.404 jeffery

oldgutpile · #1 03-01-2018, 11:44 AM

For some unknown reason (cabin fever) I have it in my head that I need/want a .404 jeffery. Not the easiest caliber to find by any mean.
If I have to go the route of a custom build, what is the best donor gun to hunt for to make the build easier? I have heard that some of the new "rum" guns are based off of the jeffery, so would one of those make for an easier transition? I am thinking in the way of feeding, bolt face, etc. I suspect that not all smiths have the appropriate reamer sitting on their shelf, but I'll cross that bridge when it pops up.
What type of action would suit? Sako is one that comes to mind, and of course the venerable old mauser 98 as well. I am no fan of plastic, so something that I might find with a decent peice of lumber would really turn my crank!
If this was your project, how would you proceed?

45/70/500 · #2 03-01-2018, 12:20 PM

i think a 98 mauser or a CRF model 70 or that magnum Brno i cant remember the model number .

Dubious · #3 03-01-2018, 03:51 PM

The classic 404 Jeffery, good for whitetails low flying aircraft and stopping charging armoured vehicles all with the same shot. I think cz and Ruger both made a 404 at one point or another.

wolf308 · #4 03-01-2018, 06:22 PM

Lol ^

wolf308 · #5 03-01-2018, 09:03 PM

There's a 404 Dakota , left handed on CGNs ATM .... FYI

calgarychef · #6 03-01-2018, 09:09 PM

One of those classic cartridges that I've always wanted too

shorty · #7 03-01-2018, 09:40 PM

Find a long action with the appropriate bolt face, order a barrel and reamer (if your smith doesn't have one) get a piece of wood from Black Forest and get MCRS Tactical to cut it for you. I've done a couple this way not expensive.

32-40win · #8 03-02-2018, 02:28 AM

Certainly was/is available in a CZ550. I remember seeing them at Wholesale. I thought hard about it, as it had really nice wood on it. Picked up a 450-400 #1 instead. Seems to me there were two grades of them. There was an outfit in Texas doing the upgrades on the higher grade one for CZ USA, and another in Montana doing upgrades on them as well.

Diesel_wiesel · #9 03-02-2018, 10:16 AM

I don't know if that gun shop in settler ab is still open, but they had a couple CZ's on their shelf a Cpl years ago

Dean2 · #10 03-02-2018, 12:22 PM

The 700 RUM guns are perfect if you want a bolt 404. There are lots of others that will work but these don't take much fiddling with. 404s are actually quite common. Check Gunutz and the U.S. auction sites. Way cheaper to buy one, even if you have to import, than build one. If you go the classic double gun route then cheap isn't really going to be part of the equation.

Wolverine Sports, the one in Manitoba, is big into these types of African cartridges. He likely has one in stock.

oldgutpile · #11 03-02-2018, 05:01 PM

I already have lots of double rifles.
I checked Wolverine, Prophet, Corlanes, and even went looking through all the CZ rifles listed in Guns International. NADA!
The only one i have come across in Canada to date, is the one at Elwood Epps. Unfortunately it's a custom Dakota with synthetic stock for the lowly price of just under five grand!
I am looking for something a bit more "english classic"
I wont be in a panic to start getting serious about a build until after the Calgary show at the end of the month.

Dean2 · #12 03-02-2018, 05:29 PM

Well you could order a Zastava in 458 Win Mag and have it rebarreled to 404, or 375 and do the same. Mauser controlled feed action, open sights and a nice blue job. A little wood work and they look a lot like an English stalking rifle. Still has original stock, just reshaped. Mine in 7x57 reworked.

Before

After

AB2506 · #13 10-09-2019, 11:41 AM

From what I've read, the Winchester Model 70 that were chambered in the RUM cartridges are the best donor rifles.

CZ makes a 550 in 404 Jeffery. May have to order one.

SakoAlberta · #14 10-09-2019, 12:22 PM

Montana rifles might make one?

https://montanarifleco.com/rifles/dgr/

SakoAlberta · #15 10-09-2019, 12:24 PM

https://store.prophetriver.com/searc...&Submit=Search

CranePete · #16 10-09-2019, 02:06 PM

I stand to be corrected but wasn’t the Imperial Magnum line, based on the 404 Jeffries, built on a Sako magnum action?
CranePete

Athabasca1 · #17 10-09-2019, 03:38 PM

Definitely was based on the 404 Jeffrey. Pretty sure they were built on Sako actions as well.

Athabasca1 · #18 10-09-2019, 04:02 PM

I found an old article online saying they were built on Remington model 700 actions so not sure at all at this point in time.

coyoteman · #19 10-09-2019, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldgutpile

For some unknown reason (cabin fever) I have it in my head that I need/want a .404 jeffery. Not the easiest caliber to find by any mean.
If I have to go the route of a custom build, what is the best donor gun to hunt for to make the build easier? I have heard that some of the new "rum" guns are based off of the jeffery, so would one of those make for an easier transition? I am thinking in the way of feeding, bolt face, etc. I suspect that not all smiths have the appropriate reamer sitting on their shelf, but I'll cross that bridge when it pops up.
What type of action would suit? Sako is one that comes to mind, and of course the venerable old mauser 98 as well. I am no fan of plastic, so something that I might find with a decent peice of lumber would really turn my crank!
If this was your project, how would you proceed?

No need to try and figure out the why--My father had a .577 snider enfield,in excellant shape.as well as ammo.The gun was well made for hard useage.The single shot,no disadvantage what so ever-A real beauty.

Diesel_wiesel · #20 10-09-2019, 06:48 PM

I'm not completely positive on this
but a few years back I looked into one
there was some kinda gun store in I believe Stettler AB
they said CZ still makes and chambered the 404 jeffery and I was going to order one with a schmidt & bender scope for just a little over $6500
so you may want to look into CZ arms

silver · #21 10-10-2019, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 45/70/500

i think a 98 mauser or a CRF model 70 or that magnum Brno i cant remember the model number .

Brno #602

maudite · #22 10-10-2019, 06:38 AM

I d use a Rugemr no 1 tropical as a doner and fit it with a new barrel with express sights

Dean2 · #23 10-10-2019, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maudite

I d use a Rugemr no 1 tropical as a doner and fit it with a new barrel with express sights

Ruger makes a great gun but a single shot dangerous game rifle would not really be something with much resale value. I think if I was going to all the expense and trouble the CZ. Zastava or doing one on a RUM action would be a far better choice for a useable rifle. Be interesting to hear what OldGutPile finally settled on.

EZM · #24 10-10-2019, 08:25 PM

https://www.rockislandauction.com/de...ffery-with-box

I'd put the fellers out for something like this, a great quality firearm, at a reasonable price. No need to spend $5K or more building something IMO.

maudite · #25 10-11-2019, 10:23 AM

Like I said for me it would be a ruger no 1 stocked along the lines of an Farquharson style rifle with express rear sights and a pop up ivory front sight like those sold by NEG.If I was going for a custom gun I wouldn t care about resale as it s hard to get your money back on a custom gun anyway.

But anyway this is what I would build have fun with whatever you chose

aardvaark · #26 10-31-2019, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Athabasca1

Definitely was based on the 404 Jeffrey. Pretty sure they were built on Sako actions as well.

I’ve got a 338 Imp Mag in a Sako AV. Got it from Aubrey White at the gun show in Calgary several years ago. And it is based on the 404 Jeffrey. As is the RUM line. I use 375RUM brass. Downsize to 338. The fireform makes the rest of the change but that’s only the radius on the large end of the shoulder.