Dakota 404 & 450 Rifle

[James.Grage]

What are your thought of the 404 and 450 Dakota Rifle and Cartridge.

As a Christmas present to my self i was thinking of have one or the other rifle built.

I am looking at stepping into a large bore rifle.

 

[enysse]

What Big Bores do you already own James?

 

[Code4]

I'd try to shoot a few big bores first (if practical). I'm recoil sensitive and my .416 Rigby is too big a round for me to use for long stints.

 

[sestoppelman]

It appears the 404 Dak is just about the same power level as the standard .416 Rigby which is to say a fine cartridge but one with a fair amount of recoil. Of course a handloader can make it whatever he wants, such as similar to the original .404, the Jeffery. My own .404 Jeff-CZ at standard velocity or a little above is a pussycat, mostly because of a heavy rifle with good recoil pad. Choices, choices. Delicious!

 

[enysse]

I would buy the 404 Dakota...it duplicates the 450/400 3.25. I really like the 450/400 3"!

The 450 Dakota is close to the 460 Weatherby Magnum and that is way too much power for me.

 

[Uncompahgre]

The 450 Dakota is stout but it does NOT recoil anywhere near like a 460 Weatherby. Now that the Remmington owns Dakota the quality of their rifles has also returned. Both are good calibers. Talk to Richard Spruill at Dakota and get his recommendation.

 

[PaulT]

James,
consider the standard 458 Lott.

It is available in quite a few factory rifles, loads are accessible in factory cartridges and if your comfortable with that level of recoil... it is a marvelous performer on thick skinned game.

Just a suggestion.

 

[James.Grage]

I was out of pocket this past weekend...thank you men for your reply...

What Big Bores do you already own James?

Enysse - Currently a 375 H & H is the biggest i own.

I'd try to shoot a few big bores first (if practical). I'm recoil sensitive and my .416 Rigby is too big a round for me to use for long stints.

Code4...last year i rented a 450 NE while on safari. i have had the chance to shoot 458 win. I have shot many different 375 and larger guns up to and including the 458...i wanted the chance to shoot a 577 NE however i missed the chance...

It appears the 404 Dak is just about the same power level as the standard .416 Rigby which is to say a fine cartridge but one with a fair amount of recoil. Of course a handloader can make it whatever he wants, such as similar to the original .404, the Jeffery. My own .404 Jeff-CZ at standard velocity or a little above is a pussycat, mostly because of a heavy rifle with good recoil pad. Choices, choices. Delicious!

Sestoppelman - After talking to some fellow hunters this past weekend i and leaning toward the 404 Jeff...While talking with the Dakota group i was given many ideas and what period i would be looking at to have a rifle built, however my fellow hunter friends reminded me that if you need to find ammunition on the road you will be in deep doo-doo with the Dakota...

James,
consider the standard 458 Lott.

It is available in quite a few factory rifles, loads are accessible in factory cartridges and if your comfortable with that level of recoil... it is a marvelous performer on thick skinned game.

Just a suggestion.

Paul - the 458 Lott idea was also given to me this past weekend and i could have one of them built...what i am looking at doing is going elephant hunting in 2013 or 2014...and my wife would like to take a trip with me to Australia and i was hopping to go hunting while she goes site seeing...i am trying to put together 2 trips a year for the next few years...hunting and vacationing...and if i can kill 2 birds with one trip hat is great...

The 450 Dakota is stout but it does NOT recoil anywhere near like a 460 Weatherby. Now that the Remmington owns Dakota the quality of their rifles has also returned. Both are good calibers. Talk to Richard Spruill at Dakota and get his recommendation.

Uncompahgre -- i am not sure who i talked to at Sturges --i did not put the name on paper...I like the rifle and the ones i looked at appear to be well built...the down side like i said above was the ammunition stage of the operation...i have no doubt in my mind that i would be able to shoot the Dakota rifles well.

 

[enysse]

404 Jeffrey, is a winner! Hope things work out for you.

 

[Daga Boy]

If you want a great DG rifle and can get your hands on a 450 Dakota then buy it.
It is way superior to a Lott and probably the best 450 Cal cartridge ever.
Very similar to the Rigby but actually a better and more efficient design
If I could find a reamer I would have one built.

 

[BeeMaa]

Ammunition availability alone would keep me from buying a Dakota cartridge.
If you currently shoot a 375 and it works for you, a 416 Rigby or 404 Jeff would be the next logical step up with excellent ammo availability.
See if you can find a friend with a 416, 404, 458...etc and give it a try to see how it feels to you.

Dakota makes a fine rifle, but for me it would need to be a more common caliber.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Daga Boy]

On the other hand. Being a travelling hunter you are going to need to carry enough ammo as you are not going to find 450 Dakota ammo in any camp or country gun store over here. So maybe the 450 Rigby is a better option for you if you need that much gun.
Both the 458Lott and the 404 Jeffrey have gained big followings here and are tge "go to" for many PH'S.
Other popular DG calibres are 416 Remington, 416Rigby and 458Wm, but the Wm does not make a great client gun
416 Ruger is also catching on.
However be advised that you can struggle to get ammo for calibres which are not widely used over here.

 

[postoak]

That brings up a question. Is it possible to ship ammo over to your outfitter ahead of your trip so you don't have to worry about lost ammo?

 

[Doug Hamilton]

That brings up a question. Is it possible to ship ammo over to your outfitter ahead of your trip so you don't have to worry about lost ammo?

That's a question I'd really like to know as well.

 

[Daga Boy]

As far as I am aware it cannot be done. There is one courier co company in SA that is licensed to transport Ammo (Ram) , but I think you are going to find the regulations and logistics an issue.
Best would be to order ammo in advance via one of the big gun shops (e.g. Safari and Outdoor).
All of that said, I would really recommend picking a calibre that is either standard or at least fairly common here.
Ammo which is readily available in bigger cals includes .375H&H, .375Ruger, .416 Rigby, .416 Ruger, .416 Remington, .404 Jeffrey, .458WM, .458 Lott and .450 Rigby.
Personally, I don't think any client hunter needs a rifle bigger than a .416 (and most get by well with less). The only possible exception would be hunting dangerous game in very thick cover, where a .458 or .470 is a better option.

 

[IvW]

I would stick with and recommend the original 404 Jeff. It can be loaded up to 450 gr bullet at respectable speed without undue recoil issues.
Factory ammo is available.
Easy to scope with QD outfit and paired with the 375 H&H you already own would make for a very sensible two rifle DG/PG battery.

 

[Daga Boy]

I would stick with and recommend the original 404 Jeff. It can be loaded up to 450 gr bullet at respectable speed without undue recoil issues.
Factory ammo is available.
Easy to scope with QD outfit and paired with the 375 H&H you already own would make for a very sensible two rifle DG/PG battery.

Agreed, 100%

 

[spike.t]

That brings up a question. Is it possible to ship ammo over to your outfitter ahead of your trip so you don't have to worry about lost ammo?

No not to here... and I doubt any other country in Africa where hunting takes place......and this thread is from 2011

 

[postoak]

Yeah, you guys are being practical, LOL. People who buy oddball cartridges and spend big money to have custom rifles made to shoot them are not practical!

 

[Tanks]

Yeah, you guys are being practical, LOL. People who buy oddball cartridges and spend big money to have custom rifles made to shoot them are not practical!

Exactly. All of my big bores other than my newly acquired .500 NE are wildcats (I consider .375 H&H medium bore). I hear precautions of people mentioning not being able to find ammo if it gets lost. How often does it happen?

Heck, does the local shop in the bush in Zim stock .416 Rigby or .375 H&H or .458 Winchester? I live in Southern CA. I wanted to get some factory 300 grain 375 H&H ammo to chrono a few months ago. No one within a 100 miles had it, not Bass Pro, not Sportsman's warehouse, not Turners. I went to web sites or called just about every shop.

If one can't find it in a metropolitan area of 10 million+ people I doubt it would be locally available easily unless the PH has some saved.

I take about 4 international trips a year. Probably a few hundred over the course of my lifetime. Never had luggage not make it. Once, my TuffPack was late as it was put on a later local flight in 2016 for a sheep hunt in Turkey.