Bonk
AH fanatic
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2019
- Messages
- 626
- Reaction score
- 1,823
- Location
- Kentucky, USA
- Media
- 8
- Member of
- Life Member NRA
I've been pondering this for a while now. I really want a 404J. I'm a sucker for old school calibers and the dream of a buffalo hunt isn't dead yet.
I have a couple of nice 375H&H rifles (Ruger RSM & an AHR upgraded CZ550) and I considered converting one of them to 404J but I think I'm just going to sell one or both of them. I also have 9.3x62 and 9.3x74R rifles that fill the medium bore niche in my collection so if I get a 404J I don't need 375H&H. That leaves my beloved AHR custom built CZ550 300H&H as a possible donor rifle and I think that's the direction I'm going to go. Before anyone hollers "Blasphemy!" let me explain.
First of all I have more than one 300H&H. Second, my CZ550 is a really big rifle for 300H&H. I'm not a weight weenie and I knew going in that a 300H&H built on a CZ550 magnum action and a walnut stock was going to be a monster for a 30 caliber rifle and it is. About 9.5 lbs loaded with a scope a sling. I still love the rifle but I've convinced myself it will make the perfect platform for a 404J. It already has the magnum receiver, heavy walnut stock, ebony fore end and all the other wonderful AHR goodness. All it needs is to be rebarreled and I think the bolt face has to be opened up a bit.
The idea of me getting a 404J of some sort has been decided. That will happen. The question was do I defile my 300H&H custom build to do it? The answer in my mind was yes. I really don't want to spend the kind of money it would take to build a 404J from the ground up plus I really think rebarrelling my 300H&H is the best move for the rifle. It's built like a 404J and it really isn't happy as a 300H&H.
I solidified my membership application by buying a couple of boxes of 400gr Hornady DGX Bonded .423 bullets yesterday. Matrix Gunsmithing is looking for a barrel and will do the work. I'm on the hunt for dies and brass. Wish me luck.
BTW, does anybody need any .411 bullets? I have 4 new unopened 50rd boxes of Hornady Interlock 405 Win 300gr SP I bought about a year ago when I was considering 400H&H. I saw them in the dusty corner of a LGS and I bought them on the spot because I knew they were hard to come by.
This is the donor rifle:
I have a couple of nice 375H&H rifles (Ruger RSM & an AHR upgraded CZ550) and I considered converting one of them to 404J but I think I'm just going to sell one or both of them. I also have 9.3x62 and 9.3x74R rifles that fill the medium bore niche in my collection so if I get a 404J I don't need 375H&H. That leaves my beloved AHR custom built CZ550 300H&H as a possible donor rifle and I think that's the direction I'm going to go. Before anyone hollers "Blasphemy!" let me explain.
First of all I have more than one 300H&H. Second, my CZ550 is a really big rifle for 300H&H. I'm not a weight weenie and I knew going in that a 300H&H built on a CZ550 magnum action and a walnut stock was going to be a monster for a 30 caliber rifle and it is. About 9.5 lbs loaded with a scope a sling. I still love the rifle but I've convinced myself it will make the perfect platform for a 404J. It already has the magnum receiver, heavy walnut stock, ebony fore end and all the other wonderful AHR goodness. All it needs is to be rebarreled and I think the bolt face has to be opened up a bit.
The idea of me getting a 404J of some sort has been decided. That will happen. The question was do I defile my 300H&H custom build to do it? The answer in my mind was yes. I really don't want to spend the kind of money it would take to build a 404J from the ground up plus I really think rebarrelling my 300H&H is the best move for the rifle. It's built like a 404J and it really isn't happy as a 300H&H.
I solidified my membership application by buying a couple of boxes of 400gr Hornady DGX Bonded .423 bullets yesterday. Matrix Gunsmithing is looking for a barrel and will do the work. I'm on the hunt for dies and brass. Wish me luck.
BTW, does anybody need any .411 bullets? I have 4 new unopened 50rd boxes of Hornady Interlock 405 Win 300gr SP I bought about a year ago when I was considering 400H&H. I saw them in the dusty corner of a LGS and I bought them on the spot because I knew they were hard to come by.
This is the donor rifle: