Nice rifle...the stock profile looks similar to mine but your is set as open sights.

I use a 6 o'clock hold for open sights and mine was spot on where Ralf regulated. My 404 shoots pretty much everything close at 50 yds, factory or handloads, softs and solids.

Scoped mine will put 3 shots in one large whole at 100 yds with my handloads. Softs and Solids are closer than any other rifle I have had the pleasure of shootng....

My experience, different shooter can/will shoot different POA/POI, find what works for you and I would expect it lives up to reputation!

I have two rifles on order with Ralf, a small ring GMA short action for a 7x57 and a small ring GMA long action for something I am debating.

Take it hunting and after a few scratches (I can live with) you can always have it refinished.

What is the barrel length? weight?

Mine was a pleasure to carry over any other rifle I've had...go shoot a few Buffalo and have some fun!

If it was set for the six o'clock hold then the point of impact should even be lower?

jjs,it is 9lbs 3/4.ozhunter,yes since I use a spot on hold or place the bead right over the bullseye when aiming,if I used a 6 o'clock hold and placed the bead an inch or two lower I would shoot lower.It could also be that Ralf shot many of my solids and that changed the point of impact.Solids are very hard on the bore.He did say that he shot alot with it and there was copper fouling from my solids in the bore that was difficult to get out.Shooting too many solids has dropped the POI on more than one of my big bores in the past.That is the main reason I hate solids.IMO,it could also be caused by the barrel not settling to a stable POI before a number of rounds have been through it.I think this is more likely to be the cause.

[URL= ]trigger guard[/URL]

[URL= ]rifle[/URL] [URL= ]spring[/URL] jjs,the barrel is 24 inches long. It holds 4 down plus 1 in the chamber and the weight of the rifle is 9lbs,9 ounces empty(using a bakers scale).

Beautiful rifle.

Congratulations. Happy hunts in Africa in all future.

J.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
It could also be that Ralf shot many of my solids and that changed the point of impact.Solids are very hard on the bore.He did say that he shot alot with it and there was copper fouling from my solids in the bore that was difficult to get out.Shooting too many solids has dropped the POI on more than one of my big bores in the past.That is the main reason I hate solids.IMO,it could also be caused by the barrel not settling to a stable POI before a number of rounds have been through it.I think this is more likely to be the cause.

You are bound to become one of Ralf's most memorable customers.

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by shootaway:
It could also be that Ralf shot many of my solids and that changed the point of impact.Solids are very hard on the bore.He did say that he shot alot with it and there was copper fouling from my solids in the bore that was difficult to get out.Shooting too many solids has dropped the POI on more than one of my big bores in the past.That is the main reason I hate solids.IMO,it could also be caused by the barrel not settling to a stable POI before a number of rounds have been through it.I think this is more likely to be the cause.

I highly doubt that. Nice rifle anyway.

Only in fairy tales do big bore rifles shoot to same the same point of impact from day one.You can experience an initial drop,and I find it to be very common with the 458 lott.The rifle then settles to a stable or permanent point of impact.

Beautiful rifle!

You're shooting a center hold and Ralf does a 6 O'clock hold and you're hitting 6" or so below the bull? If so, at 50 yards you're shooting about 10" or so lower than him. That's a lot of air resistance.

Shoots, it's a very nice rifle. Congrats. I hope it helps you create many great memories of DG hunting.

But shooting solids is NOT going to cause the POI to change.

Pretty rifle.
But seeing that the barrel is bent, maybe you should send it over here to be staightened.

I received a new rear and front sight and installed both.I will shoot it on Thursday and report back.

I tried out the rifle today with the new sights.I got the rifle shooting dead center at 50yds with the 550 woodleighs using an aluminum drift that Ralf sent with the rifle.I then filed the 200yd sight down so that I am in the kill zone at 200yds.The rifle kept it`s POI throughout the whole time and grouped well with solids and softs.The perfect rifle,IMO. [URL= ]50yds This is not a group but the different POI at 50 after using the drift to adjust windage at 50 and 100yds for the standing sight.I then fired two shots to test and left it alone.[/URL]

I shot the rifle again today.I cleaned it and wanted to see if POI remained the same and to see how it shoots offhand.I started the session by shooting one round off the bench to check POI and it hit dead center.I then fired two rds off the bench at two hundred yds and they hit as close as you can get.I then fired three rounds offhand at 50 yds and took video.To finish, I shot another four rounds offhand at 50yds at another target.I was using the 550 Woodleigh softs at top speed and the rifle managed recoil unlike any Lott that I shot before.I remember how my CZ lott bruised my nose up.What a world of a difference this rifle was. [URL= ]50yds[/URL] [URL= ]200yds[/URL] [URL= ]50 yds offhand [URL= ]50yds Video[/URL]

Awesome! A masterpiece!

quote:

Originally posted by EDMHUNTER:
Awesome! A masterpiece!

Thanks EDMHUNTER.It truly is!!

I really like the Krieger barrel.The last time I cleaned the bore it cleaned really easy.I shot both Woodleigh softs and solids.I had a slightly harder time cleaning today.I think a single 500gr Hornady DGS solid I fired may have caused the fouling.I think it will be the last time I will shoot the DGS.I had a hell of a difficult time cleaning my Ruger when I shot these.