I just received a brand new MRC 1999 action:



This is described as a long action where the bolt is setup with a magnum breech face and the magazine box is a windowed 3.650 box to accommodate the extra body diameter
of Dakota and Ultra Mag cartridges.

It looks to be put together quite well, the bolt works smoothly and it feeds .458 Lott dummy cartridges flawlessly. The magazine hold four down with belted magnum cases but it's a pretty tight fit.

I've got a gap in my gun rack. I own three 9.3x62 rifles then nothing before the .458 Lott.
Not really interested in a .375 as the 9.3's hold that end up pretty nicely so I guess I'm thinking something in the .40 class.

What's a gun nut to do? .404? .416 Rem?

404Jeff. Oh yes.
Why bother with a 416 Rem.? It's a wannabe cartridge.
With todays premium bullets the 404 is all a man needs in a bolt action large medium bore rifle.

A 416 AR! It won't take much to make it feed.

Rick,

You did good! That fella will let you build anything you want!

As even Jeffe has noted, the .416 Ruger is going to be available whereas the .416 AR will always be a bit of an odd bird. Performance should be similar.

The .404 Jeff would be the class act on that action I do believe ... you could load it as the original and have a relatively mild mannered but effective beast. But then again, you could upload it to be much like the .416 Rem.

Cost of brass and bullets will be a bit stiff but they get that way at .416 and up.

Mike,
I'm leaning toward the .404, components are a bit pricey but not really crazy expensive. Who knows Hornady may produce an Interbond at a price a bit cheaper than the DG series.

I'm really just looking for someone to write "I built a .404 on that action and it worked out just fine"

Rick: There's no question that your action will handle a .404. I have one built on a standard length Mauser action; I'm headed to Alaska in a couple of days - when I return (May 23rd), give me a call (304-549-1450) & we can meet and you can see what mine is like. FRANK

Frank,

Thanks, we're headed to RSA on the 20th, I'll call you around the middle of June.

Good luck in Alaska.

Rick

Has to be oa 404. Mine is on a ex mil FN 98. The 404 is gaining in exceptance again so components are getting easier to come by.

Von Gruff.

You said you can get 4 down with a 458 lott. You can most likely get 4 down with a 416 Rem. It might be doubtful getting 4 404 cartridges in the magazine.
I like the 404 as well but if capacity is a determining factor, a 416 Rem. might be a option.

EZ

I believe that if I were in your shoes, Rick, I'd go with a .416 Rem. Mag. on that action.

Modern design, plenty of components available nearly everywhere, economically priced and guaranteed to do any job required of a DGR.

I don't know, man -- that there barrel looks a lot shorter than what the BATF wants to let you get away with.

416 ruger would be good, but you have the full length mag box..

404 would be pretty sweet
416 rem would be nifty, too
400 HH would be "odd"

with the 416 ruger or the 416 AR, you could sit the bullets out long, but why, as you don't need any MORE velocity than you'll get with them

Since hornady will be making 404 brass and 404 bullets, I am not so alergic to that caliber

+1 on the .404 jeff.....nostalgia if nothing else!!!!...

How about something esoteric (shorthand for unpopular) like 400 H&H? I like mine even if it ain't setting records with the ammo companies.

Another (enthusiastic) vote for a .404 Jeffrey.

Yes, that action was meant for a 404 Jeffery Rimless Nitro Express.
3 in the box and one in the chamber, +40x4, with a 24" barrel, just like the originals were set up. Should be a slick feeder.
Use a Number 5 sporter contour (about .700" at the muzzle) with a walnut stock for a laser-accurate, well balanced beauty.
No. 4 sporter about .675" muzzle diameter with a light synthetic stock
if you want an African Sheep Rifle, adequate for elephant or mountain buffalo.
Twist: Anything from 10" to 14".
I like 1:10".

Forrest B.

Oh, I guess you meant the action, a .404 Jeffery.

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
Yes, that action was meant for a 404 Jeffery Rimless Nitro Express.
3 in the box and one in the chamber, +40x4, with a 24" barrel, just like the originals were set up. Should be a slick feeder.
Use a Number 5 sporter contour (about .700" at the muzzle) with a walnut stock for a laser-accurate, well balanced beauty.
No. 4 sporter about .675" muzzle diameter with a light synthetic stock
if you want an African Sheep Rifle, adequate for elephant or mountain buffalo.
Twist: Anything from 10" to 14".
I like 1:10".

I'm thinking 24" #4 barrel from Douglas set up with a single blade rear sight, a banded front sight and a barrel band sling swivel.
Probably going for a McMillan Safari stock.

They claim they've put MRC actions into that stock with no problem.

MRLEXMA,
You're singing the same song as the little fellow on my left shoulder with the halo around his head. There are a whole chorus of gents on the right shoulder with horns and pitchforks chanting "404, 404, 404".


Tigertate,
Hadn't even thought of a .400H&H, actually I've never seen a round of that flavor ammo. Nice thing there is I believe it uses the same .412" bullets that my .405 already uses. But it's just too rare for me.

Nothing wrong with a .416 RemMag.

No.3 sporter is only good up to .375 caliber, IMHO.

If that is not an "Edge" stock from McMillan, i.e., if it is the standard weight, you will need a heavier barrel than a No. 3 sporter to balance it, especially since this is to be larger caliber than .375, eh?

Number 3 Sporter is .625" at 24" muzzle.
.375 caliber leaves .125" wall thickness in the grooves.
That is the advisable minimum barrel IMHO, though some get by with only slightly over .100" muzzle wall thickness (like CZ .458 Lotts and WinMags and Mauser Banner 450 Dakota's).

.423" + .125" + .125" = .673"

A No. 4 Sporter is .675" at 24" muzzle: McMillan Edge
A No. 5 Sporter is .700"-.725" (.750" = 5A or 6, depending on who is naming them) at 24" muzzle: McMillan Safari (scrape and sand out the barrel channel and glass bed entire barrel channel for even larger barrel use, it works fine).

A too thin barrel can be fussy for accuracy.

I would not put a barrel recoil lug on a 404 Jeffery or a .416 RemMag, the McMillan stock is strong enough not to need one. But I would bury some steel allthread in epoxy, fore and aft of the magazine box, hidden cross bolts.

RIP,
I'm going to have to take a look at the barrel samples at Douglas, I'd say a #4 will be about right.
The lady I talked with at mcMillan said that they could balance the stock once they received the barreled action.
I may have to juggle stock options a bit more.

Are you seriously considering putting a plastic stock on a .404 Jeff?

I'm sure there is a law against it.

If plastic is non negotiable for you then go for the .416 Rem. j/k

Another vote for the 404! Thats what I did with my MRC 99!

The Mcmillan stock mentioned above was initially designed for a Win mod 70. I have one on a stainless mod 70 / 375 Weatherby. Just plan on buying a Sunnyhill bottom metal unit. The Sunnyhill product is a nice piece.

adamhunter and eexridr,
Thanks for the info, sounds like you approve of my choice of components.

Harris,
This would be the perfect outfit:



A wood stock for show and a polygoshknowswhat stock for those times you entrust your rifle to the luggage gorilla. Unfortunately I can't afford the price tag. So hopefully my finished rifle will be gorilla resistant and get several chances to prove it.

Rick,

Remember my pre-64 M70 in .338 Win Mag? It has the stock you're talking about. Is a simply lovely combination (for not being wood). I think you'd be VERY happy with it.

Would be a heckova .404!!!

458-404 un"improved"
500 grains @ 2400

Mike,

Geeze, I like the way that rifle feels! Now I'm sure I'll like it.

boom,
I've already got a Lott, now I'm in the market for Less, your wildcat would be More.

Gentlemen,
That action went off to Douglas today for a 24" #5 barrel in .404 Jeffery.

Thanks for all the input.

Now the wait begins.

I was going to add this; for nostalga I would go with 404, from a practical standpoint the 416 rem sounds like a winner. But being practical has nothing to do with a custom rifle, or we would all shoot the 06, the 375 and the 458 wim mag. Cant wait for pics when it gets up and running.
Eterry

not going to get much nostalga from a montana action

quote:

Originally posted by Rick R:
adamhunter and eexridr,
Thanks for the info, sounds like you approve of my choice of components.

Harris,
This would be the perfect outfit:



A wood stock for show and a polygoshknowswhat stock for those times you entrust your rifle to the luggage gorilla. Unfortunately I can't afford the price tag. So hopefully my finished rifle will be gorilla resistant and get several chances to prove it.

Rick where did you get this picture from? I have been looking for a case like that for a while.

Idahoelk,
McMillan has that outfit under "Special Editions" on their rifle section.

True the Montana action isn't an original Mauser massaged by English artisans. I'll have to install the nostalgia by taking it afield and scarring it up for my grandkids.