Beginnings of a (hopefully) nice rifle.
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...12207928/fn-express-project#Post12207928
It will also take some inspiration from this rifle.
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...ries/12206893/french-walnut#Post12206893
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/galleries/12181723#Post12181723

That looks like a great project! My only suggestion is that you look into a 9.3x62 Mauser instead of the 375 H&H. The 9.3 will do 90% of what a 375 will do, but is much easier to fit into a standard 98 action. As you build this, can you please keep us updated as to how much each step costs? I've been thinking about a very similar project, but got scared off by the balance sheet

I haven't completely settled on a chambering yet, just leaning heavily towards 375 H&H as a replacement for my old Winchester pre64 in that chambering.

I'll post costs and time spent working on this thread.
Donor rifle- $410
Stock Blank- $199

It will be interesting to follow along with your project as it is similar to one I am thinking through. I believe fitting an H&H cartridge in that action will be more work but I'm curious what is actually involved.

Dropped it off at the gunsmith for a Rigby style bolt peep and a new bolt handle.
Rigby Style peep- $275
Bolt rework- $150

Total cost to date- $1034

Decided she will be a 404 Jeffery
$214 for reloading dies, brass and bullets
$330 for custom contour Pacnor barrel

Total cost to date- $1578

Adds up fast.

Tagged for cool project interest.

What are your plans for bottom metal?

Good question. Assuming you already have a proper unit for the.375 H&H, it will be too narrow for the .404.

I'm going to use the standard military bottom metal modified like the original early Jeffery 404 owned by 458win.
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...s/8462592/Re_Traditional_404_Jeffery_bui

Done correctly it should make a handy, lightweight and powerful rifle.

That's what I'm shooting for!

The last poster in that thread has the right idea, he ordered Wiebe bottom metal. Standard Mauser 98 bottom metal for an 8x57 measures about .883" wide at the cartridge base, bottom metal for the .404 should measure 1.020", the bigger issue comes at the front shoulder due to the .404 being much wider and the shoulder being further forward that on the 8x57.

Last I heard Duane Wiebe isn't making bottom metal right now. I sent him an email and his inbox was full. Anyhow, properly modified like 458win's rifle and it should be good for a hundred years or so.

Do you by chance have pics of that "modified" bottom metal?

I took some pics last night of a standard 98 8x57 bottom metal next to one of Wiebe's .404 units. BIG difference. I'll post those pics tonight.

Remember that Mauser used cartridge specific bottom metal for all their commercial builds. So, even if they used a standard instead of magnum action, they still made the bottom metal specific to the cartridge.

tag

https://www.africahunting.com/attachments/p1030828_zps5f724d19-jpg.34853/

Thanks. I saw that one before. Makes sense to use the stock as the sidewalls to the Mag Box because you can't open up a standard 8x57 bottom metal wide enough.

Tag

Not sure about my current choice of stock blank, and I'm currently in gunstock blank country, so I'll be stopping to look through a barn full of drying blanks on the way back to Montana.