Thread: 300 Dakota, and what to rechamber in.

Looking at taking on another 300DAK, with an unknown round count, built on a Nesika action and tucked in a McMillan A4

Purchased mainly to use the action and stock and burn barrels as required.

I’m aware the 300dak doesn’t have the best barrel lifespan and has immense throat erosion when loaded pissing hot.
Other than 300WM what are peoples preferred cartridges these days, I’ll squeeze every last round out of it before rebarreling, but looking to do my R&D before we reach that point

300dak essentially stems from 404jef brass, so anything around that ball park is manageable, I’m just substantially out of tune on what’s “hot” so to speak, google yields plenty of US based results, but as we know they more often than not don’t translate to NZ shooting in practicality and price.

Also anyone who has owned and hunted with 300dak, what are your thoughts ? And was it a monumental waste, or did it meet your expectations, as I may just get another 300dak barrel pending some real world data.

Stick with the Dakota, as you already have the components and field gathered experience in wind drift and projectile drop

A focus on accuracy will keep animals travelling to your chiller, and when your barrel loses the accuracy required change it out for another as you have already said

It’s a sound plan

The 30 nosler won’t quite Clean the chamber . 300 ultra mag would be your answer.

7 Saum.
3000 fps and nearly .7 bc with manageable recoil sounds like a winner to me.

300 prc could be good alternative replacement.Why go back to a straight 6 when you can stick with a V8. That is if you plan on putting a new barrel on.

I rate my 300 NM and it will have the same bolt face as the Dakota.
High bc projectiles and lapua brass with a modern efficient case.
Works for me

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Cheers team, lots of valid options here to look into, and even learnt about 7SAUM which I had no idea existed.

Seems the limiting factor maybe the Nesika action itself, as I have just read up on, although being a 700LA clone the tolerances are so tight that spit and a strong southerly can cause it to bind with the slightest amount of ingress.

Pretty sure the Duleys had some hot 7mm built on the 404 case...fat max I think they nicknamed it??

Originally Posted by andyanimal31

I rate my 300 NM and it will have the same bolt face as the Dakota.
High bc projectiles and lapua brass with a modern efficient case.
Works for me

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I m pretty sure your norma mag is a 338 lapua bolt face, the Dakota is just a tad bigger than the normal magnum bolt face but not as big as the lapua

Originally Posted by Friwi

I m pretty sure your norma mag is a 338 lapua bolt face, the Dakota is just a tad bigger than the normal magnum bolt face but not as big as the lapua

I’m only just beginning to get into these larger long range calibres coming from military rifles and more bush work orientated rifles, is it stupid to ask if I could get a gunsmith to fill and re face the bolt head to suit magnum cartridges IE 338 Lapua?

Part of me is regretting such proprietary ammo and reloading gear as it’s almost as bloody expensive as the gun long term

Being able to use factory rounds (338 lap or similar) to use will cut brass and die costs down massively instead of needing custom dies and very specific loading processes which I am finding a bit overwhelming. + just being able to access ammo to practice with more regularly is very appealing.

300 dak goes hard, love it, hits like a truck, but once I chew through the 100 rounds I’ve got, I’m up for a mortgage to reload and account for any brass loss.

Originally Posted by Friwi

I m pretty sure your norma mag is a 338 lapua bolt face, the Dakota is just a tad bigger than the normal magnum bolt face but not as big as the lapua

I was assuming and as we know that can be the mother of all fuckups!

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