This has been a project that has lasted a very long time. I purchased the sporterized Winchester Enfield 1917 action back in 1985 (I think) or about then. It was origionally chambered in 30-06 and it shot well but was quite heavy for this chambering and rechambered to 300 Win Mag. And again it shot well, but still too heavy for the chambering. So it sat in my safe for a couple decades and I pulled it out in 2005 for conversion to a 404 Jeffrey.

My vision was for a sort of Afrian "working rifle" Nothing very fancy, but it must be perfectly functional.

The action was sent to PAC-NOR for a barrel and chamber job. Then on to the gunsmith for sights, barrel sling attachment, The bolt handle was straightened and bent upwards(so it doesn't rap my trigger finger knuckle ouch!),ebony fore-end, magnum magazine box and just finally I installed a Winchester model 70 magazine follower and now it feeds extremely well.

This morning I shot some 400 gr Barnes Origionals at 2260fps and I beleive I am ready to go.

The 404 project has been about 4 years to completion with many obstacles along the way and I am very glad to see it done. Now I must schedule my next buffalo hunt.

Very nice!

I love the rifle. Looks to be very robust. I hope that soon you hang a picture with some hunting trophies. Enjoy it a lot.

Oscar.

Very Nice ! . I do have a suggestion tho ...
. For the 404 J , tho it isn,t a hard kicker . It still will boot hard enough that the scope ,under alot of circumstances will get Real close to your head .... I like the back of the scope to not protrude beyond the end of the cocking piece ... Leupold's are very good in this application as they have nice long eye relief ....
.
. But still , Very Nice ..

Looks like "Big Medicine" for a Cape Buffalo, or ANYTHING else you might encounter anywhere in the world. At least from this vantage point. If you read up, the 404J likely accounted for 85% or more of the DG culling from the end of WWII onwards for about fifty years.

Rich
CZ404J

gumboot458,
Well there still a few areas I'd like to improve upon and one for sure is the scope and scope mounting system. The scope that is on there now is an older 2.5x steel tube Weaver that has been on a number of my heavy recoiling rifles and it has stood the test of time. It hasn't whacked me yet, though there is always a first time.

I am thinking something on the order of the VXII in 1-4, with a quick detach type mounts.

Robust it is, though it tips the scales at 9lb, 10oz, which I think is very manageable. I can put three down in the magazine. And since I really didn't want the fish belly look the fore end had to somewhat heavy to make it all work out.

Thanks for your comments.

Just perfect

A simple straight forward, no BS working rifle.

As much as I like pretty rifles, with pretty wood, everybody needs a bigbore working rifle....a goto rifle.

I have a 375H&H that is my "tuff it" rifle, shoots well, not much to look at, infact I have a synthetic on it now, but it's the 1st rifle I grab if it's bad weather.

You will get years of solid use out of that girl

well done best of luck

regards
S&F

.. I really like the 1-4x Leupold ... With the Heavy Duplex reticle it works great for helping to center my focus and for seeing black objects standing in the dusk or shade ... I was very suprised how well that reticle worked ... Kind of a poor boys illuminated reticle .... Works Great ..

agreed! I took a 1.5-5X on the 450 Dakota for buffalo. At 5X you can judge heads pretty well, and buffalo really stand out at the lower magnification.

Rich
DRSS

I like it, well done. I love my converted M70. Great rifle, great cartridge.
You shot it but how did she shoot?

I was able to pick up some Leupold low QRW rings last night, just need the steel bases and scope now. I really appreciate your thoughts on my rifle project.

Very NICE! I have Leupold m70 standard action bases and rings (black). Let me know if you need them.

Looks great!