Dakota 76 in 330 Dakota buy or pass

[EfRed]

Like most of us, I need another rifle like I need a hole in my foot. Problem is my local gun shop just bought an Estate firearms collection with a 330 Dakota rifle. Typical Dakota 76 with high grade wood, beautiful checkering, Talley QD mounts, plus 200 once fired cases and several boxes of factory ammo. The rifle has made 2 trips to Africa with it's owner, and has some small handling marks. Asking price of $2,000 seems reasonable given that I've seen other Dakota rifles sell for nearly 3 times that amount.

Marius @HUNTROMANIA has some nice Stags that I'll be chasing in 2025, and this seems like a perfect match. Buy or pass?

Price seems very reasonable. I bought an African (? has ironsights, quarterbridge, ebony foreend tip, front sight hood) 76 new at $3995 a few years ago and thought that a great bargain (half of MSRP). Good to have the cases, as they are not easily available. I have ~ 300 .330 Dakota cases and 100 .330 Dakota cases; one can be formed into the other with special dies (the shoulder height is not the same). Nice rifle, Hendershots claim to make ammo for it, but headstamp is 300 Dakota.

 

[EfRed]

If you aren't happy with the caliber you could always re-barrel it. I believe the 330DAKOTA is based on the 404J shortened to 2.5", so there are are a few good options out there like the 375RUGER...etc.

I don't see a lot of downsides with buying it. Plus this is AH...what did you expect?

The case head on the Dakota cartridges is 0.545, the .375 Ruger is neighborhood 0.532. My 330 Dakota bolt will hold a 375 Ruger case, but I suspect extraction may not be guaranteed. Might have to close the bolt face a bit...

 

[EfRed]

View attachment 598651

Looks just like my rifle...

View attachment 598651

Looks just like my rifle, except mine has quarterbridge.

 

[EfRed]

I checked the facts. With the Safari model, the largest caliber it can handle is 375HH. To do 404J, 458 Lott, 416 Rigby, etc it required a larger magnum action and it required the extended magazine found on the Africa model.

If it were me, I'd have turned that thing into a 375HH via a rebarrel at Parkwest. It may have required a bit of bolt face work, but it would have been a very good value even with the time value of money waiting for the work to be done.

.375 Ruger will also work, again some bolt work should be done.

 

[BeeMaa]

The case head on the Dakota cartridges is 0.545, the .375 Ruger is neighborhood 0.532. My 330 Dakota bolt will hold a 375 Ruger case, but I suspect extraction may not be guaranteed. Might have to close the bolt face a bit...

It’s either a rifle with a (near) obsolete cartridge and problems finding properly head stamped brass…or a project rifle that will require more work and/or money with a rebarrel & gunsmithing.

As long as the buyer is OK with those options…go for it.

 

[EfRed]

It’s either a rifle with a (near) obsolete cartridge and problems finding properly head stamped brass…or a project rifle that will require more work and/or money with a rebarrel & gunsmithing.

As long as the buyer is OK with those options…go for it.

...the low price leaves plenty of room for project costs....

 

[BeeMaa]

...the low price leaves plenty of room for project costs....

For every hand…a glove is made.

By all means, be my guest.

 

[EfRed]

For every hand…a glove is made.

By all means, be my guest.

but I already have one...