Dakota calibers

[Guest]

In a fit of insomnia last night, I decided to peruse my Hornady #7 manual to pass the time. I am intrigued by the Dakota line of cartridges - basically a -06 length RUM, if I'm understanding things correctly. Anybody have any experience with them? How do they perform? How hard are they on barrels? It seems the 7mm and the 330 are the most interesting to me, as both improve on what's available in similar length rounds by a noticeable margin. It would be easy enough to rebarrel a Remington 700 to one of these, except I'd be concerned about case-head diameter. The Dakota's are .545", I believe, which is bigger than the RUM's rim, though the RUM runs about .550" just above the groove, I think, which is much more in line with the Dakota rim/body diameter. Does the conversion work?

Of course, the major downfall is the cost of brass, and availability of both brass and data. Being a Weatherby guy, I'm familiar with that territory, though, so it makes it a little more palatable. I've always wanted a stout .338 round, and haven't gotten a 340Wby yet. Maybe a 330Dakota in a 700 is just the ticket for something interesting and fun to add to the wishlist?

 

[bullet]

All very interesting, but get yourself a 340Wby and be happy with it, great round, lots of power and you can get what you need a lot easier and you have it in a superior action in the Mark V for both strength and accuracy.

 

[JD338]

dubyam

I agree with bullet on this. I'm am sure the Dakota rounds are great rounds but price and availability of brass may become an issue.
Since you are a Weatherby fan, get yourself a 340 Weatherby. Its a great round with plenty of horsepower for anything you would want to hunt both near and far.
If you want a 700, go with the 338 RUM. I will provide you with proven loads.

JD338

 

[Guest]

I surely do require a 340Wby, but I'm just sort of exercising the brain on the Dakotas. They appear interesting, different, and I checked on brass, it's not significantly more expensive than Norma/Weatherby brass (about $35 per 20pcs, versus $30 per 20pcs for the Weatherby rounds). Ammo availability is an issue, but then again, it's an issue for my 270Wby, my 8x57, and will be for a 340Wby as well, for the most part. It's all just a mental exercise, but my curiosity was peaked at 3am, and now I am trying to satisfy it. Anybody shooting Dakota rounds?

Oh, and JD, as far as the 338RUM, how is the mag length in terms of COL possibilities for the RUM length stuff in the 700? I was under the impression there were just the two lengths of 700 action (short and long) and the full-length magnums are just stuffed into the long action. Is that wrong? What is the max COL achievable in the 700 for something like that? It might make things interesting as far as opening up other possibilities to think about down the road...700 Actions are cheap and plentiful, for the most part.

 

[JD338]

dubyam

The Remington Magnum action is the long action.
My magazine length is around 3.7" so I load just under it.

I wanted more than the 338 Win Mag and was going to get a 340 Weatherby when low and behold, Remington introduced the 338 RUM. I waited months to get my LSS and finally, it arrived. I have never regretted it.

JD338

 

[BK]

I have always (well, ever since reading an article by Ross Seyfried in G&A) wanted a .340 but I don't really like Weatherby rifles. My first thought was to have a .340 on a long Remington BDL action, 26" barrel, McMillan stock, shooting for a ready to go weight of right at 9 lbs. However, most manuals don't have data that is significantly faster than a .338. I haven't studied up on the Dakotas enough to know how well they do.

I'll still probably do a .340, just because it's bigger than my buddy's .338.

Anybody know if the new M70 is long enough for a .340? I don't think they changed the action length, and a .375 H&H used to fit, so a .340 should also, right?

 

[Guest]

Not to hijack my own thread, but the 340Wby is faster than the 338WinMag, by 100-200fps, which is about what the 300WinMag is faster than the 30-06, so use your own judgement as to what you'd like to have. The 330Dakota is right in line with the 340Wby in terms of velocity (probably within about 25-50fps, which is smaller than the potential variance one rifle to the next).

Of course, I could always just build a 375Ruger-based .338cal wildcat, but the Dakota is pretty cool looking on paper.

 

[bullet]

Not to hijack my own thread, but the 340Wby is faster than the 338WinMag, by 100-200fps, which is about what the 300WinMag is faster than the 30-06, so use your own judgement as to what you'd like to have. The 330Dakota is right in line with the 340Wby in terms of velocity (probably within about 25-50fps, which is smaller than the potential variance one rifle to the next).

Of course, I could always just build a 375Ruger-based .338cal wildcat, but the Dakota is pretty cool looking on paper.

Question? Where are you going to get the money for all of this? Either way, 340Wby or Dakota you are going to have some real out lay of funds just to get up and going. Are you saving for something like this or going to? I think either one would be a lot of power in the field. But a final comment. I think as I said before that the 340Wby in your hands as a handloader would be the ticket by far. Just my 2 cents worth if it is that much.

 

[FOTIS]

I would stick to the Bees/Rums. I never really saw advantages of the 30-06 length jobs. But then again different strokes.....

 

[Guest]

Bullet - this is pure conjecture at this point, though things may be moving in a profitable direction around here soon. Either way, I'm going to be out significant funds should I try this - $1300-1500 for an Accumark (which is what I'd want a 340Wby in) or $300 for a Remington action, $300 for the Weatherby style stock from B&C, and $600 for a rebarrel, plus $200 for the cera-kote, which is about $1400 total, so the rifle's a wash. Brass for the Dakota is $175 per 100pcs, where the 'bee is $150 per 100pcs. So I'm going to save about $25 per 100pcs on brass going with the 'bee. I'll likely still own the bee, and may never own the Dakota, but it's interesting, to say the least.

As for advantages, POP, there aren't any, unless there's any truth to the accuracy/efficiency hype of the larger diameter case. I suspect there is some truth, but it takes a lot bigger change in diameter to get to where it's really workable beyond the limitations of the rifle - Let's remember that my 270Wby shoots well under an inch at 100 all day long on command, and I've managed to shoot several sub-1" groups with a 300Wby I've been working with for a little while. So I think there's no real advantage other than the 'different' factor, which I kind of like anyway.

I'd still like to hear from some folks who own one (or have owned one) to see if they live up to what they are purported to be.

 

[bullet]

Well, thanks for answering my questions and for sure you have spent some time thinking about this. Now I will be interested in what you finally do. Also would like to here what anyone says or reports to you who has a Dakota. You have a great Sunday and a good week dubyam.

 

[Guest]

As I said, at this point, it's pure conjecture. If things turn up, I may be looking at doing something sooner rather than later, but I'd have to think about what to do before embarking on a project like this. Thus the questions here about what folks think. In all reality, there are numerous options, as you are no doubt aware. If I decide to do something, I will post accordingly.