I want to do it on a military size Mauser. I'm thinking about buying a Banner Mauser for a donor. Thoughts? Something better?

A member here built mine on a VZ-24.

Rich

I built mine on a 50's FN Colombian

Any quality Mauser will do. I've had two 404s built on old Mausers. The first was built on a 1910 Oberndorf. The second was built on a 1930s commercial Oberndorf. If you are going to scope it in a traditional manner, I'd try to find a ZG47. The commercial Oberndorfs are really nice as are 1935 Chileans, 1908 Brazilians, 1909 Argentines, FNs (especially the C-ring models) and some of the VZs.
A good gunsmith is paramount.

1908 Brazilian -

Ive used several of the better Mauser such as the 1935 Chilean but I, hands down, prefer a true magnum Mauser action for that big ole case. its costly for sure, but its expensive to build any 404..

I think it would be hard to make a rifle as trim and light as I want with a magnum action. Phils 1905 Jeffery is the inspiration.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
1908 Brazilian -

Have them checked for softness before use.

M-70 Winchester, RUM action

I agree with Sean, the RUM is the one today to use I suspect..Its based on the .404...The Enfield is a good donor.

Lots of folks claim its easy to make a std. Mauser feed 404s, and I know its been done by a precious few..Most just make the claim..A 110% is required on a DG rifle. I've had some pretty well know gunsmiths work on my 404 projects over the years. Most would feed one bullet well, and other bullets would not feed and that's not acceptable. The 404s that always worked with any load, any bullet including flat nose solids and spitzers were the true magnum mausers. The rest all had a glitch of some sort, some I got by with, but was never quite confident in them and limited as to what bullets would feed...Trouble is apparantly few folks actually torture test them fully before they go hunt, and believe they are just fine, self included that's why I post this. The 98 is a blivet with the 404, that's 10 lbs of s--t in a 5 lb. bag IMO.

Ryan,
I didn't find it difficult to build what I call a light rifle with a true magnum Mauser action, not that much difference in the actions, just a tad in length..Both of the 404 that I built came out at 8-3/4 lbs naked, and about 9 lbs or a tad more with a scope etc..I, personally, wouldn't want a 404 any lighter than that, bu if I did, I would shop for a light piece of hard Turkish walnut. Both of my guns had small quarter ribs with the Wisner 375 pre 64 adjustable sight installed in the quarter rib..tossed the Wisner base and dovetailed the sights guts in the rib..The adjustable sight was a blessing when I wanted t change loads. sold one of them to Palmer who used to post here, and whom I hunted in Tanzania and almost everywhere else..he was half blind, a great shot, and killed massive trophies everywhere I sent him, The Red Gods of Hunting, lived in his pocket.

Ray,

I'd suggest you deal with more competent gunsmiths in the future.

Jim Kobe did all the metalwork for me on converting an OM 70 to 460 G&A, aka 458 RUM (aka 404J improved). Feeds flawlessly with all types of bullets from 350's to 500's, softs and solids.

Cowboy CS took a VZ-24 for me and did all the metalwork on converting it to 404 Jefferys. Fits and feeds flawlessly all bullet types and weights.

Duane has one displayed here in the custom rifles forum.

Any gunsmith who can't take most Mauser 98 actions and build a 404J based case rifle should quit and get into repairing lawnmowers or go-karts.

Rich

iirc, Harry Selby had a 416 Rigby built on a standard 98.

idaho sharpshooter,

selby did the metal work on my enfield 500asquare, his workmanship is amazing!! the biggest concern is feeding for follow up shots, this thing will feed cycle better than any factory I have, barrel is pac nor probably shoots better than I. When I fired it for the first time at the range it got real quiet, the flame off the front end scared the other shooters. Unfortnately I used a bubba enfield picked economically and has some external bubba. The big thing about selby he operates his business where the poor man can get a very hi quality firearm and still have money left to eat on.. My next project is an enfield in 375h&h or 416 Rigby, will have selby do all the metal work and as finances permit will have him do the stock...thank you for your inputs on this site, if'n I lived next door you'd never get rid of me we have alot in common on these posts. have a great day!!

oops, you were talking about harry and I was talking about randy...sorry for the confusion

Yeah, Harry was more of a user than a builder.

Idaho Sharp shooter,
Bring'em down and bet me I can't jam them, that's the only way we'll ever know!

Surly we can find a mad coyote and entice a charge behind my casa in the Owahee..

The 1935 Chileans and 1935 Brazilians both have banners. They are on the bridge rather than the ring. The Oberndorf mark is on the rail also, just like a commercial.

I think I recall reading somewhere that the 1935 Chilean and Brazilian actions were pulled from Commercial inventory to fill military contracts? Maybe I dreamt that, but they are fabulous actions - I have a few of them left.

Those are the best, I no longer have one, but I used up half a dozen of them.

A `BU`marked Mauser action.

This one :
http://mwreynolds.com/HTML/rif...om1075x68mauser.html

quote:

Originally posted by Sean Russell:
M-70 Winchester, RUM action

Hmmm, I so happen to have a stainless M70 classic here at home in 300rum. May just have to look at upgrading to that when the barrel gives it up

I'd use a ZG-47 action, I have a spare one in my basement which will soon become a 9.3x62, but it would make a great .404

quote:

Originally posted by lindy2:
Aren't there any cases that will sling the same bullets as the .404 but are shorter and so much easier to run through a standard mauser action.
How about the .375 Ruger Necked up. Or the Nosler case necked up. Etc. It just seems strange to try to stuff such a big case into an action that wasn't designed for it.

The 10.75X68 Mauser comes to mind.

quote:

Originally posted by Mauser98:

quote:

Originally posted by lindy2:
...It just seems strange to try to stuff such a big case into an action that wasn't designed for it.

The 10.75X68 Mauser comes to mind.

True, the standard Mauser action was not made for the 404 Jeffery, but the 404 Jeffery most certainly was made for the standard Mauser '98 action!
Remember, the original 404 Jeffery rifles were built up on standard actions as Rigby had a monopoly on Mauser's magnum action until 1912.

Here's my wish.

We find a trusted gunsmith (and who has the time and inclination) who could give us a "bulk discount" for an order of 404 Jefferies. We would provide the actions (Mauser, of course), we secure a lot of Duane Wiebe's bottom metal, order a lot of the same contour barrel, and determine the preferred iron sight configuration (I would want a rear peep plus front sight option). Not sure which would be better/less expensive - a synthetic stock or a mid grade walnut.

My dream gun would be similar to the one 458Win owns and has posted pictures of - a working/utility rifle designed to be hunted with and used without worry.

Dave, I look to the same rifle for inspiration.

For a rear sight, dovetailing into a single square bridge would be my preference, but then we are talking FZH actions or similar. Preference for four down without drop metal.

And I would get an integral sling stud and front sight base on the barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by RyanB:
Dave, I look to the same rifle for inspiration.

For a rear sight, dovetailing into a single square bridge would be my preference, but then we are talking FZH actions or similar. Preference for four down without drop metal.

And I would get an integral sling stud and front sight base on the barrel.

Forgot about the sling stud. Actually, now that you mention it, that drives it to a wood stock - the short fore-end style.

There is a M70 action on gunbroker that already has the bolt face opened for a 404J here is the auction number. 559859013

Good options all.

Add the FN commercial ones. I just horse traded into a JC Higgins in 30-06.

With somebody like Jim Kobe in charge, it would make about anything but a Gibbs case based hunting rifle.

I realize that CRF actions are the gold standard for building DG rifles, but I found a used Remington 700 in 300 RUM and converted it to a 404 quite easily.

I picked up a Lothar Walther CM barrel, chambered it with a PTG reamer. Shoots sub-MOA with 400g bullets at 2125.

Added two cross bolts to the stock and fore and aft mercury recoil reducers to bring its weight to 9.5 pounds without ammo.

Topped with a 1-5X Leupold and soldered on adjustable rear iron and banded front.

Iron sights shoot well, even with my 67 year old eyes.

I try to put at least 9 rounds per week down range, hoping to make it to Mozambique next year for a Cape Buff...

Feeds right side up, upside down, with my eyes closed or crossed.

you will most likely see the difference if and when you try to sell it...

I wouldn't trust a Remington with my life.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
you will most likely see the difference if and when you try to sell it...

No intention of selling it.

quote:

Originally posted by RyanB:
I wouldn't trust a Remington with my life.

Goody for you!

I like Orberndorf commercial actions especially the 33-35 contract actions. Fn Supreme 300 48 to 49 single c cuts are a bargain. The Brno ZG 47 is top choice but hard to modify. I have numerous customs on 1935 Chilean contract actions. From 500 Jeffery to 9.3x62, I have several and they are wonderful. Chamber for a standard round and standard Velocities they make wonderfully accurate and potent hunting companions. In my opinion making a hot rod out of a classic is wasted time. Have done it a lot in my earlier years of reloading esoteric calibers. Not worth the effort to me! My 404 Jeffery has taken 10 buff from Zambia to Tanzania. Without jinxing myself, all one shot kills. All at pretty standard velocities. No such thing as too dead but consistently dead Is positive proof of plenty of power. These are my real world experiences with big bores in Africa. I saw no differences in performance between 500 Jeffery and 404 Jeffery on the game I shot. I killed two more buff with Davenport 500 Jeffery one shot kills at about 100 Yards or less. I have bad legs and they want me close but not too close!!!

Ive shot more buffalo with the 404 Jefferys and the 450-400 Double rifle than all the rest of the calibers Ive used on them put together. I love the 40 caliber including the 416 Remington...Like Lb-404, I never could see where my 505 IMP killed any better than a 404 J or 450-400 nor did my 470 double kill any better than my 450-400 that I stopped two charges dead with..another with my 416 on what I called a half charge, he was just getting warmed up when I dropped him with my .416 Rem...

I also shot some buffalo with Lb404s 10.75x68 with the 400 gr. Woodleigh at 2100 FPS and the 350 Barnes at 2300 FPS, it sure worked. This one fits in a std. 98 real well, and is a greatly over looked caliber.

The 40s work...

I have killed all msnner of Tanzania big game with 10.7tx68. 350 X bullets for non- dangerous game and 380 CPS for dangerous stuff. It performed amazingly. Light handy rifle I bought from Atkinson by Hoffman. Mostly one shot kills on all animals. If 10.75x688 can do it a 404 Jeffery can hammer them with 150p fps faster speeds
And i am not hot rodding the Jeffery at all. That Hoffman is an iron sight gun and weighs around 7.5 pounds and carries like an English shotgun.

+1 for the M-1917/P-14 Enfield.


For example:

quote:

404 Rimless Big Game

JEFFERY & C°

Caliber : .404 Magnum Rimless

Built circa 1948 on an Enfield P14 pattern action by W. J. JEFFERY & C°, London, that big game rifle is chambered for the legendary .404 Magnum Rimless cartridge.

The much-modified action is fixed to a 24″ big barrel fitted with express sights.

The new stock was done from a good piece of reddish French walnut with a 14½” LOP on the traditional 1″ red soft buttplate.

That well preserved safari rifle weights 8lbs 9oz.

My 404 Jeffery began life as a MRC Long Action. I had a L-W 26" Barrel heavy contour. All the metal work was done by Tip Burns (No longer in gunsmithing business. Engraving was done by Scroll Cutter of this forum. Stock was made by John Valicek. It is a thing of beauty and a joy to shoot!

ggruber,


"I have no intention of selling it...".

I said the very same thing just before I married my first wife. That lasted a year and two weeks...