Any Parkwest Arms feedback?

[AZDAVE]

Talked with them in depth at SCI. Very nice and knowledgeable folks. Their model 10 with a full stock would be my small rifle choice if I had something built by them.

 

[VJS375]

A follow-up on my Parkwest 375 Bushveld. Shot again yesterday. Still playing with the scope, hold…. Relearning to shoot.

First group in large center is cold clean barrel. Made some wrong scope adjustments but it just plain shoots.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Are these gents a custom rifle maker like Reto Buehller or Joe Smithson or Todd Ramirez ? Or more of a commercial manufacturer like an upscale version of Winchester or Ruger ?

Their wares appear to be extremely high grade.

 

[VJS375]

Parkwest builds their own action which is a Mauser/ model 70 upgrade and a custom stock. They guarantee sub-Moa.

Smithson, Buehller, Ramirez build a purchased action and work from there. Many build with the Granite Mountain action which is great. Smithson has his own scope mount as the Granite Mountain is a true square bridge. Though the Granite mountain action is great it takes a great gunsmith to put together. They all build perfect wood stocks.

The Parkwest (formerly Dakota) with a synthetic stock will start around $8K. The Smithson with synthetic is around $15K. There is a mint used Smithson 375 on GB for $17K. He’s in a different space.

My Parkwest Bushveld shoots factory Barnes 300’s into 0.5 to 0.75 inches when I do my job. I went Bushveld synthetic stock because I transitioned to all spot and stock archery 30 years ago. You look at my 3 year old bows which have been dragged, crawled and slid with and they get replaced. I can wash my stock off with a hose and repaint my stock if needed.

I looked at all and went Parkwest. The names you listed are awesome as well. My Bushveld shoots great with a great value price point. Safari / Kodiak rifles are in class best defined by you with proven field accuracy and reliability. The others you listed are great.

I hoped I would get an accurate rifle. We fall in love with accurate rifles. My third group ever at 1/2” biased me to my Bushveld. Sorry for the long reply.

 

[BeeMaa]

Are these gents a custom rifle maker like Reto Buehller or Joe Smithson or Todd Ramirez ? Or more of a commercial manufacturer like an upscale version of Winchester or Ruger ?

Their wares appear to be extremely high grade.

Parkwest Arms is what's left of Dakota Arms after the bankruptcy of Remington (who owned Dakota) and the subsequent sale of the pieces. There a legal reason they can't call themselves Dakota anymore that I'm not privy to. I've not had conversations with them, but their product seems to be solid despite the rather steep price.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Parkwest Arms is what's left of Dakota Arms after the bankruptcy of Remington (who owned Dakota) and the subsequent sale of the pieces. There a legal reason they can't call themselves Dakota anymore that I'm not privy to. I've not had conversations with them, but their product seems to be solid despite the rather steep price.

The specimens in .450 Rigby Magnum look top notch !

 

[DG&Doubles]

Like many of you that started off with a 375 H&H, I am ready for something BIGGER. I want to stay with a bolt gun and i have decided in 458 Lott. I am looking at the Parkwest Arms Bushveld.

Any experience or feedback you can share on them?

Feel free to PM if needed.

I am ordering next week unless I can uncover any reasons not to.

Have one in 450 Rigby. Fantastic. Absolute nail driver

 

[MD Driver]

.416 Rigby Bushveld here, and completely agree.

NDWoods…. The Bushveld is lighter than some other guns, so the .416 Rigby round packs a punch. FWIW, I’ve got the Blaser R8 in .458 Lott with a steel receiver, and it weighs probably 3-4 pounds more than the Bushveld. Even with the R8’s weight, firing the .458 Lott is a significant life event. TBH, I’m not sure the Bushveld would be stout enough for the Lott’s recoil. Totally unscientific, just looking and shooting both and trying to interpret how the Lott would perform in the lighter Bushveld. Trust but verify, and definitely ask around. You’ve got good taste in guns!

 

[NDWoods]

I forgot I did not make an update. I was able to acquire a US made M70 Safari in 458 Win that I really like so I ended up ordering the Bushveld in 416 Rigby. It was not quite ready when I made my trip to Hawaii and hunted Vancouver bull, so I used the 458 instead.

I really like the Bushveld but it is a hell of a thumper in 416! Not unbearable but it definitely gets your attention. I hope to use it in Australia for water buffalo in 2027.

I have not put enough rounds through it yet to see how tight I can get the groups. I have only sighted in and done some additional standing shooting. It is smooth and cycles flawlessly.

 

[iamjohnbaria]

I actually bought a Bushveld in 416 Rigby from them yesterday. I hope to have it in hand around the first of February. I handled it at DSC, and I like it a lot, based on looks and feel alone. Hopefully it shoots and functions as well as it looks.

That’s awesome. How many rounds of 416 Rigby does it hold?

 

[rookhawk]

The Bushveld is a remake of the Dakota Professional Hunter. It was really designed for the African PH and the Alaskan that walks a lot and shoots very little, but when they do it needs Oomph.

For not that disimilar of money you can get the Africa Grade or Dark Continent that will get you exhibition wood, but more importantly the extra weight that a client expects for moderate recoil.

For investment potential, the plastic variants do not hold up nearly as well as the Africa / Dark Continent options. The PH / Bushveld is a necessary evil for a very particular task of a professional in my opinion.

 

[Andrew NOLA]

For what it’s worth, I recently ordered a 416 Ruger from Park West. I should have it by the end of May.

I’ve had a lot of luck with the 416 ruger in terms of velocity and accuracy. I just needed to spend a hell of a lot more money on one than what Ruger was charging me.

Getting exactly the rifle I want and exactly the configuration I want

 

[rookhawk]

For what it’s worth, I recently ordered a 416 Ruger from Park West. I should have it by the end of May.

I’ve had a lot of luck with the 416 ruger in terms of velocity and accuracy. I just needed to spend a hell of a lot more money on one than what Ruger was charging me.

Getting exactly the rifle I want and exactly the configuration I want

Just curious, why did you select the Ruger rather than the Rigby?

 

[Andrew NOLA]

I have two 416 Rigby’s already plus I have an additional one in the process of being built.

416 ruger lets me use a smaller action, in the Ruger rifles I shoot it out of currently I get Cloverleafs at 100 yards and I am hitting 2400 ft./s muzzle velocity with a 400 grain bar TSX

The Rigby is sexy from a historical perspective but I think the ruger actually might be a better mouse trap

Heresy, I know

 

[rookhawk]

I have two 416 Rigby’s already plus I have an additional one in the process of being built.

416 ruger lets me use a smaller action, in the Ruger rifles I shoot it out of currently I get Cloverleafs at 100 yards and I am hitting 2400 ft./s muzzle velocity with a 400 grain bar TSX

The Rigby is sexy from a historical perspective but I think the ruger actually might be a better mouse trap

Heresy, I know

Heresy, yes. But its your money and you have to have pride in what you own. Don't let anyone tell you different, even if you're a heretic.

 

[TOBY458]

That’s awesome. How many rounds of 416 Rigby does it hold?

He didn’t say. But I would assume 3 with the standard magazine box. Not sure if they offer an extended box or not.

 

[Doug3006]

The specimens in .450 Rigby Magnum look top notch !

Their rifles are extremely well made. I’m probably going to buy one….just haven’t yet. I believe they are the same as Dakota in all respects. That is, a semi-custom maker of the highest rank.

 

[Green Chile]

I have said many times here that my Dakota .416 Rigby is my favorite DG rifle out of many that I have owned and used. I recently sold a bunch of rifles and this one isn't going anywhere. I also feel strongly that ParkWest is the best value in a semi-custom DG rifle built in America at a high level. They are far less than a Rigby Highlander but of equal or better quality from the ones I have handled. They also offer left handed in every model at no extra cost. I will be adding a SD-22 training model to match my 416 Rigby.

 

[Killo]

.416 Rigby Dakota & .375 and 300 H&H Parkwest Dark Continent take down

BOTH WORK GREAT

 

[Green Chile]