Guys take a look at this, think this would make a 404 Jeff? Think its 4 Down? Its currently a 458 Win mag.

It won't feed properly without a new magazine box built specifically for the .404 Jeffery. Such a box is available from Recknagel in Germany. But then the stock probably will not fit the box, so you would need a new stock. And the barrel is already being tossed. So why not just start with an action and build up? It will be cheaper.

Looks like an FN...

with your machining skills, you could alter the mag box, if you wanted to invest that amount of time. Nice looking old gal!!

you should be able to tack a 404 box together fairly easily.. after all, it's been done for 90+ years.

jeffe

Looks like an "intermediate system"
About 5 mm shorter than a standard Mauser.
Not recommended for 404 Jeff.

Thanks Jeffe,

Not sure I want to jump into that, I though it was a interesting rifle though. Your quess at a FN wasn't too far wrong, its a F. Dumoulin. This pic shows more:





500grains, the stock isn't anyting special but I would want to preserve it i think, I agree if I got into that it probably isn't worth the effort.

It isn't fancy I know but its layed out well with good checkering and metal work, Probaly make a better conversion to a 375 H&H or a 416 Rem mag, or somethig like the 416 Taylor, 404 BJ express would be a slam dunk. I am trying to make a case for why I need a 458 Win Mag, in my head, rather unsucessfully I will note. Even throwed in I have bullets and brass to load or it, still not warming me up to a 458 Win mag. I will think a bit more, the stock is a Monte Carlo which is a one bad in my mind, not terminal just not my first choice.

How many do you think its holding down with the 458 my guess is 4 as the box looks a little deep. A note in the add said it had a 3.6" mag box so the length is there.

Simple on the 404 Jeff is buy a Winchester Ultra mag and build it up, I could buy this and have it populate my rack, and build up the Winchester all for about the same cost of converting the mauser to the 404.

500grains,

I have that Recknagel catalog, my german is poor, I knew it there but can't translate the details. You have any idea what that bottom metal costs?

Anyway it caught my eye, definately a meat and potatoes kind of mauser, not all gusseted up but all the interesting details are present.

Sorry, I don't know the number from Herr R. Perhaps a faxed question to him would sort that out. I say fax because email seems to irritate some of the more traditional folks out there.

quote:

if you wanted to invest that amount of time.

Jeffe, I would be willing to invest it if I had it, but the part that makes me able to look and afford such toys...work, is not giving me much of that currently, and actually looking grimer, I need to crank out two new clean board designs in the next couple months. Thats what I am doing up at 4:00 AM my time.

500grains,

Not important I was curious thats all, a safe guess is more than Ted Blackburn, possibly a couple hundred more by the time German production and shipping are factored in.

Thanks anyway,

Why not just leave it a 458????
For Africa shoot 450 or 500 grain bullets.
For BIG NA game use 400 grain Premium bullets, Swift Trophy Bonede Barnes X, North Fork etc. For deer and pigs shoot 350 grain Hornadays.

What is the price for that rifle?

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
What is the price for that rifle?

Cabelas is asking $2000.

quote:

Why not just leave it a 458????
For Africa shoot 450 or 500 grain bullets.
For BIG NA game use 400 grain Premium bullets, Swift Trophy Bonede Barnes X, North Fork etc. For deer and pigs shoot 350 grain Hornadays.

I don't have much use for a 458, don't need it on elk and deer. I know everybody one this forum likes to talk Africa. I on the other hand would either hunt Red Deer in New Zealand or Argentina. There or Alaska is my next hunt of that type. Hence I really don't need a 458 , I even tried to sweeten with the though of a buffalo hunt, so I would just absolutly need a big bore. I want a 404 Jeff, I would settle for a 416 Rigby.

Another though I had on this rifle. First its a 3.6" Mag box. It wouldn't take much to make it a 416 Rem Mag. Toying with the idea of how practical is, that's why I want to know how the round down count. Now got any guesses?

I don't know why when I go looking for a big bore and find a rifle I like ( remember I liked that criticised WR rifle with the checkering ) its a 458 win mag. I agree I am not sure I like the idea of pulling off the factory barrel on a rifle like this, I would rather leave it alone.

3.6" box? take 2 hours and make it a lott

jeffe

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
3.6" box? take 2 hours and make it a lott

jeffe

I knew you were going to say that, its why I deleted it out of my above. I don't need Lott either, if you do that would you change the factory engraving on 458 Win? XXX out Win for LOTT? Maybe a engraver has a cleaver idea there, if that part got figured out it would be interesting. Best I think is to leave it alone, second is have it rechambered and match the proflie, get picky on how the lettering is put back on the tube.

Its a nice rifle I like it, just don't need the caliber.

schromf
From what you said on your last post, sound like what you "need" is a good 375 H&H.

What part of Idaho are you in?

No, I have one of those a in a Old Model 70, and thats a nice rifle. I am interested in the 9.3x62 either or a 318 Westley Richards lately though.


I also have saved a place in my collection, for a rifle I can stick my finger down the bore. I mean down to the next gun purchase must have a big bore, I got everything from 6.5 to 375 covered in my rifles, some bores multiple times. It must be over 40. If its't a bolt rifle I am going to get something like at least a old rolling block or something. I wish the 458 shot a little flatter.

I am in Kootenai County, Idaho

schromf
I have hunted several times near Elk City, I will be back up there next June for a bear hunt and in Sept for elk.
The 458 Win Mag is the best big bore for a fun rifle IMHO. There are so many good bullets avialable for everything from deer to elephant.
Look at Federal and remington ballistic tables for the 400 and 450 grain bullets. they shoot flatter than you think.
Plus a 458 is the cheapest of the big bore rifles to shoot[plink] with.

A 458 with 400 or 450 grain bullets would be just the ticket for elk in the thick country around Elk City.

Next time I come that way lets get together, I will buy you dinner.

I think one of us on this board needs that .458 as it is a nice rifle at a nice price.

N E 450 No2,

Yes we should, let me know when your up this way.

500grains,

I am in agreement with that, that extra long box is interesting, definate posibilities.

The wood is plain but the checkering is excellent, and I like the grip cap, only minus I see on costemtics is the monte carlo stock. .....sigh 458 Win mag, maybe I will look at those pics again.

Save the money towards a Safari...

gs

Dan,
glad you said it.. each time i look at it, i like it more...

schromf
other than being monte carlo (and i bet under 15" lop) i don't really see anything i don't like. nice, smooth, balanced... sweet

jeffe

quote:

glad you said it.. each time i look at it, i like it more...

I spent the morning googling this, maybe I should make a phone call. Thats dangerous though it would take much to drop me over the edge on this one.

I don't think you have to X out anything to alter the caliber engraving as the gun would fire both. Just make it "458 Win & Lott"