What would be your preferred Mauser action on which to build a custom 404 Jeffery? Is standard size big enough? Suggestions for barrelmaker? Thanks in advance.

Your main problem will be finding a magazine box that is the correct dimensions since no one (in the USA) makes one. Use the wrong magazine box and it will not feed properly. Maybe one of the ACGG members would do the metal work for you, but I would try to find someone who has built several successful .404's before, or else you will be the guinea pig. Alternatively get a M70 in 300 RUM and rebarrel. Then just touch up feeding.

ADD: A Dakota action/mag box set up for a 404 Dakota might be a decent starting point.

Go for a Brno ZG 47 action!

Husky

500GNS,
Recknagel has three types of magnum magazine boxes in 404, three and four rounds listed in there catalog, one with a heavy duty latch to prevent "Bombs away".
Also one six round mag in 9.3x64.
Adam.

But Rechnagel is very pricey! I´d trust Husky on this as he has a very nice .404 on the Brno action.

Mate,
A trip to Africa after DG is appox US$10K, I don't mind spending a few dollars more for top gear, not that a Brno isn't quality gear, it just as 500grns pointed out, a 404 must feed well and I have seen good custom 404's that did not feed as I thought they should.

I am using Montana Rifle Co.'s long actions for 2 404 Jeffery projects. The will have Lothar-Walther .423 Magnum sporter contour barrels. Tip Burns of Burns Gun Repair in Canyon Lake, Texas is doing the work for me.

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
500GNS,
Recknagel has three types of magnum magazine boxes in 404, three and four rounds listed in there catalog, one with a heavy duty latch to prevent "Bombs away".
Also one six round mag in 9.3x64.
Adam.

Good news and thanks for the update!!

Now I will order a Recknagel catalog.

Nobody can say that Husky´s gun doesn´t feed nicely. Boha had one built on a Husqvarna M98 and that one is also fine.

It´s your money, spend it as you may, but maybe someone out there would rather save a few bucks?

Do you have a link for the Husqy gun/parts?

Thanks!

Who imports Recknagel actions and parts into the US, NECG? Anyone else?

Cewe, how much would it cost to import Boha and Husky's gunsmith over here long enough to convert some regular mauser actions for, say six AR members????

While I am on a roll, does anyone have the correct dimensions for a 404 magazine box? A friend has some metal brakes and a tig welder in his airplane shop. He would rather have me play with those than the airplanes. also, when I am working with my hands I become very quiet. He really likes that.

lawndart

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
Alternatively get a M70 in 300 RUM and rebarrel. Then just touch up feeding.

ADD: A Dakota action/mag box set up for a 404 Dakota might be a decent starting point.

Whenever I agree with 500 grains I start to wonder.

In this case I agree and without any wonder at all.

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
... does anyone have the correct dimensions for a 404 magazine box?

Alf does. Maybe he will post them.

Lawndart: As far as I know Husky did his own gunsmithing, boha had it done by Sam Bjorkholm but fine tuned it himself (I think). Sam is priceless and I just became his manager!

Pimp?

Rechnagel has quality gear, I have some small things from them on my guns but the price! Sights and scope mounts are one thing but an action...

Buy a Montana action for the 300 RUM cut out the window and it will work fine...A Win. M-70 classic in 300 ultra or Rum will also work if you cut out the window..They are both on the .404 case...But I still think a 404 should be on a Mauser...

Dennis Olson can make a Blackburn or any drop box work for a .404 with a hacksaw, and a tig welder, but its costly...

I have two FN action barreled actions in .404 with drop boxes, Lothar Walther barrels, and all the bells and whistles, Dennis Olson did the metal work, I might sell one with a nice Turkish walnut blank if your interrested...It will be a long time before I need it and can build another in the meantime.

Hmmmmmmmm,
When my health takes a turn for the better I may have to set up a "Scandinavian Days" hunt here in Idaho. You guys had better bring your own beer though. I don't drink (I know how to be an idiot sober), but I am given to understand that Americn Beer is piss water, and weak piss water at that.
If you guys want, we can go out in the desert and shoot machine guns. Feel free to bring pictures of your socialist prime minister, and especially the minister in charge of removing anything fun from life.

lawndart

Have you guys noticed that everytime we think of something cool to do, Ray has already been there and done that?


I'm having Dennis Olson do my 404 in stages. Next spring I'll have him put on a barrel, open the bolt face a touch and fine tune the rails. Later on I'll have him re-do the bottom metal.

Send me a few pictures of your 404 Ray, and I'll post it for the rest of us kids to enjoy.

lawndart

BTW Ray,
What length are the FN actions?
Are the Lothar Walther barrels the ones with the stepped profiles that you mentioned earlier in the year?

lawndart

Recknagel Feintechnik
HohmannstraBe 22
D - 97421 Schweinfurt
Tel: 0 97 21 / 8 43 66

Many of the parts in the NECG catalog are manufactured by Recknagel but they don't import everything Recknagle makes.

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:
Recknagel Feintechnik
HohmannstraBe 22
D - 97421 Schweinfurt
Tel: 0 97 21 / 8 43 66

Gentlemen

http://www.recknagel.de/
Email: info@recknagel.com

Cheers
/JOHAN

Lawndart: We now have a problem.

Should you visit us first or should we come to you?

As for beer: "Coors -it´s the water" says everything!

Desert? Machine guns? What time does my plane leave...

Cewe, just in case you thought having tried a Coors or a Bud you know something about American beer, check this web site first:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/boba/072003/breweries.php

There is more than desert and machine guns to enjoy.

I´m born American, moved to Europe with my parents in the 70´s but studied at San Francisco State 79-80 AND I drank a lot of beer! Keg parties, beach parties, block parties -you name it. The best beers then (for me) where Miller and Michelobe with some Tuborg thrown in when I got homesick...

It ain´t all bad but in general ours is better!

And furthur to our understanding of 404 actions I think Anchor Steam is the best beer brewed in San Francisco.

Stay away from a standard length Mauser for the .404. I have a H&H built on a commercial Mauser action (F.N. I think) in the 1950's. Feeds fine, but is fiddly to reload and sometimes when ejecting a live round the tip of the bullet catches on the reciever ring.

Rather go for a slightly longer action that the round will fir in without having to under cut the action at the back, and notch the reciever ring to get the bullets into easily.

I agree on the size of the standard M98 action. For a .458 Lott it is crowded. A notch in the front receiver ring is not much of a solution. The receiver rings can be opened a bit to create a bigger ejection/loading port without compromising the rifle's integrity, but it is still crowded.

Of course there is still a lot of appeal to the sleek design of an M98 action. But for fast reloading and greater firepower, a Granite Mountain Arms magnum mauser action would be a good solution. In Germany, Gottfried Prechtl and Karl Heinz Ritterbusch offer similar-sized magnum mauser actions.

Ganyana,
Thats not the FN problem, its the gunsmith that did the work...He neglected to make the half moon cut in the top of the front ring and to cut the bolt side of the rear ring out to allow loaded round ejection...The FN is perfectly suited for the 404 case, Mauser himself proved that a long time ago...Just try a true Mauser Rifle in .404, it will never fail on you.......

Lawndart,
A lot can happen in a lifetime as long as mine! The idiom "been there, done that" is a natural process of age!

As to the barrel contour, unfortunatly the contour you mention was not immediately available at Brockmons and I got two std. barrel contours for my 404 and 10.75x68...I sent Woody at LW a H&H barrel for him to copy the contour for my barrels, and he liked it so well that he has made it a standard item..It is lovely with a small 4" quarter rib that butts into the chamber area ala Holland and Holland...

Ray, you really should let us see some pics. I too would be more than happy to post them here for you.

Red

The Recknagel website says that they now make their own actions - anybody know anything about them?

Wink/Cewe,

Speaking of beer, have you tried Leinenkugel? If you visit Chicago, I'd be glad to invite you for drinks. Cheers!

IMO one would be hard pressed in finding a better action than a Brno 602. It is a true magnum length and has a milled receiver for scope mounting thus eliminating theneed for bases.

As for a barrel, I have always had very good luck with Lothar Walther.

Mauser Rifle

Everyday is a great day, some days are just better than others!

Does the Brno 602 have the third lug, or something else for smoother feeding?

Ray,
I think I will use one of those H&H contoured barrels. Thanks for sending it into Woody.

LD

Personally I do not like the BRNO 602 much at all. Make mine a double square bridge Mauser instead.

I've taken a lowly M700 Remington in 300 Ultramag and installed a Sako type extractor and a LW barrel in 404 Jeffery. It feeds flawlessly and while not as nostalgic as a M98, it flat plain works. Of course it's not a true mauser claw extractor, but then again I've never had one fail to extract or eject. Works upside down and sideways too!-Rob

Just for fun, which gunsmiths can do a quality job of turning a Model 98 mauser action into a .404 Jeffreys? Which of the 98 actions is best suited for the job. With the right barrel and bullet I can get 2,200 fps at <45,000 psi. With a stong striker or rear bridge mounted Peep sight and an ivory front partride sight that puppy would be easy to carry, fast to the shoulder and plenty accurate out to two hundred yards, two hundred fifty in bright light from a decently supported position.
I need to put that high power shooting experience to good use.
LD

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
Does the Brno 602 have the third lug, or something else for smoother feeding?

Ray,
I think I will use one of those H&H contoured barrels. Thanks for sending it into Woody.

LD

May I sugest that you purchase a book called "BOLT ACTION RIFLES, by Frank de Haas and Dr. Wayne van Zwoll". Not only does this book have a chapter on the Brno Rifles, but almost every bolt action rifle made. This book will give you a fair account of the good and bad on all bolt rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
Does the Brno 602 have the third lug, or something else for smoother feeding?

LD

Bro'dart,
How art thou?

The BRNO ZKK 602 does not have the guide rib anti-bind touch of the M98, unfortunately.

It does have a bolt locking lug that is similar to but not as robust as the M98 safety lug, and similarly serves as a "sort of" third locking lug to the rear.

The 602 does have a forged receiver and forged one piece bolt, and it has the self locking extractor of the true Mauser/M98.

The 602 does have a lot to recommend it, especially if it is one of the older ones with that sweet fully adjustable pop-up peep in the rear bridge.

I just picked up a MAUSER MODELO ARGENTINO 1909, DEUTSCHE WAFFEN-UND MUNITIONS FABRIKEN BERLIN that was turned into a great little .338-06 with a shiny new bolt handle installed by a master craftsman, new and unfired it appears. It has a name stamped on the bottom of the barrel shank at 6 0'clock: "Harley" ... Mysterious to me.

If the .338-06 will shoot, it stays as is. If it won't shoot then it gets rebarreled ... and if I could find a box to fit the .404 Jeffery to this M98, that is what I would do.

.404 Jeffery Box dimensions? A search ought to turn up something like these inside-of-box measurements:

ALF's ORIGINAL .404 JEFFERY MAG DIMENSIONS:

width at rear: 1.016"
width at front: 0.937"
length: 3.626"

and less importantly

depth at front: 1.307"
depth at rear: 1.638"

Thanks, Alf.

.

Thanks Alf,

Discretion may be the better part of valor in this instance. Never argue with a German engineer, especially a dead one.

Rip,
Lets make matching 9.3 x 62's with our Argies.

LD

Lawndart,
Another 9.3x62mm would be perfect. This was the first idea that Chief Thunderstick was thunderstruck with too.

Now that Alf has put the last nail in the coffin on the standard Mauser .404 Jeffery, I will think of that no more forever.

BTW, Mr. Frank De Haas strongly advises against opening up the M98 standard action to any longer than the 3.34" magazine length. Good book.

If this Modelo 1909 won't shoot Weatherby factory ammo (.338-06 A-Square 210 Nosler at "2750 fps" advertized) to a decent pattern, then I will give it a second chance with my 250 grain handloads. If it won't shoot those properly tightly, then 9.3x62 would be the easiest and best rebarrel. Agreed.

Just do an M70 or a CZ550 Magnum up as a .404 Jeffery. Both work very well and the extended pinky finger crowd's disdain is irrelevant to a shooter or hunter.

If you are building one to sell to an investor, then by all means ... forget it! Let them find an Original and eat cake too!

Yeah,
I actually already have a Model 70 in 300 RUMMY going through the rebuild assembly line for 404 duty.
I was blinded by the mauser concept until Alf restored my vision.
I wonder what actions all those game department 404s were built on?

lawndart

PS Doing better RIP. The neuro boys fished out an impressively sized chunk of disc material that was wedged tightly in the L5/S1 neighborhood. I am now walking on my left leg instead of dragging it. The main benefit is my clinic staff have decided to shelve (at least temporarily) their plan to kill me for being such a grouch.