Hi Guys

I just got thec pics of my new 458 Lott built by Sabi Rifles in SA and designed with the help of my PH Steve Robinson (Kuduland Safaris) specifically for Cape Buff in deep cover. Getting used to a 20" barrel should be fun. The rifle is made to measure and is drilled for scope mounts when necessary

Enjoy








Regards

Mark

Very nice Mark. I am sure that you will enjoy the new toy.

Very tastefully done.....I like it...

Is that a VZ-24?

I liked Mark's rifle just soooooo much and had just sooooo much fun going to Sabi Rifles to check on the progress of the .458 Lott, I found myself buying a similar rifle from Sabi in .404 Jeffery.....and it only took the SA Central Firearms Register 2 weeks to process the paperwork - so I'm glad to say I can pick it up on monday! The only changes I plan to have done are to change the rearsight for a quarter rib and maybe fit a proper fibre optic foresight..... and of course QD mounts and a Swarovski 1.5 - 6 scope.

I had to get rid of my 30.06 though - but it didn't get used as much as the new rifle will.

Here's the .404:-

very well done, them boys make good guns. I like the qtr rib.

Yup, me too..... I'm taking the .404 to the Selous in a week or so and don't have time to get the rearsight changed to a quarter rib like Mark's - but as soon as I get back, I'll have it done......

That is an awesome VZ-24 (I can read "VZ-24" on your last picture, and under the long line of letters on the left side of the receiver). I love the lines on your rifle, it looks AWESOME!!! In retrospect, I wish my VZ-24 that I built in .35 Whelen was built like yours. Even with it being a small bore, I'd love it.

Wow, very nice!

Anybody got any good 458 loads with R7 and 500gn Hornady interbonds???
I also intend to load it with 350 gn flatpoints for red deer, any thoughts??

Regards

Mark

Very nice working rifles, gentlemen. Congratulations!

Very nice Lott !!

Shakari what action is your .404 J on ??

it is very nice ??

Very nice work.

wery fine 404 there shakari, what kind of ammo will you feed it and how much was the price for it?

It's the same action as Mark's - VZ24. I haven't decided on loads yet, but I'll try some GS Custom FNMS and probably Woodeigh SP & PSP. Hopefully I'll be able to get them to shoot to the same POI. - If not I'll have to try other bullets.

Stock wise, the two blanks could almost have come from the same tree - As I said I prefer the quarter rib like Mark has on his .458 Lott, but that will have to wait till I can find time to have it done. - Problem with that, is I had my .500 built by the same people 5 years ago and I'm still waiting to find time to have a little discreet engraving done!

Price wise, I did a PX with one of my other rifles & dies etc but I believe Sabi sell this standard of rifle on a straight cash price of around R25000-R30000. That works out to US$3675 - US$4360 at todays exchange rate. Stock quality will obviously affect the price as well. These are both middle of the range stocks.

I guess I should add that Mark's .458 is made to measure to fit him and to his exact barrel length and sight specifications etc. My .404 had been made for someone else who then went and popped his clogs before he could collect it. - As I'm using it as a loaner, it didn't matter to me and it saved me some build time. If I had been designing the rifle for myself, I'd have shortened the barrel an inch or two and had the quarter rib instead of that ugly standard rearsight. - I'm also having QD scope mounts and a Swarovski 1.5-6 scope fitted.

I guess to some extent, it's overkill for a loaner - but I really like good quality in rifles and fishing tackle (more accurately, I bloody hate cheap rifles and cheap fishing tackle!) and I tend to think that if a client is spending so much money on a safari and needs to borrow a rifle then he deserves as good a quality as I can give him. - (hows that for a subtle sales plug) - Actually, it wasn't a sales plug - just the truth about how I feel about my business.

You might want to visit their site at www.sabirifles.co.za - The guy to contact is Eugene Combrink. - I personally think they're great value for money. - Otherwise, I wouldn't have bought 2 rifles from the same rifle maker.

I'm very interested indeed to see how the light .458 bullets perform on deer - but I'm sure Mark will let us know!

I'll add that Mama Shakari comes along on most of our hunts and it'll be nice to be able to leave her the 404 when it's not in use in case of Lions etc...... Incidentally, both rifles have mercury tube recoil arrestors so they'll be pussycats to shoot......well, almost!

After I checked the US$ - ZAR exchange rate and found the rand to be weak against the dollar at US$1 = R6.8, I decided to check the UKP against the dollar and it's UKP1 = US$1.88 - so if anyone out there has UK pounds to spend, it's an even better buy at less than 2 grand....... damn, maybe I should go down there and order a couple more!

MarkH/Steve,

Both fantastic rifles. Congratulations!

Mark,

Outstanding rifle. Would it be possible to see a picture taken with the bolt back looking into the inside of the action, feed ramp, rails and rear bridge? The workmanship is superb. Congratulations.

Both are very nice rifles. I really like the shortened quarter rib on MarkH's rifle. Micely done. If they shoot as good as they look you will really have something to be proud of.

Dear JF

I'll email Eugene and see if he can take a picture for you as requested.We are just waiting for the SA paperpushers to sort out the final details of the end-user certificate.
The specification I set was for a true African dangerous game rifle, plain and simple using the best quality materials,matt oil finish and matt blueing, ie no shiny bits.
In the UK you'll end up paying about $14,000 for a custom built rifle possible based on a modern CZ action. For that kind of money I wouldnt want to use it in the bush, it might get scratched.

Mark,

I experienced the UK prices first-hand back in the late '80s; lived in Newbury for three years and did a lot of shopping in a really nice gun shop in Wantage. Saw some beautiful guns there but none I could afford at the time. Cheers.

I got my paperwork sorted out today (cost me lunch with 2 WPCs!) and collected the rifle etc this afternoon....... feels even better than it looks...... I hope to find time to load a few test rounds tomorrow and with luck, should have some idea of what shoots best by the evening. - it'll be seeing its first real action by the end of the month when Mama Shakari uses it to knock over some camp meat etc.

I'll also chase Mark's request when I see Eugene tomorrow.............

Steve,
I guess you will be needing some bullets then?

Gerard,

That was the original plan - but I've just found out I'll have to go up to TZ earlier than planned. - Looks like I'll be leaving in 4 or 5 days time....... so probably won't have time to get them delivered and loaded. I might have to leave it till I come back....... which'll be a bloody nuisance!

Steve,
Talk to you when you get back. Enjoy and take care.