404 Jeffery

[Tintin]

@K95 I had a CZ rebarelled to .404 Jeffery. No major issues with the process.

https://www.africahunting.com/threa...xpress-appreciation-thread.84417/post-1282346

Of course you need another rifle.

 

[nomspc]

I have been thinking of building a custom rifle chambered in 404 Jeffery. I have a local gunsmith here in Australia who does excellent work with both metal and woodwork. I can source all components to build a lovely rifle. My problem is and I don't like saying this but I don't really need another rifle. The alternative is having a barrel in this caliber made for my Blaser R8. Has anyone done this in the 404 and how does it function and perform.

I had a .404J barrel for my R8 which fit and functioned beautifully, so it can be done. I know Tip Burns from Texas Sporting Arms is building them currently.

 

[Kevin375]

I think, it might be possible to get a .404 Jeffery from Blaser, but we need to be very very patient ! I already saw a photo with a factory barrel in this caliber made by Blaser a long time ago.

However, I think it's easier to get a Custom made barrel ! Currently, the easiest way to make such barrel is to start with an Akila Extension and the gunsmith has to fit the barrel to it.
But with the .404 Jeffery, the gunsmith also has to open slightly a magnum bolt head.

 

[WesRic404Jeff]

I think, it might be possible to get a .404 Jeffery from Blaser, but we need to be very very patient ! I already saw a photo with a factory barrel in this caliber made by Blaser a long time ago.

However, I think it's easier to get a Custom made barrel ! Currently, the easiest way to make such barrel is to start with an Akila Extension and the gunsmith has to fit the barrel to it.
But with the .404 Jeffery, the gunsmith also has to open slightly a magnum bolt head.

Blaser were willing to make a barrel for me, but then there were some new rules regarding quality assurance that had to be put in place so it had to wait. What Blaser wanted for such a barrel was never mentioned, but I reckon that a custom barrel from a gunsmith corresponds to 1/4 of what Blaser wants.

Regarding the bolt head and magazine insert. Use UM bolt head and magazine Inserts nr11.

 

[Nhoro]

I feel that I would get a 404 for the romance and history. Shooting it from a Blaser kind of messes that up. So I would say a mauser type action is needed. If you get a barrel from Blaser, it should be business- a 416 rem.

 

[Piet Brood]

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Piet, something weird happened with your post, it may just be my iPad, but there is lots of [emoji] [emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]], [emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]]] stuff…..
Oh, and that is a nice rifle, kind of wish I’d had some engraving done on mine. I built mine, but don’t engraving ,so it would need to go to someone else to get it done
Gumpy

Thanks! Dunno wtf happened there. Looks like it gets messed up whenever I use a number. So what I meant was that I believe this calibre should be based on a Mauser ninety eight action. My action is quite rough as it’s seen very little use. Built in the nineties but I only acquired it two years ago. Planning to change the little use of it.

 

[BlueFlyer]

That'll also give you the time to chase down brass. It's hard to find here in the US.

The build is in Australia, I am also assuming a custom build. Bertram have plently of 404J brass. Kieth at Sprinter has barrels, get some wonderful Tassy walnut, so I cannot see why not build the custom rifle. R8 is just a bit mundain

 

[John Telford]

I have been thinking of building a custom rifle chambered in 404 Jeffery. I have a local gunsmith here in Australia who does excellent work with both metal and woodwork. I can source all components to build a lovely rifle. My problem is and I don't like saying this but I don't really need another rifle. The alternative is having a barrel in this caliber made for my Blaser R8. Has anyone done this in the 404 and how does it function and perform.

J Sip and sons in Utah can make a .404 Jeff for your Blaser.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

You may not NEED another rifle. But deep down… you know that you WANT one. So go make that custom build ! I’d highly recommend building one with a Douglas Premium barrel, Circassian walnut stock & a Granite Mountain Arms African Magnum Mauser action.

Great caliber ! I hunted hippopotamus on land with a Cogswell & Harrison .404 Jeffery built on a Pattern 14 Enfield action. Fantastically accurate & well made thing, although I really wish that Cogswell & Harrison employed a steel magazine instead of the cheap alloy magazine.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have been thinking of building a custom rifle chambered in 404 Jeffery. I have a local gunsmith here in Australia who does excellent work with both metal and woodwork. I can source all components to build a lovely rifle. My problem is and I don't like saying this but I don't really need another rifle. The alternative is having a barrel in this caliber made for my Blaser R8. Has anyone done this in the 404 and how does it function and perform.

@K95
Don't worry about building a custom 404Jeffey yet mate
I have a friend with a lovely LEFT HAND Weatherby MkV in 404 Jeffery that he may be willing to part with. Yest you did read correctly a Left hand Weatherby Mk5
Would save a lot of hassles
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Ammo and components availability has improved significantly the past year. I built my own during the summer of 2023. It was a fun project. Built it on a standard military Czech 98 Mauser. Very doable and affordable. Standard action has shorter bolt throw than magnum. Only holds four cartridges which should be plenty for any experienced hunter. I ordered new bottom metal for 416 Remington and it worked fine without any modification. Also ordered a magnum follower for it but I understand many simply use the standard follower for this build (it was a cosmetic issue for me). A good gunsmith may be able to modify the walls of the standard action magazine but I suspect it might be cheaper to order new bottom metal. The only concern would be is the gunsmith capable of modifying the rails and feeding ramp? Tricky but I did it and I'm no gunsmith. We have read on this forum of more than one of these attempted builds messed up and ruined by shade tree "gunsmiths" (I will put myself below that category) screwing up the rails. Opening up the bolt face should be no problem (a local machinist who'd never done any gun work opened mine). Modifying the extractor is also a bit tricky but less worrisome. If first attempt gets messed up, a replacement extractor can be picked up easily to start over.

Building on a magnum CRF action would be pricey. Used donors aren't cheap and new magnum actions are hard to get and very expensive.

I don't care for R8 so this is kind of a moot question for me. I wouldn't own one. However, I think in the end you would find it much more rewarding to have a classic custom gun built for you vs just ordering another factory made barrel for a space age rifle. But that's just me.

Here's the 404 I built. Still need to replace the recoil pad. That old White Line trap pad came on the used stock that I refurbished. I need a bit more LOP so am ordering a thicker red one from NECG.
View attachment 656989

@Ontario Hunter
The gunsmith that @K95 would use is a TRUE MASTER in wood and metal.
I have had rifles built by him that are both beautiful and accurate ( very accurate)
My lowall, Whelen and on a Savage action and Whelen AI on an Enfield M17 done to Remington model 30s style.
He is the only one I know who is a master in rifles of all sorts, pistols and shotguns.
Bob