I should get one of my Winchester actions back from getting trued in a few weeks. Then it is off to Dennis Olson for rebarreling, feed work, etc.

I have reflexively ordered Kriegers in the past, but Ray and others like the Lothar Walther barrel. This rig will lean more toward the "easy to carry" than the "sucks up tonnes of recoil" end of the weight continuum.

Soooo, fellow big bore dudes and dudettes (I didn't want to leave JTG out of the discussion), what taper do you recommend in the Krieger, and what model # in the LW?

Do North Fork & GSC bullets prefer either cut or button rifling?

My back sight will only have one leaf, and I will use The Recknagel/NECG "Masterpiece" front sight. Just a square notch in the back and a piece of Ivory in a "partridge" style front blade.

Al Talbot quick release scope base/rings combo will hold the optics. That set-up is low enough to see the irons over it. (God knows it is easy enough to mill taller sight blades).

Thanks kids,

lawndart

lawndart
I would go for a Kreiger barrel, don't think there will be problem with bullets.

Pick a classic slim contour around. A 404 around 4,2 kilos with scope is about perfect.

Cheers
/JOHAN

I have put a lothar #1450 model barrel on mine and had it cut to 23 1/2" I was pretty happy with that contour.

I own two of Lothar-Walther's .423 magnum Sporter barrels for my 404 Jeffery projects.

I feel that Woody and the gang in Georgia make a great barrel.

I now have 2 McGowen barrels, one on an M70 "custom" and one on a factory CZ 550.

They are 10" twist, and they are the best for a .404, especially if you want to use monometal NF and GSC bullets, and that is a fact.

If you are daring and smart enough to go where you say with that .404 masterpiece, you ought to be smart enough to see that a McGowen is the only way to go.

One of mine is stainless, and one is chrome-moly. He can do them either way.

Rusty
L&W barrels are made in Germany or?

RIP, is McGowen button or cut?

Anyone who have used barrels made by Jim Briar(sp?)

Cheers
/JOHAN

Yep US OF A. . . . .
Lothar-Walther USA
A state of the art CNC barrel making operation.
I was impressed with Woody and the way he runs his operation and the attitude he has about manufacturing rifle barrels.

I have used Pac Nor, Krieger, and most of the rest and I think the Lothar Walther process of finishing a bore is what sets them apart, that and the fact that they all shoot around a half inch and that phenomenal for any company...thats why I switched..an awful lof to the best gunmakers are going to LW barrels...I will never use anything else. I have one other barrel installed by Dennis Olson and it doesn't compare to a LW and is not as accurate, but it was a good deal less money and it shoots 1.5 so its OK.....

Ihave used PacNor for sveral rifles in the last few year & have nothing but good things to say about their bbl. My gunsmith has done the chambering & fitting, but the quality of the bbls. has been exc., accurate & reasonably easy to clean up. My M70 /.404 has a 23" #5 on it. I've shot many sub 1" groups w/ my "buffalo" rifle, it's a keeper.

Thanks guys,
I'll have to go with a more traditional twist because of my (slowly) progressing ammo project. It is fun being the "general contractor" on these rifle projects. The only thing I haven't been able to locate is a subcontractor to really tweak the trigger/safety/bolt handle end of things. Mr. Penrod and Mr. Echols can surely do it (as part of a full bore custom rifle), but my budget won't allow that until I go do a tour in the sandbox for Uncle Sam.
Thanks again gents.
lawndart

If you are looking for a good gunsmith, I'd reccommend Tip Burns, Burns Gun Repair in Canyon Lake, Texas.

Tip is an excellant gunsmith and a nice fellow too! He has worked on projects for several folks on this forum.