Have located a shot out 7x66 vom Hofe in very good condition (excellent action and stock). Would it be advisable to rebarrel this back to the 404 Jeffrey?? other alternatives??

Did I ask something stupid??

quote:

Originally posted by JonP:
Have located a shot out 7x66 vom Hofe in very good condition (excellent action and stock). Would it be advisable to rebarrel this back to the 404 Jeffrey?? other alternatives??

Stupid not, just not much info to make a decision on, presented here have you.
Was not there an original 7x66 Vom Hofe, with 404 Jeffery head and rim, or was it rebated too,
like the subsequent version with a .544" head but a .507" rim?
C.O.L. on that latter one was 3.250", case length 2.580", and it is called the 7x66mm Vom Hofe Super Express,
revived by a Mr. Walter Gehmann in Germany, per COTW.




It is not clear if your rifle was ever a 404 Jeffery, to easily revert to that chambering by rebarreling?
More info is required about the rifle's current configuration.
Stoeger was importing them into USA in 1962.
Apparently some were built on the Swedish Husqvarna-Mauser action.

What is the rim diameter corresponding to your bolt face and what is the inside length of the magazine box
on your 7x66 Vom Hofe?

I "think" its do-able, but you need to take it to a gunsmith for inspection..If, in fact, it has a half oct./half round full rib barrel then I would definatly keep it as is depending on the bore, but if the bore is bad I would go for a re-bore and save that wonderful barrel, otherwise I see no problem with a new round 404 barrel such as a Lothar Walthar or a Douglas.

I would be more concerned about the feeding than anything else as that can get tricky and expensive, it would have to be opened up some in front and perhaps in back and some welding of the magizine box is my guess. To what extent I don't know as I don't have the specs of both handy and don't have the gun in hand. Also is your rifle a std. 98 Mauser or a big magnum Mauser action? The bolt face will have to be opened and the bolt stop lengthened for sure....Lots of issues to take into consideration and you need to pay a visit to a really good gunsmith that more or less specializes in big bores, and not your neighborhood Mr. Fixit...

Also on a std. 98 Mauser I would prefer to reweld the bolt face etc. and go with a smaller caliber or a different case perhaps..A 404 in a std. 98 is a blivit (crowded). I have done it and so have others, but a 404 on a big Mauser action is much much better. It would make a nice 9.3x64, or 375 Ruger or even an H&H. with about the same amount of work, and you could just substitute a box as opposed to building a new one I think..