Have a M70 in 300 RUM, and I want to turn it into a 404 Jeffery.

2 different smiths have rejected this project (one in Alabama, and another in Enid). Anyone have recommendations, especially of one who has done such a conversion before? Both of the smiths mentioned above said it couldn't be done, actually the one in Enid said he just didn't want to bother with it as it would be too complicated?

Did you check with our illustrious moderator Jeffe. I am betting he could do it, and probably would do it for a reasonable price.

Ask Tip Burns. BURNS GUN REPAIR in Canyon Lake Texas.

I know he has a 404 Jeffery reamer!

Rusty


He wore that 404 reamer out working your two beautiful rifles didn't he?

Champlins in Enid, OK Or Jeffe.

Rich
DRSS
NRA Life Member

cable68,

McGowens Rifle Barrels in St. Anne, IL did mine, it feeds fine and shoots well. If I recall it was about $600 including a stainless steel barrel.

BigB

Rich, JJ was the one in Enid (only about 45 miles away from me) who took a pass on it.

DO NOT CALL TIP BURNS, I REPEAT, DO NOT CALL TIP BURNS . . . do not call him until he finishes my .404 Jeffery.

All kidding aside, Tip does great work and is a nice guy to deal with to boot. He has done two beautiful rifles for me. You can see pictures posted on threads on this forum.

Mike

I had Roger Ferrell take the barrel off of a Classic Model 70 in .300 RUM and replace it with a .404 Jeffery, put on NECG sights, a barrel band, etc. The only needed mods to the action to get it to feed super slick was replacing the follower with a .375 H&H version and grinding off some bumps in the magazine on which uncrimped cases snagged.

The gun closes easily with three down and one up. I have developed a load that puts all the below bullet brands of 400 grains in the same place at 2280 fps and recoil is expremely mild. (Well, that's a little lie, the Swifts hit 2" high at 100 yards while the others hit p.o.a.)

The gun feeds Barnes and Woodleigh solids and softs and A-Frames softs.... but won't feed A-Square (and I'm kind of proud of that). I want to try North Forks, too as Mike makes darn fine bullets!

Ernest

Whoever told you that a Model 70 RUM action won't work for a 404J is full of crap. I made one on a 300WINMAG Model 70 and the only thing I had to do was replace the magazine box and follower. It doesn't feed well but Dennis Olson is fixing that (I think, he's had it for 16 months).

Materrifleman

You say the only thing you did was to replace the magazine box and follower on your .300 Winnie. But if I am not mistaken, doesn't the .404 have a larger case head diameter thn the .300 winnie? Didn't you also have to open up the bolt face to accept the cartridge?

quote:

Originally posted by Masterifleman:
... but Dennis Olson is fixing that (I think, he's had it for 16 months).

Good luck! He has had 2 of mine for 4 years.

Contacted Jeffe, and I'm going to follow his recommendations.