I am going to do a .416 project gun to be a dangerous game rifle. What control feed actions does the Forum believe are the best? I would also like to know where to buy the action. If someone is recommending a Mauser action, please name the manufacturer and where to get it because there are so many models. Lastly, what recommendations does the Forum have regarding a gunsmith who either makes a custom action or reworks factory actions? This is a dangerous game rifle so I want to start with the best action possible.Thanks.

I'm in no way an expert, but the CZ-550 action is chambered in 416 rigby and holds three in the magazine. Another option is to use the model 70 action chambered for the 416 rem. mag. These actions are both modified mausers and retain the controlled round feeding. A gunsmith that was recommended to me was Jim Brockman at www.brockmansrifles.com . His favorite action to use is the m70 and he should be able to make you a nice dangerous game rifle. Hope this helps.
Sevens

You could have a talk to this guy in RSA for Vektor actions:



Brad Rolston: rolston585ae@iafrica.com



or



Craig Klintworth cklintworth@iafrica.com

http://craigklintworth.com/



For European made Mag. Mauser actions:



Reimer Johannsen in Germany: info@johannsen-jagd.de

http://www.johannsen-jagd.de/index.html



Or ritterbusch-seehausen@t-online.de

http://www.jagdgewehre.com/ger/gerframe.htm



Or Prechtl (who produces the actions Johannsen uses): golmatic@t-online.de



Here is the reply I got from Gottfried Prechtl:



" thank you for your email about our Actions.



we produce the actions also for Johannsen.



MAUSER MAGNUM:

the Mauser 98 action is the best bolt action, what ever was produced. I have studied this action more than 3 Years. all Patents from Paul Mauser help to make a action with the highest safety f�r the function an for the shooter.

No other action has this ingenius construction like MAUSER 98.



The action has one Problem: it is very expensive to produce it. And so, all copies have some of the MAUSER Patents less than the original!!

We produce the action with modern steels, and by the old drawings. Some modifications are made by our actions: the loading whole ( window) is 8mm longer than the original, so we can load 416Rigby and 460 Weatherby without problems. Therefore ist was neccessary to make the extractor 8mm longer, than the original Magnum extractor. The fireingpin an the whole for this pin is not 2mm like the original, ist is 1.7mm, so the highpressures form modern cartridges are no problem. the bolt diameter is in original 17.7mm and the receiver whole is 18.1mm, In our actions the wholes are 18,02mm and the bolts are 17.95mm. so the tolerances are less than original. (this is necessary for a good repeating way. )

The receiver is in the aera of the magazin- slot 1.5mm wider, than the original, so we have more stability.



You can see, that our action is not modified, that we can produce it cheeper. No, we produce it with more hours , but we have the most stability and safest of all Mauser reproductions. All parts are produced from full material. The rough parts have 14,5Kg, the finished action ist 1380gramms. ( a lot of chips...)



All actions are superfinished, inside and outside.



We can deliver in 10 days but we need a export license. this needs 2 weeks.



In the Fotos you can see our patented " GOLmatic 3-pos. safety, with locking lever"



I think this �s the "safeest safety " ba the most safe action!



If cou hae Questions please email me.



The price for the action is � 3298.- without german tax. For gunsmith we have a small discount.

the additional price for a direct trigger is � 137.-

the additionsl price for golmatic safety is � 182.-



Best regards



Gottfried Prechtl"







They are all rather expensive!



Erik D.



www.dunia.no

What kind of money are you looking to spend?

Another possibility is a Dakota (Sturgis, SD) Africa action that Roger Biesen of the father/son team of Al and Roger Biesen in Spokane, WA would do the additional gunsmithing to bring up to snuff for use in a dangerous game rifle. The current Brownell's Catalog (#56) lists the Dakota Africa Action, suitable for the .416 Rigby, at $2,500. I used the Dakota 76 in left hand to have a .375 H&H Magnum built and then asked Roger Biesen to do the necessary on the action. I infinitely prefer doubles or falling blocks, but this bolt works well.
Regards, Tim

What did they have to "fix / adjust" on your Dakota 76 action?



Erik D.



www.dunia.no

Without being flippant, just about any price.

The CZ550, it is a very good action, to be had at a good price, and has the size that you need if you want a custom gun. There are some things about the M70 that I personally don't like, and you can't beat a Mauser. I dont' know what 416 you are considering, if you are thinking bigger than the Rigby then you can buy a CZ550 in 416 Rigby and have the barrel rechambered. If you are thinking smaller but still magnum length buy the big 550 and have sell the barrel off of it. The gentleman that works on my guns thinks it is a great platform for a 505 gibbs, so now I need to find a reason that I should have one. :-)

Red

Certainly some great names have been proferred. I'd like to add another one, D'Arcy Echols' "Legend" rifles based on a Model 70 Action. I'm sure other folks here with a lot of expertise here will chime in. At least you are on the right track. jorge

This Sounds like a project that I've been back burnering for a while. So here goes. Legacy sports has mauser actions for sale from a standard length that will accept a .416 Remington for about $550. They offer and in the white model for less and a Safri grade model for about $3000 and yes that is just the action. these would have to be obtained through FFL I would then add an ER Shaw barrel in stainless with Fluting for another $200 If you send them the action they will fit and test the barreled action for $7. I would also order a Boyds Stock JRS classic. At this point and for your needs I'd contact NECG and order a set of express sights and a barrel band for the sling swivel. once all the parts are assembled you could fit the barreled action into the pre-inletted stock and have a gunsmith add the barrleband and sights to the barrel. Sounds like a fun project...Good Hunting.



legacysports.com







Catalog

Number Model Finish Price



GLO-00001 Field Action Blued $445.00

GLO-00010 Custom Action Polished Steel $580.00

GLO-00020 Ultramag Action Polished Steel $3,056.00

I go w/ the Ruger RSM or give the folks @ Dakota a call & get one of their full blown african rifles. Either will give you what you are looking for & faster than most of the good smiths can turn one out for you. I like the CZ, but for me it needs quite a bit of work (safety, stock, trigger sights, etc). I say that after spending $2000 for my smith to build me a .404 on a M70. It's nice though, 1/4 rib banded front, etc. but their aren't many factor options if you want a .404.

For about $1500. give or take, depending on what you want on it, you can get a brockmon CZ big bore rifle complete with a laminated stock in a nice English design ala short forearm etc...These are excellent jobs...I am building a 404 and Jim is doing the metal and I will do the stock from a CNC turned blank of Turkish walnut...

The best action?

Granite Mountain Arms.

I second the notion of D'Arcy Echols building the gun on a Model 70 action. He built a .416 Rem for me. He does a great job and he is an absolute perfectionist.

I have two rifles built on Olympic Arms BBK-01 actions and I love them. They are Mauser type actions with a double square bridge that is level with the centerline front and rear. They use 1.1"x12tpi barrel threads and have a magazine length of 3.85" (the same as the Dakota African). It comes with a timney trigger and the bolt is a pre 64 winnie type-crf, claw extractor, side swing 3pos. safety, etc.- and the magazine box should hold 4 or 5 .416 rounds (it holds 6 .375 H&H's). The two rifles I have built on these actions are a .470 Capstick with a PAC NOR barrel and a wildcat .375/.505 that pushes a 300gr Sierra Game King at 3450fps, so they will handle a good amount of pressure. The best part about these actions is the price. I paid $550 each thru Oly Arms. By way of comparison, Brownell's lists the Dakota African at $2500.

Check out the action at http://www.olyarms.com

I hope someone else chimes in on this as well, but I would whole heartedly recomend D'Arcy Echols as well. He builds rifles based on the classic model 70 action that are absolutely fantastic. They are wonderful. D'Arcy is indeed a perfectionist, a character trait that I wish more people had. He is personally commited to each rifle that he builds and they are essentially perfect when they leave his shop. Wonderful features of these rifles include such things as a custom scope mounting system that is darn near bomb proof, actuaully it probably is bomb proof, a propriatary box that will hold 4 416 Rem cartridges down without the box being any deeper than a standard 70 box ( I loaded one myself so I know it works), a custom McMillan stock designed by D'Arcy that has me contemplating removing my left eye to necessitate right handed shooting, and all necessary rifinements and additives to make the reciever sound, reliable, and functionally impeccable.

D'Arcy, as an individual is above reproach. You would really have to look hard to find a finer individual, and is a person I think very highly of. I don't own any of his rifles but have looked at a few, shot a couple, and when circumstances allow, one, two, three.....of his rifles will reside in my safe.

Right now there is a 416 Hoffman barreled action, with folding leaf sites, for sale on GUnbroker adn or auctionarms. It has a custom something octagon barrel. The seller has had it listed for weeks. bids seem to stop at 60-700. His reserve is less than a grand (I asked). Do not ask me why people fool around with reserves, when they can just start the bidding at their minimum price... but that is a style question. I did not like the barrel, but no one can fault a Sako L61 Magnum action for a good starter.

Jameister

I have a fine and rare Brevex magnum Mauser barreled action (currently 500/460 Wby) that can be rebarreled to 416 Rigby (bolt face, magazine box and feed rails also accommodate the Rigby). I'll sell it for $2600 (my cost) plus shipping. I also have the 500/460 die set and an amateurish stock. This rig was put together in California around 1960, fired very little. Email me at fla3006@yahoo.com if interested.

The best rifle money I've ever spent has been with D'Arcy Echols for his custom "Legend" rifle based on the Model 70 Classic action. I have specimens in .300 Win. Mag., .338 Win. Mag., .375 H&H, and .416 Remington that form the basis of my hunting battery, and I just don't hunt with anything else anymore. I have no reason to.



Yes, Dakota can produce a rifle faster, but it won't be as good a rifle. Not by a longshot, and it won't be a whole lot less expensive, either.......



AD

i should be getting mine in about 1 more month:



Waffenfabrik Hein N-Series Action





rgds,



steve

...some say the johannsen mauser actions are amongst the best money can buy...rigbys, california, uses these actions on its dg turnbolts, i believe...

ErikD,



It's been a while, but, as memory serves, Roger Biesen, who has a passel of Dakota left and right handed actions of various sizes, trued or squared at the appropriate place, and did some work on the rails and the ramp into the chambers for smoother feeding. His daughter checkered the bolt handle. The trigger was very good and left untouched. A Lilja barrel 23 inches long, and EAW mounts with a Leupold Vari-X III low magnification variable complete the package.



The 14-1/4" stock, taken from a Rigby .350 magnum pattern, required work by the original maker because a sliver came up at first use, and ultimately jammed the trigger, preventing it from firing. Last bit I had done was varnishing the inside of the walnut stock against humidity, and welding the single folding leaf backsight upright. (I had originally tried to use the EAW ghost ring rear sight insert as my iron sight, with the single folding leaf wide vee as back up. But, the ghost ring and I did not agree so I went to the wide vee and took an eland. I asked a South AFrican gunmaker friend to weld the leaf upright when I fumbled with it jumping out of the vehicle to try for a jackal on the game farm.)



For the upcoming August trip to Namibia, I'll be taking a 12 gauge Cogswell & Harrison Cosmos (the Coggie version of Holland's Paradox). Keith Kearcher has just finished regulating the barrels to shoot my 749 grain Fosbery slug to point of aim at, hopefully, 100 yards (they were very close horizontally but one barrel printed four inches above the other). The Coggie will serve for guinea fowl and sandgrouse as well. I'll also take along a Webley 1902 patent falling block in .375 flanged magnum for fun and back up.



Regards, Tim

Regarding the Winchester Model 70 Classic (in 416 Rem Mag), what are the "problem" areas with a stock rifle that should be addressed to make it more reliable / accurate / etc in the role of a DGR? Thanks - KMule

KMule,
Here's a short list of what I look for in Mausers and Winnies:
1-Lap the lugs and polish the raceways (for smooth bolt operation)
2-Check feed. If it feeds stiffly, you may need to open the front of the feed rails slightly (not the whole rail though! Nothing worse than a smartly opened bolt under duress and having the magazine empty from the top!)
3-Fit the extractor to the brass. All brass is slightly different from each manufacturer. For a DGR, choose one and stick with it. Fitting the extractor edge to the brass you use will facilitate positive grip.
4-chamfer the ejector slot on the bolt. I have seen bolts flex under a stressful cycling to the point that the ejector blade does not enter the slot on the back of the bolt lug. Tapering and chamfering the back of this slot can help guide the ejector blade in more reliably.
5-Crisp, heavier trigger. Most guys like a lighter trigger in the 2-4lb. range for hunting, but DG hunting involves more adrenaline. Under stress, you won't notice a six pound pull, but it's a bunch safer to those around you.
6-Bedding. Have the rifle properly bedded, and consider bedding in a cross bolt on larger calibers. There's something about doing everything in your power to keep the rifle in one piece while hunting dangerous game that just appeals to me!
7-Do whatever it takes to make sure the rifle is comfortable to shoot, and shoot it alot, offhand, before you go! Nothing worse than a client who is more afraid of his own gun that he is of the animal in front of him.

Ah, forgot to note that Roger Biesen also worked on the extractor to ensure that I can load directly from the rails rather than take the time to push a round into the magazine and load from the magazine. NOTE: I would only do this in an emergency situation, but do practice it with dummy rounds.

As for perfect, I have subscribed to Gun Tests, a monthly that has a focus more on pistols than long guns. They are continually dismayed at how much gunsmithing pricey firearms take to become truly reliable.
Regards

Please give me the address and phone number of D'arcy Echols.

D'Arcy Echols & Company
P.O. Box 421
Millville, UT 84326
(435) 755-6842
legend@bridgernet.com

AD

Mufasa, this all depends on what you want your finished rifle to have in the form of sights, method of scope mounting, and/or type of iron sights. I would agree with those who reccomend D'Arcey Echols, but only if you want scope only, or Irons only. if you want QD scope bases,and Iron sights, he will not build your rifle. He most likely builds the most reliable bolt rifle on the sceen today, and I would dearly love to own one of them, but all my bolt rifles have both QD scope mounting, and express Irons, and he will not build one for me,with those features.

I suppose you could have him build a iron sighted rifle, and ask for the iron sights to be tall enough to clear the QD bases you want, then have someone else mount the QD scope mounts. That way you would have what Echols does best,a very reliable action, and the type of scope mount you want as well!

Just a thought!

Mac, D'Arcy will build a rifle with scope and iron sights alright. I have one in .375 H&H. The trouble is, he only uses detachable rings from Tom Burgess for such a project, and Tom's rings can be very difficult to come by. Like everything else that goes into his rifles, there's no compromise!

AD

I know I might regret writing this but here goes nothing: I just received my .416 Rigby and it is really nice -feeds, extracts and -most imortantly- it�s shoots very well. It�s built on a Sako action (70�s production, original cal.375).

My advice is: Pick the action you like the most and if you can afford it but a magnum Mauser action for a couple of thousand dollars.

Or use the extra cash for hunting.

Any rifle can jam or have a misfeed. Pushfeed as well as CRF.