Calling on all you .404 Jeffery experts

Got a hankering to build a Big Bore and I want to do it in .404 Jeffery.

What are your recomendations for:
1)Action
2)Rifle Weight
3)Barrel length.

I don't want it any sort of stainless/synthetic. I want to do this cartridge justice and base it on the classic English style - blued / walnut, dropped belly magazine etc.

What barrel length did the English typically use and what contour?

Cheers,

Michael.

I wanted to build one as follows:
1908 or 1909 Mauser action, new bolt handle, NOT drilled and tapped (I don't like scopes on my big bores), drop magazine, 26" barrel, barrel band swivel and front sight, flip up "night" sight on the front sight, and a 3 folding, 1 standing rear express sight, that also acts a recoil lug. I think at about 8.5-9lbs would be right as I would shoot factory equivilant loads as I see no need to push the bullet any faster than it was designed to do.
Nice rust blue, dense straight grained english or bastogne walnut, leather covered recoil pad, rust blued grip cap and an ebony forend tip. I would also like it checkered similiar to the pre-64 Winchester super grade.

A magnum Mauser (model 20 or knockoff)is nice, but expensive. I prefer to use the Remington Mod 30, 30-S, or 720, they are strong, have control fee, cock on the opening and can be rebored or rebarreled. and the bling is up to you..I add a quarter rib, barrel band swivel, barrel band front sight, Timney trigger, Talley or Weaver bases and rings. stock it or modify the existing stock..Depends on what I'm building, a working gun; a show peice or a combination of both.

I like Lothar Walthar barrels but I am building a 404J right now with its original barrel rebored and cut to 22 inches, so we will see how it goes. I have heard only good things about todays rebores. This is a working rifle, but quite nice.

A no. 4 contour is my choice for a 40 caliber as I don't want the gun to weigh more that 9 lbs naked an 8-3/4s is better. Some prefer a #5 contour.

barrel length in a 40 caliber is an individual thing and anything from 20 to 26 inches suits me fine..

Most of my hunting rifles have been 26 inch barrels and I loved them..but, today I am going to shorter barrels that are a tad heavy to make the rifle muzzle heavy for off hand shooting..My present 416 Rem is 20 inches, my 404 is 22 inches. My 375 is 26 inches..they all balance about the same by design. I change my mind from time to time on barrel lengths. Guess I like them all. As to why? no reason, it really makes absolutly no difference what the barrel length is, thats only in ones head.

Congomike,
That's sounds like a nice gun..I don't like flip up night sights but thats just personal opine..in a 404 Jefferys, although I have built many of them on the Mauser 98, I have never been altogether satisfied with them and prefer the larger Rem mod. 30-S action or magnum Mauser action. The std 98 is like 10 lbs. of you know what in a 5 lb. bag, just not enough room IMO and that is argueable of course.

Mine stated with a Granite Mountain Double Square Bridge Std. Mag. action, 24" 1:14" twist krieger barrel, and a nice turkish walnut blank.

Ralf Martini took it all from there with a little bit of my input and the work of a fine engraver.

The link below shows what the end product looks like...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...UtEg&feature=related

The rifle ended up a 8.25 lbs bare and is just to my liking in terms of weight and it handles and balances prefectly for me. The rifle is a shooter putting 3 shots in one big hole at 100 yds.

Started out back in 2006 dreaming of building a 404 Jeffery...not knowning anything about having a rifle built, several guys here really helped me out....with Ralf's help added few details along the way, it turned out pretty nice...

Took it to Tanzania in December and the combo worked perfectly...

I would use a standard length Mauser. One of the beauties of the 404 is that it does not require a magnum length action.

Another 404 Jeffery build shown here...

http://forums.accuratereloadin...043/m/6531027531/p/1

Thankyou Forrest for putting the link in your post. That is one sensational looking rifle, I am extremely jealous! If anything it has made me more determined to start working on this project.

Keep the posts coming guys, this has been excellent and very helpful so far!

I'm also looking forward to Von Gruffs contribution on this post as well.

Michael.

Not necesserily classic, but mine is a Win Mod 70 which started life as a 300RUM. Blued and walnut. Fairly easy conversion: basically a rebarrel.

Mine is a factory BSA from the late 50's or early 60's, right at the end of the run, I think. I replaced the factory express sights with a steel Redfield of the same vintage. The stock is a Monte Carlo ugly thing but its very comfortable to shoot. Works like a charm, unless you try and shoot a buffalo that's already mad at you.

Note to self: Learn to break the spine on purpose!