okay..
416 taylor matches either of these fine rounds..

404 at least makes sense and doesn't have the additive problems of a SEVERALY rebated rim...

I wouldn't build a 425 for love or money for anyone

well, mebbe swmbo

the 404 is the best choice in the matter... especially if you are getting a tad long in the tooth (ducks)

jeffe

The 425 WR is a real bugger to get to feed right, so I would go with the 404.

It is not difficult to build a 404 Jefferys on a standard Mauser action, but neither one will work through and unmodified M-98 action...It requires opening up the action in the rear and a tad in front; opening the bolt face, rail work and a few other minor modifications..And a new drop box magazine IMO, which means a new stock of course.

The 425 WR is pretty much out of the question from a pratical point of view, and would be very expensive to convert and the finish would be less than satisfactory from a reloading standpoint...

The nearest calibers in big bores that can work through a std. 98 action is the 10.75 x 68, but even it requires modification...A 9.3x62 would not normally require anything except a new barrel. A 9.3x64 would require very little modification....

The 425 WR has the same case head as the 30-06 so it will fit a standard mauser boltface, and the cartridge overall length will fit into a standard mauser.



BUT, the rim is so severely rebated that a radical feeding system is needed to get them to feed. The radical feeding system is a single stack magazine with a special follower. THe parts cannot be purchased, so they must be made by hand which is very time consuming (and expensive). Unless there is an orignial 425 WR laying around to copy, this is also a research and development project. Most gunsmiths will not even take the job on, and those that will typically regret it.



The 404 Jeff requires skilled modifications to get to feed, but there are a lot of gunsmiths who can do it, and it is not that time consuming.

What a shame I thought that the .425 WR was built to work in the 98 mauser
From what I read, in previous posts, the .404 Jeffery is no walk in the park either.

Cheers,

Andr�

Johan,

Yes, the casting is much more raw than the Blackburn bottom metal that I had. However, I have a lot of confidence in the gunsmith that I will be using to do the finish work. I'm sure the end product will look nice. The $200 savings on the bottom metal will just get used to have the gunsmith make this one look nicer.

I ordered the 14x bottom metal from Blackburn and it was set up to remove metal from the front. It definitely came with a much nicer finish. I ended up sending this bottom metal back and having Blackburn ship me a 30-06 size bottom metal for my 9.3x62 project that will also be on a 1909 Argentine DWM mauser.

With respect to the action being milled in the ejection port, I asked the gunsmith to do that in order for the rifle to eject loaded rounds (which it does really well). Similar to what Winchester did on the Pre-64 M70 action in 375H&H and 300H&H. I saw a couple of photos of finished mausers chambered in 404 Jeffrey and they had it done as well.

Tim

I have a 1909 Argentine DWM mauser action that I plan on building into a 404 Jeffrey.

I just got it back from a gunsmith who did the action work necessary to get it to feed. I ended up using the London Guns bottom metal (cast) instead of the Blackburn bottom metal which I originally ordered. The Blackburn bottome metal was set up (at least from what my gunsmith and I could determine) so that you could only open the action up from the front. With the London Guns bottom metal we could take a bit out of the back of the action.

The other trick was to lap the lugs so that all three lugs (especially the rear "safety" lug) were bearing. Then the action was set out for heat treating. As you can see from the (poor) photo below, it still needs a lot of work.



However, this thing now feeds perfectly and holds four rounds in the magazine. The Lothar Walther barrel that we screwed into it is also really nice. Can't wait for it to be finished!

Tim

What about a 404 Dakota in that Mauser? I should feed very well and require less action modification.

I am in the process of having a .404 built on a 1909 and I feel that this round is odd-ball enough without going to a .425 WR IMHO

Genlemen



I think the 404 is the best caliber to fit in a mauser 98. 425WR is a dead caliber since selection of brass, bullets etc is very small. the 404 is a classic one can't ignore and no gun vault is complete without one



I a world of logic one should choose a 416 Rigby or Hoffman, but there are things that make one consider the 404



Shumba-



A friend of mine recently got his blackburn magazine/floorplates which were designed to do the biggest opening in the rear and just a tad forward. That casted magazine box looks really raw and need a bit ot work



Why has the action been milled in the side of the ejection port?



Cheers

/ JOHAN