The Accurate Reloading Forums
The Building of a Beauty (Finished Rifle! 4/28/12)

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24 February 2012, 06:58
MJines
The Building of a Beauty (Finished Rifle! 4/28/12)
Duane has started working on the .404 Jeffery he is building for me. As he shares pictures with me, I will share them so everyone can see the building of a beauty.






Mike
24 February 2012, 07:19
HBH
Mike

Thanks for the fix!

Great fun.

Many Thanks

HBH
24 February 2012, 07:25
budiceale
"beauty" is right! i'm looking forward to progress pictures.


blaming guns for crime is like blaming silverware for rosie o'donnell being fat
24 February 2012, 17:54
Don Markey
Looking good, what was the premium you had to pay to get Duane to cut off that charger hump and drill thru the crest? Big Grin
Don
24 February 2012, 18:02
TC1
I love these threads. Looks great. Keep'm coming.

Terry


--------------------------------------------

Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
24 February 2012, 18:18
jjs
quote:
Originally posted by TC1:
I love these threads. Looks great. Keep'm coming.

Terry


Agreed!

The 404 Jeffery is a great choice.

Very interested in knowning choice of components and how the rifle will be set-up...
24 February 2012, 18:44
Woodhits
These threads always cost me money.
24 February 2012, 22:48
shootaway
I am sure it will be a beauty.What are we looking at here? Will this one have claw mounts? Is that a soldered on quarter rib? Will you be choosing the blank or will the gunmaker?
24 February 2012, 23:10
bwanamrm
Very nice Mike... the .404 is one of my favorites! Right up there with the .416 Rigby for versatility and shootability!


On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling

Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.
25 February 2012, 00:04
Midwesterner
Love the .404! what action are you using?
25 February 2012, 01:42
MJines
Answers to some of the questions posed. Here is the look we trying to replicate, although we intend to use a different front sight and different scope mounts.



Action is an Oberndorf 1935 Chilean. The blank is one that Duane had. I sent him two blanks but we concluded that the one he had would be preferable to the two I had. We are using EAW Quick-Loc mounts, hence the reason that the receiver ring was drilled and tapped. I want the scope rings mounted on the barrel of the scope and do not want the front ring on the scope objective. Scope will be a 3-9x36 Swarovski.


Mike
25 February 2012, 01:51
vapodog
looking great....and I agree...these threads are the best of AR


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25 February 2012, 02:18
Von Gruff
quote:
Originally posted by MJines:





IF I remember correctly is this a WR that was posted quite some time back? Georgous rifle and in 404 will be more than just a beauty. Looknig forward to updates on this one. Can you get a pic of the blank you will be using.


Von Gruff.

http://www.vongruffknives.com/

Gen 12: 1-3

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12


25 February 2012, 05:00
Duane Wiebe
Damn it Mike...You shared the photos before my manicure!
25 February 2012, 05:25
Heym 450/400
That WR is one of the classiest rifles I have ever seen. If your going to build a rifle with a certain "look", thats the one Cool
25 February 2012, 09:43
BaxterB
Mike, you have picked what I consider to be the most elegant model on which to have your rifle based. I have lusted after that rifle for a decade.

Just from sheer looks, I think that WR tops any other I have seen. Can't wait to see Duane's version.

_Baxter
25 February 2012, 11:42
Wink
Mike, do you foresee engraving in this project?


_________________________________

AR, where the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history become the nattering nabobs of negativisim.
25 February 2012, 18:18
MJines
I am not a huge engraving fan . . . I tell myself that I do not appreciate the aesthetics but in reality it is probably me just being a cheapskate. I do intend to have an initial plate engraved to install on the butt of the stock.

I hope the front sight turns out okay. To replicate the WR front sight is not an economic endeavor for the faint of heart or light of scratch. We are still going to do a flip up front sight, but a simpler version, something akin to this:




Mike
25 February 2012, 18:40
TC1
quote:
Originally posted by MJines:
I am not a huge engraving fan . . . I tell myself that I do not appreciate the aesthetics but in reality it is probably me just being a cheapskate. I do intend to have an initial plate engraved to install on the butt of the stock.

I hope the front sight turns out okay. To replicate the WR front sight is not an economic endeavor for the faint of heart or light of scratch. We are still going to do a flip up front sight, but a simpler version, something akin to this:



I hope you change your mind and spring for a little engraving. I don't like a lot myself, but a little simple trim makes for a complete custom.

I really like what you're trying to duplicate. It's going to be a stunning rifle when finished.

Terry


--------------------------------------------

Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
25 February 2012, 19:26
EDMHUNTER
What action are you using? Duane you need to start using palmolive!
25 February 2012, 19:47
Michael Robinson
MJ, that Westley Richards is a fine model. I'd move the front sling swivel back towards the fore end tip a bit, but I don't think I'd change another thing.

Except maybe the front sight - I agree that the one in your photo is pretty cool. Who made it?


Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
27 February 2012, 06:15
Fal Grunt
Are there any good pictures of the WR front sight?


Nathaniel Myers
Myers Arms LLC
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27 February 2012, 07:01
Howard
Very Nice.

Thanks for sharing.


Howard
Moses Lake, Washington USA
hwhomes@outlook.com
27 February 2012, 07:14
MJines
Here are some pictures of the first one (last one?) that Duane did.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...671000611#8671000611


Mike
27 February 2012, 20:21
srtrax
Good, these type of threads are what makes AR interesting. Looking forwards to it!

Question to Duane...I noticed what looks to be three holes drilled and pins installed and possiably ground to the sides of the quarter rib in the first picture...who, what, when, where, why? Dont see where it fits in with the dovetail.


_____________________
Steve Traxson

27 February 2012, 22:24
Don Markey
quote:
Originally posted by srtrax:
Good, these type of threads are what makes AR interesting. Looking forwards to it!

Question to Duane...I noticed what looks to be three holes drilled and pins installed and possiably ground to the sides of the quarter rib in the first picture...who, what, when, where, why? Dont see where it fits in with the dovetail.


My bet is they are marks left from the clamp screws used to hold the rib it whatever fixture he uses to cut it. I'd like to a pic of that.
Don
27 February 2012, 22:30
dogcat
quote:
Originally posted by MJines:
Here are some pictures of the first one (last one?) that Duane did.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...671000611#8671000611



That is so ugly you need to sell it to me just get it out of your house. Hope your .404 Jeff looks better!!!!
Big Grin
27 February 2012, 22:32
dogcat
Mike,
In all seriousness, that looks fantastic. I hope you plan to shoot it and then write a great hunt report then order another gun, then shoot something fun then write another hunt report.....
28 February 2012, 06:13
Charles_Helm
On the Model 70 that Wayne reworked for me at AHR, we used the Recknagel/NECG flip up sight hood with an insert with a flip-up night sight. I like how it came out but it did require a higher rear sight blade that Wayne had to fabricate.


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28 February 2012, 15:41
Rusty
Damn Mike! That is going to be a beauty! I think you should have some engraving. The engraving on my 404 that Roger Kehr, aka Scrollcutter, did looks great!

Can't wait to see your new rifle at the range!


Rusty
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29 February 2012, 09:51
ozhunter
quote:
Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
I agree that the one in your photo is pretty cool. Who made it?


German Recknagel H&H type front sight or similar;

quote:
Originally posted by MJines:
I am not a huge engraving fan . . . I tell myself that I do not appreciate the aesthetics but in reality it is probably me just being a cheapskate. I do intend to have an initial plate engraved to install on the butt of the stock.

I hope the front sight turns out okay. To replicate the WR front sight is not an economic endeavor for the faint of heart or light of scratch. We are still going to do a flip up front sight, but a simpler version, something akin to this:


03 March 2012, 16:57
MJines
Some additional progress photos:







Mike
03 March 2012, 20:41
bwanamrm
Looks to be coming along nicely Mike... congrats to you and Mr. Wiebe. I like everything about the rifle but if it were mine would probably do something more simple with the front sight... but that's why they make 31 flavors of ice cream at Baskin Robbins!


On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling

Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.
04 March 2012, 02:32
MJines
First coat of alkenet root oil:






Mike
04 March 2012, 08:31
HBH
Very Nice!

I think Duane could be related to Larry the Cable Guy, he is a "Gettr Done" kind of guy.

And he certainly has my respect and admiration for his talent and work ethic!

Many Thanks

Brett
05 March 2012, 01:00
maxbear
Thank you for posting photo's of your project Mike. I always find Duane's work in progress photo's interesting,and educational.
I have an axe head I forged when I was 25 years old. Tried to carve a nice handle but it just didn't work out very well. So to the store I went to buy a handle.
Men with Duane's skills are rarer then Gutenberg's bible.
06 March 2012, 06:18
MJines
Putting the pieces together. Looking good huh! I like the look of that longer barrel.




Mike
06 March 2012, 07:31
ForrestB
I like it a lot. Personally though, I'd like to see the fore end tip with a little more upsweep.


______________________________
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06 March 2012, 07:50
Austin Hunter
It'd be cool if one of the masters like Duane did a time lapse film of themselves building a rifle.


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06 March 2012, 09:26
BaxterB
I also like the long barrel. Nice rifle.