My original plan was to attempt modifying my Mauser's bottom metal. Dwane Weibe suggested (strongly) purchasing something new instead. I'm glad I followed his advice! Modifying existing Mauser 98 bottom metal to work with 404 Jeffery may not be rocket science ... but it's pretty close to it. My hat's off to you!
I’m a glutton for punishment, I’ve also built an 8x68S on a Parker Hale 98 action and have done a lot of the same work again on that. When I have more time I’ll make replacement perch belly bottom metal plates for them both which will hopefully get one more round down in each
I'd be interested to see how that turns out. So they're both 3+1 now? Not sure I need five rounds in the gun but if it isn't too much fuss, I might consider it. Hunting alone I'll carry one in the chamber but with PH and tracker I'll only load the chamber for final stalk. I put a 3-position Model 70 style safety on this build and very glad I did. My scope is quick detach and when it's off for iron sights the typical 2-position Buhler style scope relief safety is too exposed. It is easily disengaged by being caught on clothing, brush, etc. This is an issue for my Springfield 30-06. I have to carry it empty chamber when the scope is off. With scope attached, the safety is well protected. I will order a 3-position safety for it too ... but they are VERY expensive. There is a way to make a Model 70 safety work on Springfield (M70 bolt shroud threads right onto Springfield) but it requires a machine shop to make a new striker.
What kind of loads have you worked up for your 404? I would like to step down to something less than 400 gr bullets for elk and deer but not finding any data for powder. I can pick up some 307 gr bullets at Hammer, and Cutting Edge also has quite a variety but I'm not sure about CE's hand grenade design for animals I want to eat. I understand Woodleigh also may have a wider selection but very hard to find that brand up here.
Hope your wife is doing better. Looking forward to an update on project and projectiles.
I supplied a used custom shop stock I grabbed off of E-bay Jim did the rest of the work. Nothing Fancy but it works for me.
Very nice. I bought my stock from Gunpost ad. It was semi-completed never mounted. Turns out the fore end tip was badly damaged by the factory carving machine, forcing me to try my hand at making a tip. Only rosewood available locally was poor quality. I was rushed to get the gun done in time for August safari and no time to order anything so I grabbed a chunk of zebrawood the shop had on hand. Made it work. I ordered an "old English" recoil pad like yours but forgot to adjust for one inch of wood to cut off the butt. Consequently, the pad was too big and I wound up cutting into the internal baffle when trimming it. No time to order another so I resurrected an old black one I salvaged years ago from a broken shotgun stock. Doesn't look very Africanesque but it works. The stock was factory cut for a Parker Hale style trigger block safety. I had already installed a 3-position Model 70 style safety so I filled the trigger block cavity with brown epoxy. The stock has two birdseye knot blemishes near the butt but they don't affect structural strength. Turned out looking like a working gun rather than a work of art. I'm okay with that. This gun is a reflection of the guy who built it and how he hunts. I keep looking for a nice piece of wood to come up on eBay but maybe I should just stick with this one. Bought it as a "learning tool" but the end result was much better than expected. Metal fit to wood is almost perfect. Hard to throw it aside. Perhaps I'll just build another fancy rifle as "a work of art" ... just to say I did it.
Exactly what I had done and exactly what I would suggest.
