Dakota 375HH ammo issues

[Tucketed]

I received a new to me Dakota Safari in 375HH. I use factory ammo so have both Swift AFrame 300 grain made by Swift and Barnes TSX in 300 grains. The Barnes ammo cycles nicely the Swift ( two different periods of time one new one 7 years old) will not allow me to close the bolt. By eye they look same case length and loaded length. The Swift ammo when cycled will exhibit scratch lines so my assumption is the difference in the ogive of the Swift is hold up. Rifle barrel is clean but I can’t really see the throat well. I have never shot the rifle. Pictures, Barnes in center two different Swift on outside. Lines on Swift. Am I on the right track? Suggestions welcome. Send back to vendor since I am still in three day window for return.

 

[USMA84DAB]

The Swift bullet is fatter farther forward and from your description, is catching on the rifling in the throat. You could buy a throat reamer from Brownells and very carefully - I would insert the reamer and turn it 1/4 of a turn, back it out, blow out chips, and re-try to load the Swift. Once you get it to chamber, I would go back in and turn one more 1/4 turn for safety, dirt, fouling. You are not bench rest shooting, so being super close to, or touching the lands is not what you want. You want 1,000% reliable - if the bullet jumps a bit to the rifling and you lose a 1/4 MOA, simply not an issue. DG rifles are used MOSTLY within 150 yards.

Not being ugly here, but you will not become enough of a sharpshooter with a .375 to ever see the difference. Most guys shoot a dozen or so rounds per three practice range sessions and call it good. I shoot my .375 Ruger mostly about 50 rounds per range session, and about 10 of those to train up for an Africa trip. I would not even be close to seeing a 1/4 MOA difference.

I have run into this twice on a .35WAI where it chambers smaller projos (200gr), but the 250gr would hit the lands. Opening the throat solved the issue.

Hope this $.02 worth helps.

 

[uplander01]

Do you have a caliper and a .375 comparator....if so take the measurement and see how much difference there is. I would not recommend doing anything to you chamber yourself.....send it to Dakota, they will take care of you 100%. There is a big difference between the Barnes and A Frame Shape. You can also see on the AF to the left it doesn't look like it's coming out of the magazine quite right and/or the tip is scraping the chamber mouth on the way in.

 

[deewayne2003]

I would call Dakota, chances are they have seen this before and can deal with it accordingly.

If for some reason they will not touch it, I would send it back to the seller.

 

[375er]

Or just seat the bullets just slightly deeper.

 

[Tucketed]

@USMA84DAB and @uplander01 thanks for the inputs. I don’t believe I am properly qualified for throat reaming myself and would leave that to either Dakota or a good smith. Certainly understand the accuracy of the 375 and 1/4 MOA not an issue. It’s just very disappointing that I received a Sterling Davenport with the wrist broken in transit and now this gun has this issue. I am doing a thorough cleaning in case I have a lot of carbon build up and I’ll see how the Barnes shoot. I just love my AFrames more.

 

[375er]

The shoulder on the three brass shown is not consistent either. Likely just a tight chamber.

 

[Tucketed]

@375er thank you, I thought of this. These are factory ammo which I have a bunch of and I don’t reload but Hendershot has made a bunch of ammo for my 404j so I could go that route

 

[Tucketed]

@deewayne2003 thank you, I spoke to ParkWest/Dakota. No help in finding if this was something seen before.

 

[UpNorthMI]

The shoulder on the three brass shown is not consistent either. Likely just a tight chamber.

Not sure I would be taking a .375 H&H to hunt dangerous game with a tight chamber! Whatever the solution is, it's better to get it sorted out now.

I would get a .375 H&H ammo / case gauge and check the factory loads before doing anything to the rifle. I had a .30-06 double rifle that I found slightly difficult to load and close on the ammo I purchased for it. I purchased an ammo / case gauge and found that I had a number of rounds that would not fit in the checking gauge, it was expensive federal ammunition! There was nothing wrong with the double rifle.

Good luck sorting out what ever the issue is.

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

Yes, you are on the right track. The ogive difference is the issue. If you have reloading equipment start seating the bullet deeper until bolt closes. Then seat slightly deeper.

 

[Tucketed]

What bothers me is the AFrames have slight markings where they seem to stop. The TSX load and eject smoothly not engaging any obstruction. What causes the marks understanding the ogive is bulkier? Is it the lands of the rifleing?

 

[Tucketed]

@UpNorthMI understood and thanks. I have my old standby 375HH and a 404J. My son and I hunt in August. This rifle was an upgrade. I’ll try the TSX see how they group and go from there.

 

[deewayne2003]

@deewayne2003 thank you, I spoke to ParkWest/Dakota. No help in finding if this was something seen before.

Did you ask if they would be able to fix it?

If they refuse to work on it - Send the rifle back!

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

Yes, the marks are caused by the rifling engraving the bullet at the ogive. It could be the Dakota Bullet Seat (Throat) is short. If the bullet seat is short it’s a simple process for a gun maker to lengthen the bullet seat or referred to as the throat; the section of the chamber where the bullet sits prior to ignition. Or the bullets themselves have to be seated deeper in case.

 

[PARA45]

Did you ask if they would be able to fix it?

If they refuse to work on it - Send the rifle back!

This!!! Something it's not right with this rifle. I would not touch or mess with the rifle, it may end up voiding the warranty if any. I would contact Dakota and send them the rifle with a couple of the A-Frames ammo, so they can fix it.

If you a bullet comparator or a way to measure the shoulders on the different ammo, you may want to do that. Not saying it is, but it could be the ammo. You never know.

Good luck, and please keep us posted on what happens.

 

[RR 314]

Parkwest does not warrant repairs on Dakota rifles, correct? I know that they will work on them, but I certainly would not expect them to perform warranty work (but I could be mistaken—it has happened a time or two).

 

[uplander01]

If this is a Dakota/Parkwest production gun that hasn't been messed with I'd be shocked if they didn't just take care of it......

In looking again at the picture with the AF that appears to have LAN marks on it,....looks to me like the bullet could be seated another 20-30 thou minimum,....may want to try that and see what happens. Its a game of thousandths in the throat/chamber area, and the ogive is very odd on an A Frame

 

[Tucketed]

@PARA45 thanks, the rifle is 15 years old. I will try my TSX ammo and check accuracy. When I get home I believe I what I need to make a dummy and insert it slowly and check the length.

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

These Hornady measurement tools are very helpful: