The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores My 404 now retiredGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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I got my 404 back from Dennis Olson today (after a year), plopped in a few rounds and proceeded to experience jam after jam after jam after jam. Didn't matter what bullet contour I used. Enough is enough. I now have close to five grand invested in this POS and I'm THROUGH! It has made its last trip to Africa. From now on, I will take one of my .375s or my .458 Lott. I might even start working with the CZ .416 Rigby my cousin gave me. (eventually, it is to be made into a .450 Rigby or Dakota) I am going to miss not being able to tell my PH that I'm hunting with a 404 and watching his surprise, though. I will also miss the .5-inch groups this sucker shoots and the relatively mild recoil, for a DG rifle. But I've shed enough tears and treasure trying to make this one work. Guess I'll use it as the baddest-ass deer rifle in all the state of Georgia. At least if it jams here, it won't endanger my life. | ||
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I really hate to hear that. Sorry Mr. Olson could not get it to feed. ------------------------------- Some Pictures from Namibia Some Pictures from Zimbabwe An Elephant Story | |||
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I guess I'm confused. Did Mr Olsen work on it and send it back because he said that it was done, or did he give up because it wouldn't work? Did you pay for it? Is there something unusual about your gun such that the cartridge won't work in it? Is it built on Win 94-410 frame or left handed Savage rimfire action? Frank "I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953 NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite | |||
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Gee, after a whole year? Surely the feeding issues couldn't be that unique!  | |||
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GAHUNTER If the CZ in 416 Rigby shoots, feeds and functions fine, keep the as it is. Sad to hear that your 404 is still sick. Cheers /JOHAN | ||
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Well, I'm really sorry to hear about your rifle that is chronically ill. You never know though, you may get charged by a big Georgia Whitetail. For just a coupla dollars you can have a bayonet lug sweated on to the barrel band front sight.....then you WILL have the baddest-ass Deer rifle in the woods.  Cheers, Number 10 | |||
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GAHUNTER, PM Sent...... Very sorry to hear that it couldn't be corrected. Regards. | |||
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is it going to be a keepsake or are you going to sell it??? 577 BME 3"500 KILL ALL 358 GREMLIN 404-375 *we band of 45-70ers* (Founder) Single Shot Shooters Society S.S.S.S. (Founder) | |||
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yahhh, Boomie, there is the platform for your 395 Boomstick. Seriously, is it for sale? I'd be interested in taking a crack at that dog...  Rich DRSS I am espousing the theory that dan has Alzheimer's Disease. The symptoms are eerily similar | |||
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it would be good for the lapua based one  577 BME 3"500 KILL ALL 358 GREMLIN 404-375 *we band of 45-70ers* (Founder) Single Shot Shooters Society S.S.S.S. (Founder) | |||
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sorry to hear this... that just SUCKS... jeffe opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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GAHUNTER, What gives? Correct me if I'm wrong but this is the third smith to work on it, right? IIRC Bowen built it, then Ferrel, now Olson and it still doesn't function. I'm no gunsmith but I don't get it    When you got it back from Dennis Olson did he say it was "fixed?" I hate to hear nightmares like this, especially with the talent involved on this one. John There are those that do, those that dream, and those that only read about it and then post their "expertise" on AR! | |||
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What action did you use? | |||
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seriously, what action did you use and are you interested in selling it? Rich | |||
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Sorry, I've been off line for a while. The rifle is built on a Ruger M-77, Mark II action originally in .375 H&H. Yes, I paid Dennis 500 bucks. He said it was fixed, as long as it was run at "moderate" speed. When I sent it, it wouldn't feed from the left; now it won't feed from the right. Funny thing, it feeds slicker than owl poop if you just slide the action back and forth. It's when you go from the locked position that it binds and jams solid. No, I'm not going to sell it. It is a beautiful rifle and shoots rings around any other big bore I have ever seen. I may treat it like a fancy Number 1, knowing that I can't use it for dangerous game. Like I said, I've got other rifles, including an RSM Lott that I have finally found a decent load for. I guess now I will have to use them. | |||
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Mr Olson's reputation is solid.....I'd certainly explain this to him and return it for his attention.....I understand he's busy but this isn't at all like his reputation. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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Maybe you ought to get a #1 action and put that barrrel on it. Keith IGNORE YOUR RIGHTS AND THEY'LL GO AWAY!!! ------------------------------------ We Band of Bubbas & STC Hunting Club, The Whomper Club | |||
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GAHunter One thing you might consider is having it modified to feed from a straight line, like the Weatherby 378,416,460 and the Colt Sauer 458,s just to name a few. My last PH had an Interarms Whitworth in 458 Lott that was a straight line feed. Go look at a Weatherby 378+. You can load it easily and they feed 100%. You might loose 1 round capacity, but big deal. If that rifle shoots as good as you say.... You might even be able to have it modified to feed out of a Blaser R 93 Magazine, ie STRAIGHT LINE FEED. Just a thought. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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Here is a nice one for sale at Hendershot's in Hancock MD. I should know as I used to own it... http://www.hendershots.net/gunview.asp?GunID=799 | |||
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GAHUNTER Sorry to hear of your ongoing problems, not wanting to chime in on a problem I have not had the opportunity of seeing first hand but have you tried changing the magazine follower (platform?)? I have had rifles that would not feed from one side of the column or the other and a simple change of follower and in one instance follower and spring cured the problem for very little money. I think Jim Wisner amongst others offers a range of large and magnum length followers, sorry if you have already tried this experiment, it was just a thought. | |||
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I'll second that, a simple follower change might solve your problem for good an then you can take it out of "retirement" again! all the best!Zubin One shot..meat! Two shots...maybe...Three shots...heap shit! - Old Indian adage | |||
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This post does not give me the 'warm fuzzies". I sent my PF Model 70 in .404J to Dennis back in August of 2005. He said he wouldn't work on a push feed but, if I wanted him to he would convert it to CRF and make it feed. My patience is wearing thin and with this post, I'm very concerned about the finished project, if it ever does get finished. "I ask, sir, what is the Militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effective way to enslave them" - George Mason, co-author of the Second Amendment during the Virginia convention to ratify the Constitution | |||
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Very strange... It would be great if you could have Mr.olsen explain why it can not be fixed? Bent Fossdal Reiso 5685 Uggdal Norway | |||
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GAHUNTER, Bless you sir! You have had the patience of Jobe on this project. If you want to take a 404 Jeffery to Africa, you can borrow mine. Just email me and tell me where you want it sent. After the DRSS hunt in January you can use it. Rusty We Band of Brothers! DRSS, NRA & SCI Life Member "I am rejoiced at my fate. Do not be uneasy about me, for I am with my friends." ----- David Crockett in his last letter (to his children), January 9th, 1836 "I will never forsake Texas and her cause. I am her son." ----- Jose Antonio Navarro, from Mexican Prison in 1841 "for I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." Thomas Jefferson Declaration of Arbroath April 6, 1320-“. . .It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.” | |||
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Well, I think I have figured out what it's doing. It seems like the feed rails on the right side are letting the round jump from the magazine as soon as any forward pressure is applied (rather than holding it in place for the bolt to pick up). This causes the "free" round to get turned sideways when the bolt continues pushing it forward. One other smith had already told me that the feed rails had been altered so much that it barely held the round in the magazine. This apparently is one of the problems with converting the .375 magazine to accept the 404 round. While in Zimbabwe last year, the PH I hunted with, Henry Princloo, had a CZ .458 Lott that once had similar problems. A smith in Harare fixed it by converting it to a single stack by welding in internal rails that allowed the down-rounds to stagger, but forced each round to pop up directly in front of chamber mouth when it reached the top. Henry could not make this rifle fail. | |||
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Well, no wonder Mr.Olsen could not fix it, but I do find it strange that he did not strongly suggest to make a single-stack magazine like you mentioned above - after all, it is a DGR, and I know I would not sleep much if one of my clients recieved a DGR that jammed when cycled. Bent Fossdal Reiso 5685 Uggdal Norway | |||
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Rusty, Thanks for the offer, but I make it a policy not to borrow guns. I've got plenty. (if I can't kill it with a .458 Lott, then I don't think I want to hunt it! )And besides, your's are not simply "rifles," they are labors of art and love, used to moving bullets along at a loping 2150 fps. My Ray Atkinson loads might cause them apoplexy and damage their psyche forever!  | |||
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GAHUNTER I think Single Stack is the weay foward here. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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The .404 at Hendershots at $3500 is a good deal if it feeds.  | |||
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I will recognize 500grains here for some good advice. Rich | |||
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I'm surprised Dennis Olsen would not have informed you the gun has been butchered to the point that even he cannot make it feed. The single stack mag approach or a new receiver is now probably the only option. Unfortunately, even if you go for a SS the stock may no longer fit or look right assuming you want more than two rounds down in the mag. Given that I actually have done single stack conversions and know exactly what goes into them, you would IMHO be money ahead to opt for a new receiver assuming you still want the gun. Personally, I would part it out and use the proceeds to buy a reliable DGR. It's all about money and time. If you bring the parts, new receiver and get on a airplane to LV, I'm sure I could make it feed for you. Bring some good wine and a dinner and we will consider it a deal.-Rob Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers to do incredibly stupid things- AH (1941)- Harry Reid (aka Smeagle) 2012 Nothing Up my sleeves but never without a plan and never ever without a surprise! | |||
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That's a very kind offer, RGB. However, for now I'm going to leave it in the corner and let it gather dust. I've got plenty going on with a building business that is barely holding on by its fingernails (When you hear this stuff in the media about the housing bust, believe it!) When the time comes to think about Africa again, I'll consider more options. | |||
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I understand that Dennis has/had an apprentice. Perhaps the apprentice handled this one??? | |||
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Gahunter- Well I feel your pain. Had similar things happen particularily with BIG NAME gunsmiths and poor quality work at high costs and following huge delays. You know where to come if you want it fixed right. Unfortunately, you can't just ship it to me, but LV is always a good excuse for a good time..-Rob Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers to do incredibly stupid things- AH (1941)- Harry Reid (aka Smeagle) 2012 Nothing Up my sleeves but never without a plan and never ever without a surprise! | |||
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That is essentially how the 378 based Wbys are done, which is why there is only a small magazine extenstion to have them changed to 3 shot magazines. Perhaps the same system when used with the thinner 404 case might allow 3 shots without the magazine extending below the stock line. Mike | |||
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The 378 and up Weatherbys are straight line all the way. In fact you can turn them upside down, open the floorplate, and load extra shells. You cannot do that with a regular stagard feed rifle. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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N E 450 No2 You can turn them upside down but the cartridges are still staggered. Quite different to say the HS Precision or Kricos were. Of course the feed is in line with the Wby. Perhaps a better way of saying it is the magazine box on the 378 Wbys are wider than the cartridge but the top of the box produces a sort of funnel effect so that you finish with straight line feed. Few people on this forum mwould be aware that you load the magazine of the 378 based Wbys while the rifle is loaded  Mike | |||
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Mike The cartridges were not staggered on my 416 WBY Mag. Nor on 2 378's or a 460 belonging to my friends.??? DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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N E 450 No2 Check the width of the magazine box. We might be misreading each other here. The top of the box narrows down so as to achieve the in line feed. Mike | |||
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