Out of Africa...

[bowji john]

Apologies for a deviation from topic - it is related (just)

4 years a go I had a 404 Jeff built specifically for the kind of thing @Stalker1962 is planning

Thing owes me £3700 as it currently stands

Has never worked (properly) since I have had it - single feed is fine but in with 3 rounds in, the thing will not cycle correctly

Sent it to a knowledgeable gunsmith - he has just rung saying

1. The rifle not fit for purpose
2. Action will not be modifiable without spending about the same again in workmanship and time

Options

1. Turn the bloody thing into a bit of wall art and start again

If so ... options are

1. Mayfair Engineering action (£££££)
2. Abandon 404 jeff and apply for variation for 416 and buy a barrel and bolt head for my R8 pro success
3. Sell the 404 ammo and brass and dies and start again with different ammo (416 or 458 Lott)

or....

Abandon the whole idea, stick with the 9.3 x 62 and stay away from big things with attitude

those of you with an African interest - what would you do ????

 

[Stalker62]

What would you do?

That is nasty.
How about a second opinion from another gunsmith - before you commit to your next course of action?

 

[Stalker62]

Maybe lay of the Duikers tho !

You have hit a nerve there.

On our last trip Duiker was on the menu.

Long short - and I am not proud of this.

I shot one with a .375 (twice), once with a .458 Lott (passed to me by the PH) and still had to finish off the poor creature with a knife.

It is, in a long life of hunting/stalking, my very worst experience.

The poor thing hangs in my "Man Cave" and to this day, I cannot bear to look it in the eyes.

 

[zambezi]

If so ... options are

1. Mayfair Engineering action (£££££)
2. Abandon 404 jeff and apply for variation for 416 and buy a barrel and bolt head for my R8 pro success
3. Sell the 404 ammo and brass and dies and start again with different ammo (416 or 458 Lott)

or....

Abandon the whole idea, stick with the 9.3 x 62 and stay away from big things with attitude

Perhaps price each option and let that be a guide?

What option 2 allows is to take two calibers to Africa in a single smaller case...

The only option I would council against is the abstension. You know you will do that trip.

 

[Jamouk]

You have hit a nerve there.

On our last trip Duiker was on the menu.

Long short - and I am not proud of this.

I shot one with a .375 (twice), once with a .458 Lott (passed to me by the PH) and still had to finish off the poor creature with a knife.

It is, in a long life of hunting/stalking, my very worst experience.

The poor thing hangs in my "Man Cave" and to this day, I cannot bear to look it in the eyes.


Where did you hit it .. in the foot ?

 

[Jamouk]

Apologies for a deviation from topic - it is related (just)

4 years a go I had a 404 Jeff built specifically for the kind of thing @Stalker1962 is planning

Thing owes me £3700 as it currently stands

Has never worked (properly) since I have had it - single feed is fine but in with 3 rounds in, the thing will not cycle correctly

Sent it to a knowledgeable gunsmith - he has just rung saying

1. The rifle not fit for purpose
2. Action will not be modifiable without spending about the same again in workmanship and time

Options

1. Turn the bloody thing into a bit of wall art and start again

If so ... options are

1. Mayfair Engineering action (£££££)
2. Abandon 404 jeff and apply for variation for 416 and buy a barrel and bolt head for my R8 pro success
3. Sell the 404 ammo and brass and dies and start again with different ammo (416 or 458 Lott)

or....

Abandon the whole idea, stick with the 9.3 x 62 and stay away from big things with attitude

those of you with an African interest - what would you do ????

Option 1 .. do you mean legal action against Mayfield as they built it or get them to make an action ?

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Ref the .375 H&H Magnum round. Can someone please give me the lengths of the various weight bullets from say 220g to around 350 grains? I am not finding this info on the net.
Many thanks in advance.
Martin

 

[Jamouk]

Wilsons got .416 but only solids

 

[bowji john]

Option 1 .. do you mean legal action against Mayfield as they built it or get them to make an action ?

Ah …

And once again - apologies to @Stalker1962 for camping on his parade ground

No - mayfair is a solution- the action was screwed up elsewhere

This has been an ongoing problem- I’ve collected gunsmiths (and expenses) with this project like moss on a winter wall

There is a limit to how many hundreds of quid you can throw at nostalgia and romance - as that is what hunting in Africa is

 

[bowji john]

How one feels when let down on a custom medium or big bore rifle project

 

[Stalker62]

And once again - apologies to @Stalker1962 for camping on his parade ground.

The title of the thread is "Out of Africa"...it's all good.

 

[Stalker62]

There is a limit to how many hundreds of quid you can throw at nostalgia and romance - as that is what hunting in Africa is

It is.

Without doubt, it is.

However, you give up on Africa and you give up on life.

My life has been 'enriched' by my trips to Africa - ironic really, because it has left me destitute....


Discuss.

 

[bowji john]

It is.

Without doubt, it is.

However, you give up on Africa and you give up on life.

My life has been 'enriched' by my trips to Africa - ironic really, because it has left me destitute....


Discuss.

You are right of course

It's a damn itch that just must be scratched

For me it very profound, as in Moz I've found an Africa of my youth that I thought long gone

 

[Tazz]

Anyone who has the money and chance should go to Africa and hunt at least once, and don’t wait too long a mate did that and now he has the money to go but not the level of health that he would enjoy it

 

[Stalker62]

For me it very profound, as in Moz I've found an Africa of my youth that I thought long gone

My Safari experience is very modest. Two of my travelling companions are much more experienced.

They say the same thing about Mozambique.

I am just delighted to be going back there - it really is a magical place.

 

[Stalker62]

Anyone who has the money and chance should go to Africa and hunt at least once, and don’t wait too long a mate did that and now he has the money to go but not the level of health that he would enjoy it

Safari.

A bit like comedy.

All about the timing.


You are absolutely right. I have taken the "unorthodox' route - left it too late (physically) and still have no money.

 

[Stalker62]

Wilsons got .416 but only solids

Many thanks for looking.

I have managed to source two boxes of Nosler Partition 400gr SP.

The importer had only eight boxes - I have taken two.

This means (once I have the damn things in my hand, as I am still waiting the return of my FAC with its variation)...




All other things being equal - the .416 is going to Africa.

As it should be...

 

[opticron1]

Apologies for a deviation from topic - it is related (just)

4 years a go I had a 404 Jeff built specifically for the kind of thing @Stalker1962 is planning

Thing owes me £3700 as it currently stands

Has never worked (properly) since I have had it - single feed is fine but in with 3 rounds in, the thing will not cycle correctly

Sent it to a knowledgeable gunsmith - he has just rung saying

1. The rifle not fit for purpose
2. Action will not be modifiable without spending about the same again in workmanship and time

Options

1. Turn the bloody thing into a bit of wall art and start again

If so ... options are

1. Mayfair Engineering action (£££££)
2. Abandon 404 jeff and apply for variation for 416 and buy a barrel and bolt head for my R8 pro success
3. Sell the 404 ammo and brass and dies and start again with different ammo (416 or 458 Lott)

or....

Abandon the whole idea, stick with the 9.3 x 62 and stay away from big things with attitude

those of you with an African interest - what would you do ????

Please forgive me asking a daft laddie question....... Would it not be a little more straight forward, using the 404 as a single round rifle and hand feeding it. Maybe design up a neat engraved plate to fill the magazine slot. I know it would raise the element of "excitement" if you were being charged by an irate Duiker (in Stalker1962's case) or a Buffalo in everyone else's case - it would be interesting to see how quickly you can feed the round with a surge of adrenaline!
Just seems a shame to miss out on what is a nice rifle and write off £3700 when you go looking for a replacement.....

 

[Stalker62]

I know it would raise the element of "excitement" if you were being charged by an irate Duiker (in Stalker1962's case) or a Buffalo in everyone else's case -

Perhaps the most cutting remark I have seen on this Forum.



Do not underestimate how ferocious a Duiker can be.

They have been known to take and eat small children, and they hold a grudge better that any Sicilian family.

Fairly sure that is true.

 

[bowji john]

I agree @Stalker1962

Never underestimate a charging Duiker

Seriously - It never ceases to amaze me just how weak we are compared with the most seemingly diminutive animals

You only need to witness a red pushing effortlessly through a thick hedge (that would cause a Landover to hang up on) to realise just where we are on in the pecking order

As for my 404 Jessie (sorry Jeffery)

I have to come clean and admit that the rifle is not for hunting - it was bought/commissioned as a stopping rifle for times when I might be poncing around the bush pretending to be a game ranger or running 'conservation courses'

As a good friend of mine (and a former contributor here) @CarlW once said (actually he said a number of things - one was ''you ain't ****ing about with me in the bush with a rifle that doesn't work properly !! ''

He also said

A DG rifle is ''like a hammer'' - it doesn't need to be sophisticated - it needs to work every time without fail

He is right

Also

When something very large and unpleasant has marked your card - one thing that doesn't go through you mind is

''I'm glad I didn't spend a bit more on my rifle''

Along the same lines is the thought

''I wish I had chosen a bigger calibre''

Also ...

Recoil? What recoil ?

I'm currently looking into 416 barrel or 458 lott barrel for my blaser (pink of course!)