I am in the market for a DGR. I would like CF. I would hope for a stainless gun, but this is not a requirement. Money is a issue, both for the rifle and the ammo/reloading costs.

I am leaning towards one of the 416's. Although allured by the Taylor, I am thinking the Remington is the most practical.

Ruger and CZ only chamber for the Rigby (expensive components).

I have been unable to find a used 416 Remington Model 70 (or many other makes for that matter). I have found several in 375HH.

Could one resonably expect to take a fuctioning rifle in 375HH and rebarrel it to 416 Remington and have it function? Would you expect to have to do some modification to make a 375HH that feeds well into a 416 Rem that feeds as well?

Any other thought on reaching my goal? The only other reasonable cost avenue I have found would be to purchase a MRC action. I have seen a few Whitworths, but they seem to get snatched before I can get off center and decide.

quote:

Originally posted by metalman29:

Could one resonably expect to take a fuctioning rifle in 375HH and rebarrel it to 416 Remington and have it function? Would you expect to have to do some modification to make a 375HH that feeds well into a 416 Rem that feeds as well?

Yes, and yes. The parent case is the same, but your choice of bullet(s) may require a little work to get it to feed and eject smoothly.

George

John is correct.

But if you have not fired heavy rifles, by all means get a 375 and see how you like it as a 375.

For 90% of hunters a 375 is the heaviest recoil they can stand.

It is also a very good caliber. I have a 416 Rem and love it, but if I bought a 375 I would definitely consider keeping it as a 375. If you get one, shoot it. If it shoots well and you shoot it well, think long and hard before starting the expensive re-barrelling process - that may result in a rifle that does not shoot well, or that causes you to flinch.

If I had a 375 that I liked I would not even try to re-chamber to an Ackley Improved. The 375 has a deserved reputation as the most reliable-feeding DGR. That long, smoothly tapered cartridge is a classic for many very good reasons.

The 400 H&H appears to be designed to meet your requirements. There are fewer .411 diameter bullets to choose from, but you get to use 405 Winchester bullets for hunting Stateside and 41 magnum bullets for plinking and there is less gunsmithing involved in making it feed perfectly.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/400_HHMag.htm
http://www.african-hunter.com/new_h&h_cartridges.htm

I had Mark Penrod rebarrel my Model 70 375HH to 416 Remington. Feeds like butter and shoots sub MOA groups with Barnes 400 or 350 grain Triple Shocks. I whacked a nice Cape Buff and Eland with it.

Jeff

quote:

had Mark Penrod rebarrel my Model 70 375HH to 416 Remington. Feeds like butter

Was work on the feed rails or a new magazine box required?

I would say yes to the feed rails. Never checked the Win box so can't say about that. I rebarreled a Whitworth 375 with custom bottom metal to 416 Rem with no rail changes and while it feeds reliably, there is a bit of hesitation due to the sharper shoulder. Didn't bother me enough to work on it but I doubt Penrod would have let it go. The time and effort would be very little in terms of cost to make it like "buttah".

quote:

Originally posted by nordrseta:

quote:

had Mark Penrod rebarrel my Model 70 375HH to 416 Remington. Feeds like butter

Was work on the feed rails or a new magazine box required?

I would love to know the answer to this too.

The Winchester 375 and 416 use the the same magazine box. That's why the 416 is hard to get to feed.

If you truly want slick feeding, get the Blackburn (or equivalent) box and have it properly 'smithed. It's my understanding, though, that you have to get a new stock when you get the Blackburn bottom metal.

I'd sure like to know where to get a "proper" (by Paul Mauser's equations) drop-in magazine box replacement for the 416. I think it can be done in the stock, but it will have to have "windows" in it for the shoulders of the 416.

Switched a CZ 550 from 375 to 416 Rem. It doesn't know the difference (feeding, etc.). It is a good way to shave at least a pound from the blunderbuss 375.

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
Switched a CZ 550 from 375 to 416 Rem. It doesn't know the difference (feeding, etc.). It is a good way to shave at least a pound from the blunderbuss 375.

Hate to keep asking new questions on my one thread, but Mr. Will, could I ask of your experience with CZ stocks. You read here and there of splitting.

I noted on your Taylor (which I seriously considered replicating) you switched to a McMillan fiberglass. Could I ask if this was done due to concerns about the factory stock? Preventing adding a second recoild lug? On this 375HH conversion to 416Rem, did you swap stocks also or make other mods that just bedding?

Used 416s under $1000 these days are rare as hens teeth.If you see one grab it.I keep thinking of a 416 rsm ruger in a 416 rem mag.I have found a few ruger rsms for under $800 a few times.I hope someone picks up the 416 rem mag ball.Without Winchester,Remington,Ruger,Browning and a few others its slim pickins.There use to be 27 different 416 rem mags made.I dont know how many are left.I grab everyone I can find cheap.

quote:

Originally posted by nordrseta:

quote:

had Mark Penrod rebarrel my Model 70 375HH to 416 Remington. Feeds like butter

Was work on the feed rails or a new magazine box required?

He reworked the factory feedrails. It really does feed slicker than snot. I'm one happy camper. PM me with your email and I can send you photos.

quote:

Originally posted by metalman29:

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
Switched a CZ 550 from 375 to 416 Rem. It doesn't know the difference (feeding, etc.). It is a good way to shave at least a pound from the blunderbuss 375.

Hate to keep asking new questions on my one thread, but Mr. Will, could I ask of your experience with CZ stocks. You read here and there of splitting.

I noted on your Taylor (which I seriously considered replicating) you switched to a McMillan fiberglass. Could I ask if this was done due to concerns about the factory stock? Preventing adding a second recoild lug? On this 375HH conversion to 416Rem, did you swap stocks also or make other mods that just bedding?

I have to admit that I thought the reports of splitting of CZ 550 Mag stocks was exaggerated, but I did split one on the converted 416 rifle. What a pain, and expense! Of course I hadn't bedded it and no cross-bolts: so I had it coming!

It is waiting in the corner to send to McMillan, as between the splitting and warping, it just isn't in the cards for that wood stock I'm afraid. The problem is the 4 or 5 month wait on McMillan to get anything done.

I took a 9.3x62 to Zim in 2004, the American version of the 550. Between the time I got on the plane to go and when I got there, the forend had warped so bad I could hardly get it sighted-in. I gave up and wanted a fiberglass stock, which, luckily, McMillan makes (the AHR). Hence the fiberglass stock on the Taylor.

Yea, fiberglass stocks are ugly and they make weird noises when scraped against brush, but they are also carefree.

But I also think that any CZ mag stock can be prevented from splitting if it's bedded and cross-bolted but getting that done around here is a task, and not my forte. That expense vs. the $600 or so for a new McMillan stock? Either way it is expensive.

The Taylor turned out so slim and trim and fast-handling, which is what I was after, that I'm never going back.

The good part about the CZ 550/416 Rem: 5 down. As opposed to the 416 Taylor: 3 down.

If you really want a 416 Rem., I'll sell you mine! I cut a pound off the weight. 375: 9.65 lbs. The converted 416 Rem: 8.6 lbs.

Had two clients with two Remington 700 rifles in camp. Both rifles were from factory and originally chambered in 416 Rem and not changed from 375 H&H to 416 Rem. The rifles looked identical. Both clients used flat nosed Trophy bonded solids. One rifle would feed them and the other would not? I am sure I remember both guys saying the had not had a gunsmithing work done on either rifle because they were quite suprised at what had happened. It was the rifles and not the guys using them.

Guess the lesson is to check the feeding if the gun is new. The more conical nosed bullets like the Hornady and Woodleigh tend to feed better in more guns than the flat nosed ammo. Some guns will feed one brands and types (soft or solid) fine but not another. With some brands a change in ammo brand negates the need for more work on the rifle.


VBR,


Ted Gorsline

I had to put new springs and followers in both my remington 700 416.Neither would feed anything.My winchester super grade 416 feeds any thing I put in it.

I am supose to get that sako 416 rem mag by next week.I am glad I got it 416 rem mags are getting hard to find.