Moral dilemma - to rebarrel an old custom, or sell intact?

[RLL]

Potential re-bore to 416 or 458 if there’s enough meat in the barrel, could be the most cost effective. Chamber ream as desired and chop the barrel to length, add irons…

That is one good looking stock man

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Appreciate all the input from you folks. I'm off to South Africa tomorrow with my Kimber 375 in hand, so this project will be on the back burner for a bit.

Have fun!

All fair points sir. It is worth noting that the rifle has already been altered to feed the Ackley variant of the 375, which is much closer to 404 dimensions than the standard H&H case. I will have to check the dimensions on the magazine box, but I had considered the feeding issues as well. The case width at the shoulder on the 375 AI is around .500", which is .03" narrower than the 404 but well forward at 2.475" from the case head on the former vs 2" on the latter. I think they're dimensionally similar enough that the alterations should be minimal, but I need to have a chat with my smith. I defer to him in these things. This rifle already has Blackburn bottom metal to accommodate the larger Ackley cartridge, which it feeds handily.

At any rate, I'm leaning towards doing the conversion, even if it's more of a headache than I'm anticipating... which is usually the case.

I had to guess the 375AI was similar to 375 H&H because I couldn't find specs for former online. So the Improved version is shorter? Presumably to make it work in standard Mauser action without cutting into locking ring. Interesting that Ackley's improvement reduced case capacity. Usually improvements are the opposite. I just presumed your Model 70 was magnum variety. My bottom metal for build on 98 Mauser was Swift-Blackburn and 416 Rem was as close to 404 dimensions as they had at the time (2023). Sunny Hill could have made me 404 bottom metal but $700 was over my budget. If you decide to order new bottom metal, let your smith know Blackburn's 416 Rem works slick in my 98 Mauser without any modification to magazine box. Hopefully same holds true for Model 70. Imagine it would.

Sounds like you will have plenty of metal for smith to work with in the rails. That's always a concern. The biggest concern.

PS: I think I still have Blackburn's blueprint for 416 Rem bottom metal if your smith needs it.

 

[analog_peninsula]

Well, to give you guys the short version, we haven't had good luck with fire forming brass in it, so as it is now, the brass is basically useless after the first firing. I'm not really interested in something that eats expensive brass, since I'm not filthy rich and I like to shoot my rifles - especially the bigger calibers! Besides, I have had enough of dealing with/loading for belted magnums in general.

I also don't really need another .375, and I don't care for the configuration on this one, what with its 25" heavy barrel. A .404 is different enough that it broadens my horizons a bit, and dimensionally close enough to the .375 Improved that it shouldn't require a ton of work to make the gun reliable. It would definitely be the least expensive way for me to get into a nice custom .404.

Try using 375 Weatherby brass instead of basic H&H. Even if you have to run the cases through a sizing die first (use imperial sizing wax), there should be much less brass movement. I’ve done something similar for my .300 ICL, using 300 Weatherby brass instead of H&H brass, with excellent results.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

You can also size up the 375 brass to 416, then size down to 375 little by little until the bolt shuts. This will create a false shoulder to properly fire form.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Brass is alnost always a problem with wildcat cartridges, especially if one wants to take the rifle to Africa. Case headstamps are supposed to match the rifle (though I've yet to have my ammo checked that closely). Reforming some other breed of brass to work in a wildcat rifle MIGHT cause problems. I would throw in the towel with this one. Damn shame it wasn't built as 404 in the first place. Great cartridge and though brass is not abundant, it's not unobtanium. Lots of other more effective ways to be different. Buy a funny hat.

 

[PerH]

Keep as is , and if sold get a .404 built then .

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Hello friends,

Some of you may remember that I acquired (on behalf of my dad) a beautiful Dale Goens custom pre-64 in .375 Improved sometime last year. (See photos below). Well, he's tired of messing with the one-off caliber, fire forming brass, etc. etc., and even though the rifle is quite a shooter, he has lost interest and is selling it. I personally have no use for the hassle of loading for a .375 Improved, given that I have a Kimber .375 H&H that I like very much. If it were chambered in the standard .375, it would not be for sale.

So, the question I pose to you is this: is it wrong to rebarrel such a fine vintage rifle in .404 Jeffery? I am thinking of having a GOOD riflesmith do just that, bed the stock, and generally make it into a fine express-style buffalo rifle to take on future buffalo adventures. It's worth noting that the current barrel is quite stout for a .375, so I don't anticipate a need to alter the stock for a larger diameter barrel. Another note is that it has clearly been on some adventures in its time, with some stock and bluing wear commensurate with being cared for and hunted, so it's not a museum piece.

The other option is to simply sell it on this forum and find another rifle to cannibalize.

What say the minds on here?

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As you already have a .375 H&H it seems to me that keeping the rifle and memories and just rebarrel it to 404J as you thought. That's the way I would go.

 

[ftrovato]

Thats a beauty!

I'd re-barrel it and go make more memories.

You can always sell it later with both barrels.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Hello friends,

Some of you may remember that I acquired (on behalf of my dad) a beautiful Dale Goens custom pre-64 in .375 Improved sometime last year. (See photos below). Well, he's tired of messing with the one-off caliber, fire forming brass, etc. etc., and even though the rifle is quite a shooter, he has lost interest and is selling it. I personally have no use for the hassle of loading for a .375 Improved, given that I have a Kimber .375 H&H that I like very much. If it were chambered in the standard .375, it would not be for sale.

So, the question I pose to you is this: is it wrong to rebarrel such a fine vintage rifle in .404 Jeffery? I am thinking of having a GOOD riflesmith do just that, bed the stock, and generally make it into a fine express-style buffalo rifle to take on future buffalo adventures. It's worth noting that the current barrel is quite stout for a .375, so I don't anticipate a need to alter the stock for a larger diameter barrel. Another note is that it has clearly been on some adventures in its time, with some stock and bluing wear commensurate with being cared for and hunted, so it's not a museum piece.

The other option is to simply sell it on this forum and find another rifle to cannibalize.

What say the minds on here?

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@Captain Jack
The easiest solution is to run a 375 Weatherby reamer into it and make it a 375 Weatherby.
Simple solution.
Even easier is being the living son I know you are you could just buy 100 loaded 375s and shoot them off for practice for him. That way it's a win win. You get to have fun ( and a sore shoulder) and he gets cases he can just reload. 100 cases should last him a while.
Bob

 

[Captain Jack]

Honestly, if it wasn't for the stock I'd probably just sell it and move on with my life. I'll definitely consider other calibers for a rebarrel or even rebore. I am, however, trying to stay away from belted mags - just my personal preference. I've considered the .375 Wby rechamber route but not a fan of the double radius belted case, and still want something different enough to warrant a rechamber. I'll ponder the question over a few G&Ts in safari camp.

Sorry for delayed response on my end - finalizing packing and whatnot for the trip. Thanks again for the responses!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

You can also size up the 375 brass to 416, then size down to 375 little by little until the bolt shuts. This will create a false shoulder to properly fire form.

@Wyatt Smith
You are learning much young grasshopper.
Bob

 

[Surgeon1]

If you are going to sell it, tell me what you want for it. I can always make room for a Dale Goings rifle!