I've decided that a .404 needs to find a home in my safe, and I need y'all's help in designing it.

Being left handed, the problem is finding an action on which to build this rifle. I have a line on a Charles Daly/Zastava Mauser standard length LH action. Here's the question:

If you have actually worked with the Daly action, is the standard action and magazine box
(mag box 3.375) long enough to accomodate the .404 Jeffery? If not, what accomodations would have to be made to make it work? I realize there will still be the feeding problem to address, but I'm planning on asking Dennis Olsen to help in that regard.

If it's not big enough for a Jeffery, how about building a .404 Dakota on that same action? Any alterations required?

Another alternative would be to pick up an MRC action, but I've heard that it, too, requires modifications to work in a Jeff.

Final option is just to build a .416AR on the Daly action and be done with it. I just really like the idea of having a .404, preferable a Jeffery.

Your thoughts?

I am not a lefty but my comments are with this requirement in mind.

I don't think a Daly is a good choice for a mauser 404, ton of expensive work, and you will still end up with a CD. A 416 Rem mag is a different story, reasonably painless and could be done on a budget.

Personally my suggestion is find a LH Model 70 in a RUM cartridge, least path of resistance on a 404 build. DO some searches on RIP's posts he has a ton of details on one he did.

If you just have to do a Mauser action, spend the bucks and buy something good to start with. I am not going to comment on what Mauser action I think is the best action for that purpose, I am doing a 1938 Banner FN in mine, definately not going to be cheap. I am figuring at a min at this point, rail work, open up the action all most all to the rear, change out bottom metal, plus polishing and detail work. I have another rifle it would have been a lot easier to convert, the box and bolt length were long enough to start, unfortunatly its not a object of me parting out.

Anyway check out the Model 70 route, infinatly easire route, if you just have to use a Charles Daly action, just do a 416 Rem Mag...its practical.

quote:

Personally my suggestion is find a LH Model 70 in a RUM cartridge, least path of resistance on a 404 build. DO some searches on RIP's posts he has a ton of details on one he did.

Good advice,,,,,one can also use a LH 7MM STW as well....it just takes a bit more work.

Are there ANY M-70 in RUM chamberings out there?

I've not seen one advertised since that batch in Texas a year or so ago!

The distributors claim that the M-7- was never chambered in a RUM chambering! Was that a special deal for some distributor?

Les

LH, my .404j was built on a M70 in 300RUM, so they did make them once.

I saw one at Gary's gun shop in Sioux Falls South Dakota.

I just picked up a new M70 stainless in 300 RUM. They probably had it for a while as it was on sale.

Fred, this is the first time I've ever even heard of a M70 LH in a RUM ... didn't think they even made them. Anyone know where one is available??

Please keep in mind I'm talking about a Left Hand action. The availablilty of Left Hand actions severly limits the choice of foundation for this project.

PostDriver,

Fred's 404 is on a right hand M70.

Tim

OK, back to square one ....

The Daly Mauser (basically the same as an Interarms Mark X) is available in a Left Handed .30-06 length. Does anyone know specifically whether this particular action can be modified to accepted the .404 Jeff? If not, will it accomodate the .404 Dakota?

for what it is worth any model 70 in 375 length (H&H, STW, or RUM) should work with little mods (box, follower, and a little rail work) Now I dont know if Daly imported and of the H&H rifles in southpaw, but if you could find one it would probably work too.

dup post deleted

[QUOTE]Originally posted by schromf:

I don't think a Daly is a good choice for a mauser 404, ton of expensive work, and you will still end up with a CD.

With that said, I would still look for a lefty H&H length action less headachs in the end and $ ahead.

Find a LH 375 H&H Winchester 70, I know that these were made LH.

Another place to look is the Montana Rifleman action he is supposed to be making a long LH action, although I would get it real straight when you would see one of these before I invested a dime. The web site says July 2006 they are anticipated, I would wonder if that is a real date. I wave the yellow caution flag on this route, without a committed delivery schedule, I would keep looking.

If you can stand the thought of a 404 Taylor there's a lot of classic M-70 LH magnum actions long enough to throw that one......well maybe not a lot but there's a few more than the .375 length.

Also winchester still shows left hand rifles from the custom shop in the RUM cartrifges.....spendy however.

I realize this post is about the CD action, but I see the Winchester actions mentioned too.

I built a 404 Jeffery on a Win. 70 Classic that was originally a 7mm Rem Magnum.
The only work it needed was to have the bolt face opened up.
Ward Dobler slicked it up (quite a bit), and I added Blackburn bottom metal, but those were asthetic mods only.

I think it could be done pretty easily on the CD action too.
Ask Timan on the board here. He's done one I believe.

If you have the CD action surface ground (to remove the lettering), you'll have a nice looking Mauser action.

Garrett