I just bought my second Model 70 in .300 RUM. I've posted pictures of the first here several times. Roger Ferrell did a bang up job of converting it into a .404 Jeffery.

Here's a picture of the .404 Jeffery Roger put together (apologizes to those tired of looking at it):



I'm interested in a non-wildcat caliber (and not a Dakota) that would be compatible with the RUM case (and not a .375 RUM)... are any of the old English cartridges good candidates? I want something .45 caliber and up.

I would definitely want at least three down and one in the tube as my Model 70 .404 now holds.

Any comments?

Congrats Judge, with a little smith work that would make a damn fine 450 Rigby custom rifle. Midways got brass...Enjoy

the 404 was the largest of that case .. it is the largest non-dakota/wildcat on it .. wildcats go al the way to 458 ultracat.

450 rigby is a 416 rigby FULL LENGTH case, which would be a 2+1 in the best case, on a m70, though it IS A WILDCAT, invented in 1996, by rigby of california .. its NOT an english or classic round.

404 is the right answer, E ..

jeffe

450/400? Its a factory round from Hornady.
400 H&H and the 450 Alaskan,450 Watts.
Would any of those work?

As Jeffe says you ahve already arrived with the 404.

45 calibre will need a wildcat is the 404 or RUM case is used and there are a couple that are quite standardised. I think Saeed's PH Roy Vincent has a 460 G&A (Guns and Ammo) and there is the 458 Ultracat Jeffe mentioned. The latter should be all straight forward for dies and reamer.

Otherwise 458 Lott but I have no idea of what feeding issues there would be when a RUM action is the basis. Calibres like 458 Win/Lott need to be real right to feed correctly because the bullet is very close to the diameter of the chamber and doubly so with very blunt bullets with large soft points.

Maybe it would be nice to make a second 404 but in a different configuration.

Oh, super easy decision....the .404 Jeffery big brother, the .500 Jeffery

Since it's a wildcat it doesn't meet your spec sheet, but a 458 African Express would be a great wildcat for that rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by Buliwyf:
Oh, super easy decision....the .404 Jeffery big brother, the .500 Jeffery

With a .500 Jeffery could you still use the same stock and get three down and one in the tube (albeit with new bottom metal and an aftermarket magazine???)

quote:

Originally posted by Buliwyf:
Oh, super easy decision....the .404 Jeffery big brother, the .500 Jeffery

NO .. the judge is asking after cases close to the rum/404.. which the 500 jeffe AINT .. it is not even remotely the same case, not even with its rebated case head.. it wouldn't even be 2+1

404 is the largest on that case, that is not a wildcat ..

Wink, the 458 african express and the 458 AccRel are pretty close!

Great looking 404, it ought to do the trick.

458 LOTT is the only one that fits all your specs. 3down, non wildcat, .45cal, and it will work just fine with no modifications to bottom metal or magazine, if anything maybe some ramp modification but you can try one in the rifle the way it sits right now it should work fine.

Bijou hit it on the head. I have one that is now 470 Capstick and I wouldnot put anything larger than the RUM or H&H case in it. Now we just have to find a nice "english" title for the 458 Lott. Maybe 458 H&H? wait a minute, What about the 458 express?

Another vote for the Lott.

I love mune.

Keith

A 458 Lott will not feed worth a damn through a stock model 70 300 rum. At the least a new follower would be needed. I also think that the feed rails and box on the model 70 rum action are a bit wider than the model 70 375 H&H action.

Thats strange Ben. The 470 Capstick feeds fine? You would think that the Lott would be ok, but we are dealing with feeding and we all know that a little bit makes a difference.
Now that you mention it I have a different follower in mine.

Well, the M70 action chambered .300 RUM is a good beginning to the .500 Jeffery. The .500 is worth looking into the bottom metal options before final decision, including custom bottom metal. The .500 Jeffery is the perfect companion to the .404 Jeffery.

quote:

Thats strange Ben. The 470 Capstick feeds fine? You would think that the Lott would be ok, but we are dealing with feeding and we all know that a little bit makes a difference.
Now that you mention it I have a different follower in mine.

The follower for the rum is simply to narrow for belted, H&H based cases. I tried a 300 Weatherby dummy round in mine to see if I could go that route should I get sick of the rum. It would not work at all.
Also looking at it it appears the rails are a bit to wide as well, although i am not certain on this.
I wonder if all mod 70 actions with .330 rear bridge hole spacing use the same feed rail dimensions, but different mag boxes/followers??
I do know that the 338 and 300 win mag classics I had were identical in everyway, so this may be the case.