I came across this rifle a prewar custom african express in 404 Jeffery, I like the stock pattern.

This has probably been covered before,but is this particular pattern favored for classic big bores? Next year I plan to have a couple of magnum mausers built,so just looking for some info on stock design.



404 Pre-war Mauser

This is a re stocked WR 425.
The original stock was cracked so I had this one made with the same shape and design other than the comb set to suit me better.

The forearm of the rifle first pictured is way to long, on order of four or five inched too long, imo.

Oz Hunter's rifle has the traditional short English forearm, which is very atractive, probably most attractive, but an American style forearm, a bit longer and without the taper is also very attractive, imo. Sorten the forearm on the first rifle those four or five inches and you'd have good lines.

JPK

Here is a photo of my 375H&H, with an American Classic style stock. I would prefer the forearm shorter , maybe two inches shorter, and a bit trimmer as well. But it ain't ugly!



Hope this helps. (BTW, sorry for the crappy photo, but it was taken for insurance purposes long ago and I've never gotten around to a nice staged photo of my rifles. Except for the insurance photos, all the other photos have dead stuff in them!)

JPK

... The top pic may be a scoosh too long .but not 5 " iom .. I hold my left hand far enough forward that I would be touching and actually holding the ebony tip on Oz's 425 .. Which wouldn,t bother me at all... . Especially If I was shooting Oz's 425 ! I find much of the time I,m not grasping much of the checkering ..... I don,t think I would be too put out with any of the 3 Execpt for the lop being about an inch or 2 too long ..

Gumboot,

How much longer do you figure the top rifle's forearm to be compared to the forearm of my rifle (the third one down.)

My estimate is three or four inches.

I think mine would be better be an inch or two shorter.

But without the rifles lying next to each other it is tough to be sure, also tough when the whole rifle isn't shown.

What is sure is that Ozhunter's rifle is sleek and sexy looking!

JPK