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

 

[Brody]

So this is all new to me. The reason in writing I’m looking for some .330 Dakota brass or ammo. My son just recently acquired a thirty year old unfired Dakota 76 left handed in a.330 along with dies and a few pieces of brass. He is 18 and is involved in a local sportsman club. The gun is a fifty year anniversary for the club his is 26-50. I found loaded ammo from hendershots and have no problem buying it. Really want a couple boxes of head stamp correct cases Thanks to anyone who may have some or a led

 

[hoytcanon]

When I saw the title, I was going to say "hard pass!" Then I saw it had dies and 200 brass and I was going to say "Jump on it!" Then saw the A-Hole reject shop owner sold the brass separately... so I am back to "Hard Pass."

 

[skydiver386]

When I saw the title, I was going to say "hard pass!" Then I saw it had dies and 200 brass and I was going to say "Jump on it!" Then saw the A-Hole reject shop owner sold the brass separately... so I am back to "Hard Pass."

Steve at the Powder Room had the gun in his shop on Consignment. The original owner of the rifle has passed, and one of his children came into possession of the rifle. He had no idea what it was worth or that without the brass or ammo, the rifles value took a nose dive.

When Steve first told me about the rifle, I was told it had ammo, brass and dies included. I've booked a hunt with Marius of HUNTROMANIA for Red Stag in 2025, and I figured a beautiful Dakota in 330 would be a perfect rifle for such a hunt.

That weekend the actual owner of the rifle, NOT the Gun Store owner, sold the brass and dies at a local gun show.

When Steve asked the owner to bring in the ammo, brass and dies because he had a buyer (me), he was told that they had been sold, along with many of the other firearms belong to the Estate of the deceased family member. This is just another case of a person's family selling every item in the Estate for pennies because they have no interest in these things, they just want the MONEY, and they want it now.

 

[hoytcanon]

Steve at the Powder Room had the gun in his shop on Consignment. The original owner of the rifle has passed, and one of his children came into possession of the rifle. He had no idea what it was worth or that without the brass or ammo, the rifles value took a nose dive.

When Steve first told me about the rifle, I was told it had ammo, brass and dies included. I've booked a hunt with Marius of HUNTROMANIA for Red Stag in 2025, and I figured a beautiful Dakota in 330 would be a perfect rifle for such a hunt.

That weekend the actual owner of the rifle, NOT the Gun Store owner, sold the brass and dies at a local gun show.

When Steve asked the owner to bring in the ammo, brass and dies because he had a buyer (me), he was told that they had been sold, along with many of the other firearms belong to the Estate of the deceased family member. This is just another case of a person's family selling every item in the Estate for pennies because they have no interest in these things, they just want the MONEY, and they want it now.

That is very unfortunate... it would have been a great buy if they had kept the package together... I'm glad to hear that an actual "gun guy" didn't do anything that dumb.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

10 pieces of brass on GB

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1053384755

 

[Brody]

I’ve been bidding we’ll see when it’s over thanks

 

[skydiver386]

That is very unfortunate... it would have been a great buy if they had kept the package together... I'm glad to hear that an actual "gun guy" didn't do anything that dumb.

Someone certainly got a good deal on the rifle, and you may see it on a hunt here on AH. Other than that, I'm sworn to secrecy.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Largest cartridge that would fit that gun: .470 Capstick. Do It! It was 2-3x underpriced and yes the brass move was clearly that of someone knowing nothing of firearms...