Dakota 76 in 330 Dakota buy or pass

[Daniel Cary]

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?

When "on the fence" .. Listen to Miyagi

 

[skydiver386]

With the lack of brass or ammo, I've decided to pass on this rifle. If interested here is the contact information.

Steve Yuszka
Powder Room Firearms
2685 Plain City Georgesville Rd
West Jefferson Ohio 43162
614-879-8455

Hope this rifle makes someone happy.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Selling the brass was beyond stupid. You could still buy from Hendershots or make your own brass.

330 Dakota Extreme Custom Ammo

330 Dakota Extreme Custom Ammo Ammunition

hendershots.net

 

[wvfred]

Someone here beat me to it

 

[rookhawk]

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.

 

[450 Rigby]

Selling the brass was beyond stupid. You could still buy from Hendershots or make your own brass.

330 Dakota Extreme Custom Ammo

330 Dakota Extreme Custom Ammo Ammunition

hendershots.net

FYI, Hendershots is necking up 300 Dakota brass so it's not properly headstamped.

 

[450 Rigby]

Yes, that was not a smart move for selling the rifle. Now it’s a re barrel. Which is still worth the price. See if they will haggle further. Using the re barrel argument

I agree. It would be a wonderful platform to rebarrel to 404 Jeff if you can pick it up for $1500 to $1750.

I've got a similar issue. I've got a Win 70 CRF in 330 Dakota with a D'Arcy Echols McMillan stock. It has roughly a #6 contour barrel and custom drop box that holds 4 + 1. It feeds flawlessly. I'm strongly considering rebarreling to 404 Jeff or 375 Ruger. Need advise on what to go with...I've got 2 375 H&Hs, a 416 Rem, 416 Rigby, 450 Rigby & 505 Gibbs.

 

[450 Rigby]

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.

That being said, I agree with 375 H&H. Resale value would be very good also if it's rebarreled by a reputable builder.

 

[rookhawk]

That being said, I agree with 375 H&H. Resale value would be very good also if it's rebarreled by a reputable builder.

Why take a value ding by letting some Tom, Dick, and Harry do the rebarrel when the same labor that built the rifle is available to do it, strike it with the correct original barrel nomenclature, and finish it with the same bluing salts?

Parkwest does the work: virtually no loss to value.

Westley Richards, Griffin & Howe, Rigby, or some shadetree gunsmith does the work: The gun is worth half.

 

[450 Rigby]

Why take a value ding by letting some Tom, Dick, and Harry do the rebarrel when the same labor that built the rifle is available to do it, strike it with the correct original barrel nomenclature, and finish it with the same bluing salts?

Parkwest does the work: virtually no loss to value.

Westley Richards, Griffin & Howe, Rigby, or some shadetree gunsmith does the work: The gun is worth half.

That's a very valid point considering Parkwest will do the barrel job. I personally have not dealt with them. It does make more sense to go with the builder.

 

[Hogpatrol]

FYI, Hendershots is necking up 300 Dakota brass so it's not properly headstamped.

I saw that in their ad.

 

[flatwater bill]

A $5000 rifle for $2000...............easy to reload for and a fabulous performer in the field.....someone got a steal of a deal........FWB