Gunsmith recommendations & dream gun project

[BonUm16]

If your willing to pay the big bucks, then I'm sure there is a competent gunsmith who will do it.




Or, like Bonhm16 said, you can just get a Blaser R8, and be done with it.

But, then, you will have a push-feed rifle, and will be assuming ambient temperature as soon as you shoot at a DG animal.

To be clear, I wasn’t advocating for the Blaser… Just saving the Blaser aficionados some time.

I hope the OP comes back to this thread in a year or two to post pics of the exact rifle he was seeking advice on. You know, something beautiful and classy.

 

[AZDAVE]

Would also recommend parkwest. looked at this concept as done by several companies with dakota/parkwest being the bottom end and Wesley Richards being the top end as research fro a friend that was looking for the same kinda CRF rifle as you. he found a gunsmith in Texas that built these kinda rifles but had a 4 year back log. He is now on the three year wait with one more year before his is started. And the cost is well above the parkwest option, but below the WR offerings.

 

[steve white]

Hey LVD293
I have been trying to achieve a similar goal here in Australia and currently have a Sauer 404. I originally bought the rifle in 7mm Remington Magnum. I then purchased a 243 kit and then a 404 Jeffrey kit. I have since sold the 243 kit as it was not getting used and recently bought a 300WM kit with fluted barrel and Sauer muzzle brake. I decided on a 300WM barrel even though I had the 7mm Mag as I suggest that ammunition is more widely available if I was to lose this en route. I am heading to South Africa in May and will take the 300WM barrel and maybe the 404J.
In November 2024 I travelled to Mozambique with only the 404J and hunted Cape Buffalo and opportunistically a Sable and Nyala. I also used the 404J on a Water Buffalo and pig in the NT. My rifle has a synthetic stock with adjustable comb as that is where my budget took me.

400gn Woodleigh SP are the projectile of choice for the 404J and I am currently finalising handloads with 200gn Barnes for the 300WM.
Both scopes are Swarovski with a Z6 1 - 6 and a Z5 3.5 - 18 BT.

Wow, maybe I should check out the Sauer 404

 

[ftrovato]

Gunsinternational has a few listed at this time from Dakota & a few other 'higher' end companies.

 

[LimbNoMo]

Parkwest told me Sunday that in a takedown, their .404j is a one caliber gun.

 

[rookhawk]

Parkwest told me Sunday that in a takedown, their .404j is a one caliber gun.

I think if you pushed them a bit harder, you'd find their answer is "well, its sorta a one caliber gun".

You'd need a caliber with a parent case of 404 Jeff that is so substantially similar that it would feed and extract well. The answer would be the larger Dakota proprietary calibers such as 450, 416, 375 Dakota. Don't do that though.

The better option would be a two barrel parkwest that achieves the 404 Jeff capability. That would be 300HH + 400HH, or 400HH + 458 Lott. Those are all H&H based cartridges that would be possible. The only negative of 400HH is that its bore diameter has a limited bullet offering, but it is an option. (375HH/458Lott is the gold standard for DG two barrel combos)

 

[LimbNoMo]

I’m not a gunsmith, but why not a .300 RUM? .404j parent case, right?

 

[BJH65]

I think as fun as it is picking up all the different calibers and rifles I can track down, and filling up the vault. I am starting to wonder the feasibility of a dual cartridge takedown rifle. Im sure the idea isn't unique. Just wondering if anyone has seen gunsmiths convert CRF actions specifically into an interchangeable takedown package.

The hope is to have my Model 70 chopped. So it could be effectively swapped between 300 h&h and 375 h&h. Or if I get so lucky as to find a confident gunsmith. even something like a 404 Jeffery/300 WSM combo. Reaching out to a hand full of machinests I found online, but I dont anticipate a quick response. In the meantime thought it wouldn't hurt to fish for gunsmith recommendations on here, im in the USA by the by. Hard to find good smiths that take a random guy seriously, and have the time & skill for something a little unorthodox. Ideas for other actions, and caliber combinations would be great also. The idea is to have a handy globetrotter that I can use to handle anything from Pronghorn and Impala, to Cape Buffalo and Brown bears with confidence. A Proper custom heirloom quality piece(s), that I can hopefully make stories with.

Your budget will be the determining factor. Some of the gunsmith/gunmaker recommendations already suggested will set you back 20-30k. A couple of companies that have a much lower price point for a custom take down rifle than those mentioned are H-S Precision and Randy Selby of Randy’s Custom Rifles in Wyoming. In addition to custom made take down rifle, Randy Selby offers cheaper take down conversions on a customers supplied Ruger Hawkeye, African and Guide Gun rifles.

 

[arniet]

Different goals.
1. I like levers.
2. No tools takedown, as long as I got fingers, I'm good to go.
3. I'm right handed, right eye dominant, son is left, left.
4. Should be compatible with banging around in trucks, small planes, side by side, ATV and being dropped in a creek. Rain, mud and snow.
5. I'm kinda cheap.

So a "stainless steel" Browning Lever action takedown. I'm OK with carbon steel barrels, a little rust is character, but wax can keep it at bay. Chambered in 300 win mag, 338 win mag and 375 Taylor. The Taylor gives me a 300 grain Barnes at 2500, and I have proper headstamped brass. Mix and match with barrels and scopes, gives 2 moa or better. Scout scopes would help with that.
Other than rebores and a trigger job, I did it myself. Short wait time JES, is great on turnaround. I might try a 375 Ruger barrel. The rifle was just over 1k, the other two barrels were about $700 each.
So far it checks my boxes.

 

[steve white]

Parkwest told me Sunday that in a takedown, their .404j is a one caliber gun.

The Parkwast guns at the show were pretty, weren't they?

 

[LimbNoMo]

The Parkwast guns at the show were pretty, weren't they?

Steve, they have beautiful work. I went back all 3 days to talk to them. I want a few of those shooting shirts their guys were wearing!

 

[STD]

G'day @STD Where in Oz did you get the 404 Jeff kit? I didn't know that you could use a standard length cartridge in a magnum length action. Not interested in a .243, but 308 is always a good round.

I bought it privately from NSW. The Sauer 404 runs everything from 223 to 404 in the same action.

 

[STD]

Wow, maybe I should check out the Sauer 404

I don't like their SUM mount system but you can buy a pic rail and use QR rings.

 

[C.W. Richter]

From time to time you'll find a Dakota 76 Traveler (or Safari Traveler) for sale in excellent shape (typ. .375 and .300 HH but other cartridge combos were offered...300 338 WM, 400 HH, 30-06, 458 L etc.) I saw one not too long ago for sale in AK (typ. $10-12K USD) but it vanished...These were very nice pieces (many more customized than the newer Parkwest.)