Good day!

Christmas is comming and I have a little extra money this year. My father died in World War II and incidently his name was Jeffery. He loved to hunt. Not sure why but having a big bore that I can hunt with that has the same name as my father seems the right choice for me. I'd like to buy the pieces over time and once I have all the parts have someone put it together for me.
I dont know much about gun smithing so I'm hopeing I can get some help from you folks.

Am I correct in assuming that I can take any M70 in 300 wm, 338 wm 375 and use that action for a 404J? How long a barrel would be recommended and what contour? I'd like a barrel band and quarter rib. I'd like a wooden stock, any ideas? I'd like 4 in the magazine if that's possible.

Open to any other ideas also. This project has no time frame really. Could take a year or 2 to get all the pieces. Doesn't really matter.

Thanks for any advice or ideas.

Converting a M70 to 404 is about as easy as it gets. Make certain you go with the .423 bore & not the European .418 bore.

I have a 416 Howell made on a M98 action that would be close to what you propose. (The Howell is a 404 case with a shortened neck, resized to 416, and I understand you can do the same thing with the 404 thereby avoiding having to do any lengthening to the magazine box).

You may be able to get a 423 barrel in something smaller than a ph contour or target contour barrel, but it will be a big barrel, with a pretty big hole. Problem is, it would be as big as a 458, which is what the outside diameter will probably be. It will be heavy, and that is good because the recoil on the 404 is a step up.
Mine is 21.5 inches due to a fortunate mistake. It is handy and has a good balance.

I'd get a laminated stock because they are durable and heavy. I'd get a barrel band for my sling swivel and iron sights. I think that multiple leaves are conceit. You'll zero at 50yds for your heavy loads and it won't change. I have a Remington takeoff on my 9.2, and it works just fine and looks good too. There is a problem filing the leaves and then changing loads!

I would suggest a dull, matte finish for the entire rifle except the floor plate, and I'd get a Winchester supergrade all steel floor plate for your rifle. I'd get one of the steel extractors too.

With 350's, it can reach out, so I'd get scope mounts and mount a fixed 2.5 in 20mm or a 4x in 38mm.

The biggest problem will be feeding because of the difference in the case sizes. You may be able to get three down, but then you may not.
Montanna Rifle makes a super barrel by the way.
Best of luck. Kudude

I have one of the new Hein rifles in 404 on long term loan and it is basically and dimentionally a very well built Pre-64 action. Be sure to get the bottom metal to fit a 3.6" case.

Couple of thoughts...

Go with a Model 70 300 RUM, kind of hard to find, but would have the the right mag box and follower.

If you use a any of the 300 Win/7mmRem/338Win mag actions you'll need the action opened a bit on top, if you use the 300 RUM/7STW/375H&H action it won't. Not a big deal but something to think about.

If you have PAC-NOR make you a .423 barrel, you can ask them to make it with a factory Winchester Safari Express contour. Makes the weight about right.

I build a show-stopper myself, to honor my Father. A little scroll engraving on the action, and engine turn the bolt. I also go round 3/4" on the barrel coming out of the action and shallow tulip it to octagon, right up 1/4" past the end of the forend with ebony tip at 90-degrees, and to tapered round for a total barrel length of 26". I put a barrel band swivel front on it.

I put a high magnification scope on the rifle for testing and get two loads. I use the heaviest bullet they make as screaming hot under 3" at 100 yards as I can stand to fire two rounds of off the bench. I put express 3-leaf sights on the back, on the milled integral quarter-rib, and a hooded ramp (soldered on) on the front.I file the zero standing using an upright bench a couple rounds at a time until it is dead nuts on at 50 yards. I go to the most accurate load I have found at the factory or slightly above velocity and I file in 100, 200, and 300 yards.
I put a cartridge trap in the butt, and match the engraving to the receiver and a touch on the front ramp. I got the fanciest chunk of walnut my gunsmith will put on this rifle, and I put two crossbolts in the stock. I put a mercury-type recoil reducer in the butt, so I can enjoy shooting it. And, last thing, I put talley QD rings on the bases and screw a Leupold 4.5x14 scope in those rings.
I put a kickeez recol pad on it and grip cap with my Father's initials engraved on it on, and I go shoot everything I hunt with it for as long as I can hunt. Then I give it to my oldest son over a bottle of top drawer single malt scotch and a good cigar, and I tell him about my Father, who was the finest man who ever walked Canada's forests and fields.

In my case it would be America, but that is all the difference being me would make in this story.

Does that pretty well cover it?

regards,

Rich

Here is mine, built on a M70RUM. I used the factory stock, shortened about 2", holds three down. Dakota 1/4Rib w/ one standing exp. leaf, NECG front sight & bbl. swivel. Cross bolts, Pac. Dec. pad. Leup. bases & rings w/ VXIII 1.5x5. It wears a PacNor 23"#5. On good days it will shoot under 1" w/ those lovely 380grNF. (sorry for posting the same pic, I need a new one).

Many thanks for all the excellent replys. Lots of things to think about!
Thanks again for everything. I very much appreciate the ideas and advice.

fredj338,

that is a marvelous rifle.

Rich

Thanks ISS, but it's really only a factory M70RUM w/ a bit of tweeking. I would love to put a new stock on her w/ a drop magazine for 4rds down. Some day.

fredj338, I also really like your rifle. Did you do the work yourself? I know of a home for that stock you are trying to get rid of.

No Wink, I have a local guy here that is just the best gunsmith I have ever worked w/. He aslo built my .280 belwo from the action up.

Heres mine Not an M70 but a 1909 M98......................prbably not what your after but you may get some ideas from it

Very nice PC, does it have 1/4rib, and what kind of wood is that?

Fred,

it does have a 1/4 rib with 3 flip ups and one standing. The timber is English Walnut supplied by a fellow by the name of Rodger Vardy.

I used a Montana rifle Co. Long action for my 404 Jeffery. Put a Lothar-Walther Magnum Sporter contour barrel on it and Black Walnut stock. Metal work by Tip Burns. Stock by John Valicek. Both of Canyon Lake, Texas. Engraving by Roger Kehr(aka ScrollCutter).

The rifle is very accurate, action smooth as silk!
BURNS GUN REPAIR






"Stamped on barrel lightly
was a name and not much more
A single word 'Jeffery'
'Jeffery 404'."
-Rege Podraza (Where Elephants Go To Die)

Thank you all for the wonderful pictures of your fine rifles. I phoned around and it looks like a m70 in rum isn't easy to get up here in the great white north. I decided i'll just buy a cz550 magnum in 375 H&H instead and use that action instead. 5 down in the mag sounds very nice!

The CZ .375 H&H box is perfect for the .404 Jeffery. I have one each of M70 and CZ 550 Magnum in .404 Jeffery. They are both as good as it gets for the .404 Jeffery.

5 down in the box and one up the spout in the CZ is indeed heart warming.

Rip has got it right!

Best bang for the buck is the CZ in 404 Jeffery. If I had it to do all over again, mine would be the CZ.

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
Rip has got it right!

Best bang for the buck is the CZ in 404 Jeffery. If I had it to do all over again, mine would be the CZ.

To be honest mine would be a cz to if I had it over again ......................I love my mauser m98 but a lot of $$ to do it right, if you go the mauser path it needs IMHO to be finished off properly.

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:


5 down in the box and one up the spout in the CZ is indeed heart warming.

This is an excellent reason to go with the CZ action, even though it is otherwise larger than necessary.