This is a want not a need. I was toying with the idea of buy either a Dakota or Jarrett. With Dakota recent problems I am not interested. However for the sake of discussion which would you buy. I would probably be looking at a 338 winchester.

The rifle especially in 338, I would get a Win in 338 or any CRF barreled action and get it bedded with a new stock fancy upgrade..new trigger and you will have a great rifle at a great price....

Or you may ask the question how much do I want to spend??

Mike

3 days till the Selous

Between those two, Dakota all the way. Now for that kind of money, I'd opt for a Biesen custom. jorge

Biesen YES. Jarret.............no way

There are a lot of good custom builders you should take a look at....but of the two you mentioned Dakota.

Neither!!!!!!!!!!!
Find a good custom maker.

Hello h kittle,
School teacher in my area few years ago inquired of me about the Jarrett rifles and quoted to me the price he was to pay for one and knowing his income level and a friend, suggested that he might want to consider sending his hard earned funds in a different direction and still end up with a more satisfactory sporting rifle in the end. Well, nothing would do him but have a Jarrett "bean field rifle..." in 300 Jarrett caliber. Upon arrival he brought it to me and admit it was a very clean well put together Remington Model 700 in a wildcat cartridge. Ammo was some 90.00 for 20 rounds!!
He had well over 3000.00 in the rifle plus the top of the line Leupold scope at that time and his total was over 4,000.00 mark.
For the life of me I can not see how to justify such a price for the basic Jarrett rifle unless his machine time is valued at a very high hourly rate??? Fellow ended up sending rifle to excellent builder of highest quality match/tactical style rifles and changed out the caliber to 300 Win Mag, Krieger barrel, something he could "feed" on his budget.
As others have suggested, lot of options available for the same or less money and in reality more rifle or "bang for the buck." Good Luck in whatever you select.

Driver that ammo is cheap...My 450#2 NE is $100 for a full box of 5..That's right 5...Thank goodness for reloading..

Mike

Jarrett

I've shot a Jarrett and it sure would shoot but it really didn't do much of any thing else for me and certainly didn't hold or balance well. As others have stated for the kind of jack you'll drop with Jarrett or Dakota an independent gunmaker is where I'd look. Biesen surely is tops.

If Dakota interests you, you may want to look at what Waffenfabrik Hein offers. I think that they are becoming what Dakota was once supposed to be.

Hello Retreever,
Yes thank goodness for reloading!! Watched one of those African hunting shows other eve. and believe it was Wild Africa or something like that and the fellow was following in a dug out canoe a big croc (air bubble trail) and using a double 577NE and kept shooting and shooting and heard him make the comment that it was $25.00/shot and this had better be some kind of croc!! They finally dealt it a lethal blow and one of the guys was going to go down in the river/water and hook on to it and drag it to shore and fortunately the "star" of the show told him to stay in the boat. Good plan I would say. Not sure just who would rank higher on the IQ level in that canoe, but whatever "yanks your crank" is fine with me.

I agree with everyone who said neither... Either get a Biesen custom, a Hein or maybe a Heym bolt action. There are also lots of other custom builders who can make one hell of a rifle for the same money like Sterling Davenport. I would also look around on the net for used customs as you can pick them up for less then replacement value. Also I think it is lots of fun to be able to pick your own components and watch as the rifle grows to your specs and dreams.

Jarrett rifles are designed for stand hunters who attempt long shots. Dakota rifles are designed for hunters who spend time actually moving around in pursuit of game. Anyone who says a Dakota isn't worth the money is full of either envy or shit, take your pick.

Am I ever getting some great feed back. I checked out the Biesen web site. Not a lot pricing infor or ordering info on web site. I shoot an 280 now for deer. Was impressed with the 280 rem. they were featuring.

Will keep all options open. Like I said this is a want not a need. With a buffalo hunting coming up next summer, I need to save all I can.

I am not sure what I will be shooting. I have been offered a custom build 416 rem. by a friend of mine.(no I do not remember who built it but this friend does not settle for second best in anything, especially his guns.)

Will keep all options open. Really appreciate the feed back.

If you dont mind a synthetic stock I think the Hein would be an excellent pick. You should really check out their website.

quote:

the Hein

Yeah no kidding.

Waffenfabrik Hein

I was all hepped up on getting a Jarrett rifle a few years back. Even went to his shop while back east on a business trip. They may shoot well, but handled poorly and looked even worse. The discussions about Dakotas hold true. I've seen nice rifles from them, but they seem over priced compared to other makers. Also, their option prices are high when adding to the basic rifle. Find a good maker and go from there.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
Neither!!!!!!!!!!!
Find a good custom maker.

+1

Mark Penrod and D'Arcy Echols come to mind.

Buy an off the shelf Savage package rifle for $350 and spend the rest of the money going on a hunting trip. You can probably do a plains game hunt for what you would spend on a Jarrett rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by DC300:
Jarrett rifles are designed for stand hunters who attempt long shots. Dakota rifles are designed for hunters who spend time actually moving around in pursuit of game. Anyone who says a Dakota isn't worth the money is full of either envy or shit, take your pick.

i cant speak for the model 10, but the dakota bolt rifles i have seen and handled were certainly NOT worth the asking price or any where near it. anyone who says otherwise is succeptible to bullshit. although i have been known to be full of shit i have never been full of envy for any dakota i've seen and wouldnt have every jarret rifle ever made if you gave them to me. my advise, and it aint worth a cent more than what you're paying for it,...go custom if you have the dough, if not get a rem 700 w/synthetic stock since you seem to like style. the jarret has nothing on it but extra weight and the afore mentioned bullshit.

Why would anyone even consider a Jarrett rifle? They are nothing but a push feed junk Mod 700 Remington, with some one else's name stamped on it! They are certainly not serious hunting rifles! If I wanted a very reliable, plastic stocked,or even wood, hunting rifle, I'd spend the money you would on the Jarrett, for a rifle made to fit you from D'Arcy Echols. His rifles are made for HUNTERS not Field and Stream readers!

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
Why would anyone even consider a Jarrett rifle? They are nothing but a push feed junk Mod 700 Remington, with some one else's name stamped on it! They are certainly not serious hunting rifles! If I wanted a very reliable, plastic stocked,or even wood, hunting rifle, I'd spend the money you would on the Jarrett, for a rifle made to fit you from D'Arcy Echols. His rifles are made for HUNTERS not Field and Stream readers!

Does D'Arcy Echols have a web page?

D'Arcy Echols does not have a website. He's in Millville, Utah and his phone number is 1 435 755 6842. His email address is legend@bridgernet.com.

I have an Echols' Legend rifle in .300 Win Mag I had made in 2003. They are built on a M70 action on a proprietary McMillan synthetic stock. Cost then was $6000 plus FET plus scope. It wears a Leupold Vari-X III 3.5x10 on custom-milled fixed mounts. His price has increased since.

A lot of custom rifle builders make very accurate guns. D'Arcy's claim to fame is that he builds rifles that feed flawlessly and are 100% reliable. As a result, he only offers them in belted magnum calibers.

Two other lesser-cost options are rifles from Ed Brown and Jim Borden.

www.edbrown.com

www.bordenrifles.com

These are a few of the specs on my gun:

D’Arcy Echols & Co / Millville, Utah, USA / 2003 / .300 Winchester Magnum / Cryogenically treated 24 inch Chrome Moly Krieger Match Grade Barrel / Blueprinted Winchester Model 70 Receiver / Damascened Bolt and Trued Bolt Face / Heat Treated Stainless Steel Four Round Magazine Box and Follower Assembly / Proprietary McMillan Fiberglass Straight Comb Stock Painted Flat Black / Pachmayr Decelerator Sporting Clays Recoil Pad / Two Piece Fixed Mount Scope System / Leupold Vari-X III 3.5 – 10 x 40mm Scope / Brownell's Latigo Sling / 8 pounds 14 ounces

quote:

Originally posted by h kittle:
I would probably be looking at a 338 winchester.

I'd buy this Dakota in 338 Win for $2800, then add sights and reblue.

Dakota in AR Classifieds

The early Dakotas especially were very nicely made (I have a couple) and generally quite accurate. I wouldn't even consider a Jarrett in a 338 Win.

The Echols Legend is presently in the $12,000 range and Darcy still can't keep ahead of the orders. Lots of people are willing to pay for what they perceive as best quality. Lon Paul on the other hand is a small custom builder that specializes in big game rifles and knows his Africa calibers. He can build a shootin' machine that even with all the bells and whistles will come in at $3500-$4000.

I personally know nothing about Jarrett rifles but I had probably the most frustrating experience with Dakota of any rifle I ever owned.

Mark

Mark,

Does Lon Paul have a website?

Andy

Andy,

I think he is working on one but in the meantime try tanglewoodguns@yahoo.com or call him at 951-659-2699. If you can catch him not running his lathe or whatever he is very willing to talk guns and Africa having done quite a bit of hunting himself.

Hey! Forget the custom guns. Think trophy fees and more days on your safari.

Mark

Here's an example of Mr. Pauls' work...

www.luxusgunstock.com/html/body_458_lon.html

I kind of hate putting this out there, because I think it is my and a few others little secret, but Gene Simillion in his "Extreme Rifle" makes essentially a clone of D'arcy's for one-half the price.

How much is an Extreme Rifle these days?

I favor 'factory' rifles even when I am looking for nice wood or features. The Pre 64 M70 used to satisfy both that need and want. To me they are a deluxe gun and when tweaked or selected will perform very well. I have thought about getting a Dakota as that would be 'factory' to me. I just never pulled the trigger as the ones I saw were too heavy and bulky for the cartridges they were chambered in. A stout 338 would be what you may want.

Now that Winchester is gone and the supply of pre 64's in 338 is in short supply I would look at what Kimber comes out with this year in that cartridge.

If wood is wanted then a Kimber with the French Walnut would not cost all that much and if fancy one is on your mind then they may make it in the Super American soon.

I've been very impressed with the Christensen Arms rifles. If you are really looking for a great workhorse, check them out.

Bulldog, the price is ballpark around 6k and the wait is about a quarter of Echols. Like Echols, they are wonderful rifles. However, I will be the first to admit that you pay a lot for the little extras and the finishing touches that these two have incorporated in their rifles. I have compared $3,000 rifles to the Echols/Simillions and will agree that the E/S are only marginally different than most of these and even these improvements are not readily ascertainable. However, upon close observation and more importantly actual use of one of these rifles, one finds that what the buyer is paying for is a rifle as close to perfection as humans can make it, particularly in the area of feeding. Will it make a difference in a hunt? Probably only one time in a hundred, if that. Does one need this degree of refinement? No, but if you like perfection, just for perfection's sake, or if you like having and playing with a wonderfully engineered toy, one should consider one of these rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by DC300:
Jarrett rifles are designed for stand hunters who attempt long shots. Dakota rifles are designed for hunters who spend time actually moving around in pursuit of game. Anyone who says a Dakota isn't worth the money is full of either envy or shit, take your pick.

Dakota is overpriced copy of a classic. Most I have handeled, and I have handeled and shot several, need work to get them there. For the kind of money they cost, they should do better.

In my early and uninformed days, I bought a Jarret .270 win on a M700 action guaranteed by ol kenny to shoot .5MOA. It shot 1 MOA. Later when I learned how to build M700's myself i yanked Kenny's barrel and replaced it with a Pac-Nor Threaded and chambered and crowned by yours truly in .270 win. Guess what .25 MOA. So much for the Jarret Magic! Ol Kenny wasn't too happy with me when I presented him with the targets at a SCI meeting in Reno. He told me I was not skillfull enough to meet his level of performance and reminded me that I'm still just an amateur and they sometimes just get lucky.He of course knows far more than I do. A legend in his own mind! You'll never see another Jarret rifle at ol Robgunbuilders HQ-Rob

Jarretts, no sir, I don't like 'em. Wouldn't have one for a third of their ridiculously inflated prices.

Find a used custom by one of the classic ( Biesen,Goens,Milliron,Shelhamer,to start) in a p-64M70 or Mauser in your choice of calibers for ~3k.you will have an appreciating asset,superb workmanship&great looking-which is what you do most of the time with it.new customs are a poor investment-youll be a long time getting youre hard earned after tax dollars back& they rarely live up to your expectations as you become more critical+sophisticated.in 50yrs i regret selling 5 of hundred+ customs.still shoot a Biesen fwt 270 M70. Good fun looking!!

quote:

Originally posted by adrook:
Mark,

Does Lon Paul have a website?

Andy

try this,

www.lonpaulcustomguns.com



...


.

While we are on this subject, does anyone have an opinion on American Hunting Rifles? I have a 300 H&H built by them and the finish and action is superb. A little too heavy IMO.

quote:

Originally posted by DC300:
Jarrett rifles are designed for stand hunters who attempt long shots. Dakota rifles are designed for hunters who spend time actually moving around in pursuit of game. Anyone who says a Dakota isn't worth the money is full of either envy or shit, take your pick.

Dakota rifles aren't worth it and I have three gun safes full of true customes that would make any Dakota owner envious. Trust me on this.