30-06 to 404 Jeffery

[Johnm1]

A buddy of mine is planning a conversion of a Remington Model 30 Express from 30-06 to 404 Jeffrey. This is something he's going to have a gunsmith do. At least the hard parts. He's considering the stock work which he's done before. In general, what are the things he needs to consider? Here are the things we discussed:

Barrel swap
Bolt fitting
Open up the magazine box
New/refit stock
Refinish metal

Does the receiver need to be modified for the length of the cartridge? figure the magazine box need to be fitted for the width. Are there any concerns for length. Are the box modifications something an amateur can do?

Are there any other operations we're not thinking about?

 

[Johnm1]

FYI - this isn’t something I’m interested in tackling. Lightyears beyond my skill set. Initially I thought I might be able to help with the bottom metal. But as I read more that won’t be me and if my buddy listens to me he’ll have the gunsmith do that.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

John, I know a fellow here in Tucson that might be able to help your friend. He is a bolt action guy that does rebarrel work. I can get a hold of him next week and talk about the project.

 

[Johnm1]

I can get a hold of him next week and talk about the project.

If he'd like to discuss it for discussion reasons, then bring him on. But he's been talking about this project for the better part of 10 years. And I'm pretty sure this is a project that Accuracy Speaks would take on. I personally would like to know the details of what to expect. He needs to know what he can and can't (or shouldn't) do.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

I can talk to my guy about it it may not possible to do on that action, that's why I would go to someone more knowledgeable.

 

[Johnm1]

Thanks JR.

He’s done a ton of research over the last 10 years or so. It’s the commercial version of the Springfield Model of 1917 and basically a Mauser 98 action with a slightly bigger box magazine originally intended for the British P14 303. So the general idea is it is a better match for this conversion than a 98 would be.

I suspect there are things he’s not considering yet. And what Remington did to modify the magazine to reliably feed the 30-06 is one of those items I don’t think he’s considering.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

I recognized the action as a p17 Enfield type. I really don't know much about the 404 Jefferies cartridge. I will contact my buddy today and see if he has any further thoughts. His pricing is very reasonable and his bolt action work has slowed way down on account of not wanting to do AR work. It should be an interesting conversation.

 

[Johnm1]

Thanks again.

I read a sequence for modifying a 98 action and the magazine mods along with the feed modifications were pretty extensive (at least in this amateur’s opinion). And I think he’s thinking it’s a simple widening of the box.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

I spoke to my guy this morning, he is somewhat familiar with that conversion. It's extremely labor intensive. Not only does the barrel need to be changed but feed rails need to be widened as well as the magazine box needs to be lengthened. The bolt face has to be opened up too. As far as my friend knows there's no one out there that would take on that particular job. It's definitely something that the guy doing it is going to lose money on.

 

[Jim Watson]

There was a company that built all manner of big bores on 1917 and M30 actions. Not cheap. And they made big bulky stocks to help handle recoil… not very handy on safari.

 

[BBBBill]

There was a company that built all manner of big bores on 1917 and M30 actions.

A Square. Brainchild of Arthur Alphin.

 

[Jim Watson]

That's the one. I knew the letter A was involved.