Hey guys,

Reading these forums the last couple years has given me the itch for my first big bore rifle. I decided on a 404 Jeffery, so last week I dropped off a Win. model 70 300 ultra mag to a gunsmith.

He is going ro rebarrel it with a Krieger finished at 24", add NECG sights, a spacer & decelerator pad, & tune the trigger. It's in a super grade stock, so the swivel bases are inletted. I woud like to get some of your opinions on whether or not it would be worth the effort & expense to have the front swivel base filled in & add a barrel band.

The gunsmith said I didn't need it but if I really wanted a barrel band, he could make the inletting a uniform shape & fill it in with some kind of metal, or even ivory. I initially wanted a barrel band, but I'm not sure filling in the inletting would look right since it would be a pretty large area.

What do you guys think? Does anyone have a similar rifle without a barrel band?

Thanks

Euge

I must say that I like any rifle over 9.3mm to have a barrel band.
They look great to me.
I have a friend who once cut his hand on a stock mounted stud from the recoil of a 338.

Hi euge:

Just my two cents. I have about four custom rifles and on my big bores I do have a barrel band. But the 404 Jeff is not really a super hard kicker. On big bores the basic reason for the barrel band is so your hand doesn't slide up and hit the sling stud.

Rather than risk the natural beauty of the Winnie in a super grade no less, I would leave it as is. Again this is JMHO nothing else.

Good luck... Jim P.

A friend once customized the stock of a CZ 416 and reduced the fore end and added a ebony tip , he was then able to ad a barrel band on that rifle.

Like what was done to the CZ. What is the length of forend beyond the receiver? Where is the band postioned measured from the same reference point? Also what is the length of cap?Thanks, Ron

Thanks for the reply's. I still have a couple of months to kick it around. I probably don't need one, I just like the look of it.

Maybe I just want to be like the other cool kids on the street!

It really isnt so much a look thing

I have cut and split the webbing in between my pointer finger and the "bird" finger twice now by the swivel stud on my big bore

I hold the forend with the stud between these fingers and yes it hurts

So I recon anything that recoils pretty heavily should get the swivel band

regards
S&F

Hi Euge,

I've got a .404J on a M70 action that weighs just under 10# field ready and shoots 400 gr TSX's about 2300fps. It does not have a barrel band because I like to, at times, use the sling as a shooting aid. Something you shouldn't do with the sling attached to the barrel. The front swivel stud is about 1.5/2.0 inches from the forend tip. This set up works great on a 404J. My recommendation would be to defer the barrel band installation until after you shoot the rifle a bit. You may find the barrel band, though it looks way cool, is not the best choice for a 404J. Hope this helps. Cheers, LJB

Just make sure your gunsmith puts the barrel band on snugly.

My Kimber Caprivi is having its barrel band reinstalled after it came loose on a recent hot W Texas afternoon after two dozen or so rounds of 375 H&H.
Hope this gun stands up better in the Masailand than it has here in Blackwell, TX.

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
A friend once customized the stock of a CZ 416 and reduced the fore end and added a ebony tip , he was then able to ad a barrel band on that rifle.

Nice CZ

I beleive there is another reason to have a barrel band fitted, especially with a long barreled rifle. It is to keep the muzzle lower while walking through thick scrub with the rifle carried by a sling over the shoulder.

If it were mine, I would have the smith inlet a brass plug with your initials or .404 in place of the front sling swivel, and then install a bbl band. Lou

quote:

Originally posted by Code4:
I beleive there is another reason to have a barrel band fitted, especially with a long barreled rifle. It is to keep the muzzle lower while walking through thick scrub with the rifle carried by a sling over the shoulder.

How true.

A barrel band is the only way to go on a big bore rife..I even like them on small bores as I have no need for a shooting sling.

After my first african hunt, I feel a big bore barrel should be no longer than 23 inches.I also don't see how you can carry a rifle over the shoulder,on a sling, while hunting.I've walked hundreds of miles in the bush,small game hunting with a double shotgun and never thought of useing a sling.