I recently had a left handed Zastava M98 Mauser fitted with a 404 Jeffrey barrel, and Sunny Hill drop magazine bottom metal. It feeds 404s beautifully. I sold it recently. The buyer put the barrel on a right handed gun and I bought the left hand action back. I will rebarrel it for resale, but I don't want to spend the $500 plus on bottom metal that makes the 404 feed. I have standard bottom metal. I need to barrel with a caliber that will work with a .404 - adapted bolt face and action rails. This action is too short without extensive modification for .375 H&H length cartridges. I tried .375 and .416 Ruger and they feed well from standard bottom metal. Those are obvious candidates for rebarreling. Can anyone suggest other candidates that will work and is popular today? I'll put the gun in a factory stock when I sell it, so I don't want to do another 404.

Why not just sell the action and stock together? Will you get your money back from purchasing and fitting another barrel? I mean if your intention is just to barrel then sell, might think about just selling.

As far as what would likely sell fast, 7mm Rem or 338 win would appeal to the broadest audience.

Wasn't there someone just talking about a slightly shortened 404 that worked in a std action?

416 ruger, 458 accrel, 500 accrel, 490 accrel

Ive never been satisfied with a 404 on a standard 98 action, some are happy with them.. I would more likely go with a 404 Chatfield Tayler in such a case. or the 375 Ruger necked down to 404 is you felt the need for a little more thump..Seems to me the only thing is the bolt face and that's and easy fix.

But if it were mine, Id invest in bottom metal or open up the existing bottom metal to feed, and rebarrel it to a .404..404s sell pretty darn quick, and most folks don't mind the std. 98 for a 404.

Vol717,

Your Zastava M70 LH action has already been modified to accomodate the 404 Jeffery's 0.545" rim diameter and its 3.53" COAL (CIP specifications).

If you want to rebarrel to a cartridge just a 0.532" rim diameter you'll need new bolt fitted to the action.

If you're not left handed, do yourself a favor and just sell the action to a left hander looking to build a 404 Jeffery or to someone who doesn't mind spending the additional money to modify the action for 3.6" COAL cartridge...

Jim
it's likely nothing more than a new extractor will be required

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
Jim
it's likely nothing more than a new extractor will be required

+1

With standard bottom metal it feeds and extracts 375 Ruger and 416 Ruger as well as it did with the 404 with sunny hill bottom metal. I know that the Rugers aren't based on the 404 but dimensions must be close. On the other hand, it wouldn't feed 300 WSM or 7mm Rem Mag. it wouldn't pick them up from The magazine. When I get the receiver back I'll put the action and stock up for sale in the classified section.

450/460 G&A...

9,3x70DWM should feed well

Not as popular as it should be though

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
Jim
it's likely nothing more than a new extractor will be required

Personally I'd prefer a closer fit between boltface and rim diameter, but you are absolutely correct that a new properly fitted extractor would resolve the issue.

I'm guessing there are a lot of lefties who would love an action / stock that just needed a barrel and bottom metal to make a 404 Jeffery. I bought my oldest son a LH M70 Classic stainless/synthetic in 416 Rem and after Cerakoting it, and putting Talley rings and a Leupold 1.5-5x scope on it, it cost me north of $2000. Lefty Mauser type rifles in African DG calibers are hard to come by.

If you rebarrel it to .404 Jeffery, it should sell in 20 minutes, given smooth feeding and reliable functioning.

The only problem with the 9.3x70 DWM is you need to buy the cartridge cases directly from Reimer Johannsen in Germany. I am presently buying some 9.3x64 from them. The paperwork drill is a bit of a dick dance, but it is doable. David Manson will make you a reamer in a trice. Mine took less than three weeks from work order to my front door.

Reimer Johannnsen is an agent for Horneber brass in the more obscure chamberings, it is possible for a dealer in the US (and Australia) to buy direct from Horneber, you just need a large enough quantity to make it worthwhile.

If you have a Rem ultra mag follower or similiar length it should work.My .330 Dakota model has the ultra mag follower and works great.

quote:

If you have a Rem ultra mag follower or similar length it should work.My .330 Dakota model has the ultra mag follower and works great.

Thanks for that thought. It is now so obvious to me that I am smacking my forehead, and saying "DUH!"