

 

[MacJenkins]

Interested who does the build. I’ve wanted a 404 for 15 plus years. Doubt I would ever take it Africa unless I build a takedown. But I’ve picked up enough components over the years to be able to feed one.

 

[hseII]

I skipped over your budget in the initial post. . I have an all weather AHR DGR in .416 Ruger (not as hip as the Jeff) effectively as new for under half of your budget with a lot of ammo/dies. I give--it is what I do.

Do you have a picture of this jewel?

 

[illini]

I would either buy a model 70/ montanna 99. 300 rum. Then have a good smith rebarrel and work the action with a McMillan stock. Or for a little more money, Iwould look at Hill country. I held the hill country dangerous game rifle at SCI and was very impressed. I would not hesitate to buy one of their rifles if it was in my budget and met my timeline. The gunsmith rout is always an unknown journey on actual timeline verses estimated timeline. Im on that journey now with a 404 Jeffery build.

 

[RR 314]

Do you have a picture of this jewel?

I do. However, I received a text from a friend on here who said he has a friend who will take it if under his weight requirement. However, it has recoil reducer(s) and may be too heavy for his preference. If he doesn't take it after I weigh it I will post on another thread.

 

[RR 314]

Do you have a picture of this jewel?

Well, I did find one picture. Obviously the one on the right. Wayne made a great fiberglass stock. To the OP, if you can find one of his rifles in .404 with a synthetic stock that would be ideal. He sold quite a few (rifles in general) with both stocks—best of both worlds!

 

[RR 314]

Killing time at my daughter’s volleyball practice. Oooof. This would be a GREAT start. . . Bolt face is good to go and may even feed flawlessly as is. Likely not enough meat on the barrel profile to rebore from .338 to .423, but would be great if so! If I was buying rifles now it would be gone (even with 13.5 LOP).

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/custom-rifles/gene-simillion-----custom-winchester-model-70------338-remington-ultra-mag-.cfm?gun_id=101992275

 

[hseII]

Well, I did find one picture. Obviously the one on the right. Wayne made a great fiberglass stock. To the OP, if you can find one of his rifles in .404 with a synthetic stock that would be ideal. He sold quite a few (rifles in general) with both stocks—best of both worlds!

Other than the bolt handle being on the wrong side that looks to be just about Perfection.

 

[Riflecrank]

Custom all-weather 404 Jeffery ?
I did mine about 20 years ago.
I used a Winchester M70 Classic Stainless .300 RUM.
That choice is practical because of the windowed magazine box and automatic good feeding with 404 Jeffery.
Not due to bolt face, as the RUM has a smaller rim diameter and a fatter head diameter above the rim.
If there is a +0.010" of slop in the RUM bolt face, it will be perfect for the 404 Jeffery rim. Might be good, might need to be opened up a tiny hair.
Anyway, the feeding will be excellent if the bolt face fits properly.
No RUM rebate, and overall better shape for feeding the 404 Jeffery.

No $6,000.00 walnut blank before the work starts needed for an "all-weather" rifle, PLEASE !!!

My donor rifle came from Wichitas, KS's Gander Mountain, used, for $600.00 in 2006.
I found a slightly used Brown Precision stock with "factory" paint at a gunshow in Montana just passing through the state. It was for a .308 WCF, short action Winchester Model 70, for $200.00.
I rebuilt it into a Long Action M70 Classic with 3 cross bolts of all thread around the primary recoil lug area, embedded in J-B Weld.
J-B Weld was also smeared over the holes where I drilled and then I got creative, making a map of Africa on the right side of buttstock (I swear Kilimanjaro is there in relief altitude), and some extra smears for a sort of urban camo breakup pattern, heh-heh-heh.
Sling stud on fore-end tip, embedded in J-B Weld, of course.
A McGowen #4 Sporter stainless barrel of 24" length chambered with a Dave Manson reamer purchased for the job, and local GUNSMITH charges:
About $1,700.00 by hook and by crook and my own "stockist" work. Adjust for 20 years of inflation.
8 lbs 8 oz of perfection (minus scope, rings and ammo):

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Custom all-weather 404 Jeffery ?
I did mine about 20 years ago.
I used a Winchester M70 Classic Stainless .300 RUM.
That choice is practical because of the windowed magazine box and automatic good feeding with 404 Jeffery.
Not due to bolt face, as the RUM has a smaller rim diameter and a fatter head diameter above the rim.
If there is a +0.010" of slop in the RUM bolt face, it will be perfect for the 404 Jeffery rim. Might be good, might need to be opened up a tiny hair.
Anyway, the feeding will be excellent if the bolt face fits properly.
No RUM rebate, and overall better shape for feeding the 404 Jeffery.

No $6,000.00 walnut blank before the work starts needed for an "all-weather" rifle, PLEASE !!!

My donor rifle came from Wichitas, KS's Gander Mountain, used, for $600.00 in 2006.
I found a slightly used Brown Precision stock with "factory" paint at a gunshow in Montana just passing through the state. It was for a .308 WCF, short action Winchester Model 70, for $200.00.
I rebuilt it into a Long Action M70 Classic with 3 cross bolts of all thread around the primary recoil lug area, embedded in J-B Weld.
J-B Weld was also smeared over the holes where I drilled and then I got creative, making a map of Africa on the right side of buttstock (I swear Kilimanjaro is there in relief altitude), and some extra smears for a sort of urban camo breakup pattern, heh-heh-heh.
Sling stud on fore-end tip, embedded in J-B Weld, of course.
A McGowen #4 Sporter stainless barrel of 24" length chambered with a Dave Manson reamer purchased for the job, and local GUNSMITH charges:
About $1,700.00 by hook and by crook and my own "stockist" work. Adjust for 20 years of inflation.
8 lbs 8 oz of perfection (minus scope, rings and ammo):

View attachment 770124View attachment 770125

That's more what I had in mind re what an "all weather 404J" would be. It was hard for me to imagine spending ~$10K to build something that doubles as a bolt paddle and would only be shooting a hundred yards. Again, is it really necessary to add crossbolts to a synthetic stock? Will synthetic stocks break? Or just too much flex affecting accuracy? Interesting approach how you added them. Internal crossbolts are made of threaded rod fit into channels carved inside the stock and bedded with JB Weld. Because cosmetics were not an issue, you simply drilled holes through the stock and capped them. Simple and brilliant!

What do you mean by "windowed magazine box"? I don't see a window on the side of the stock. Ah ... mag box separate from floorplate? The "window" = bottomless box? Did you have to modify 300 RUM box for 404? Did you need to open the bolt face or did it accept 404?

 

[roklok]

A "windowed" magazine box has cutouts on the sides to allow a bit more space for the shoulder of large diameter cases to stack. Commonly seen in the RUM cartridges.

 

[Riflecrank]

Thanks for the appreciation of Bubba Gunwerkes.
The example 404 Jeffery African Sheep Rifle's M70 RUM box,
like roklok said, these windows are rectangular cutouts at right and left sides of top of box:

Magazine battering by bullets in recoil do not deform the front of the magazine due to tight glass bedding at front of magazine well, a final separate stage of the bedding:

The pillars at front and back are threaded brass lamp fittings.
One cross bolt in web between trigger and magazine wells,
two cross bolts in the action recoil lug area.
Remember that Bubba had to extend the magazine well forward from .308 WCF size to .375 H&H size/length. That is why extra cross bolts were used in the Brown Precision stock "rebuild."

This is another rifle that can be disassembled and if the parts are thrown on a sheep skin it will start mating and screwing itself back together.
Fun.

 

[Riflecrank]

... Did you have to modify 300 RUM box for 404? Did you need to open the bolt face or did it accept 404?

I forgot to answer that, corrected here.

1.) No modifications to the RUM M70 magazine box to be perfect with 3+1 for the 404 Jeffery. Roomier and slicker feeding for 404 Jeffery if any difference.

2.) GUNSMITH Rusty McGee did enlarge the bolt face to perfect for the 404 Jeffery. He has also made a RUM M70 bolt face fit the .338 Lapua Magnum for me.
This 404 Jeffery bolt face is now a looser fit for the smaller RUM rim, both of us being aware of the smaller rim and larger case head diameter of the RUM.
Depends on the slop in the factory fit of the RUM, easily enlarged if needed for the 404 Jeffery rim.

All things considered, the RUM M70 is the easiest way to build a 404 Jeffery.