I talked with Dakota Arms today and they are indeed coming out with a .423 caliber based on the necked up .338 Lapua case. It should offer considerably more velocity than the current .404 Dakota. I think this cartridge shows promise. What does the Forum think?

I don't need one that big, but it will kill animals

THIS IS NOT PUBLIC YET BUT:

They are doing it for business reasons- DAKOTA has contracted Lapua to make all of their brass- 2 years of R&D for some calibers to come out of the production line. As a result, Dakota is warming up to Lapua and making this cartridge based on the .338 LAPUA.

I got the scoop while at the SHOT SHOW- direct from Dakota people.

I also talked to the Dakota staff at the SCI Convention. They also said that the reason for the development was to get closer to Lapua. They were being very cute otherwise.

If you look at the .338 Lapua case it is designed for high pressures and lots of velocity, something you would like in a military cartridge. Then you load it with bullets that show their best performance with velocities in the 2,250 to 2,450 fps range. Unless you plan on backing up to let the bullet slow down, something does not compute.

jim

Not trying to be a wise as$, but I wasn't aware that any of the .404 offerings were too slow, unless of course you plan on sniping at dangerous game from a great distance.

The .338 Laupa has the accuracy and downrange energy to take an elk at 400+ yards (assuming perfect conditions, measured range, etc.) If I practiced at those ranges and the opportunity presented itself, I just may shoot an elk that far away... but..

I guess the new .423 will do the same to a buffalo???? But who the heck is going to shoot a buffalo at 200 yards, much less 400? It kind of defeats the whole purpose, IMHO... (Saeed, of course, excepted )

In other words, what's the purpose of the beast?

quote:

In other words, what's the purpose of the beast?

$$$$$

Thanks for the update. Some of this is news to me.

We have discussed this before, and I have been poo-poo'ed for thinking it was a good idea.

I have a couple of CZ's in .45 Lapua, one rebarrel, one rechamber only. I have ordered a Dakota 76 action to build a .375 Lapua with.

I would like to have a takedown Dakota 76 in .423 Lapua plus .338 Lapua.

Yes, I shoot at least as well as Saeed does.

I guess that Jamison will not be making the Dakota brass after his solitary run of .404 Dakota.

Hey, I have always been fascinated by the .338 Lapua Magnum and its great brass.

Dakota would be doing the shooting public a service to just chamber their rifles in .404 Jeffery or .416 Rem instead of creating another factory wildcat for which ammo & components will not be easy to find in the USA, and impossible to find in Africa.

But if having a rifle in that caliber gives someone a charge, more power to him. The purchasers of such rifles should be aware that resale value might be limited, however.

I would like to see Dakota bring out the full range of calibres on the 338 Lapua case, say from 270 to 45.

They would look great, have RUM capacity and buyers would know they could always make brass from 338 Lapua. It would be like a sort of conservative version of Wby calibres based on the 378 case.

With the 338 Lapua as the basis of the calibres I bet they would sell a lot more rifles in "Dakota" calibres than what they currently sell.

Mike

Just another solution for which there is no problem!

Rich Elliott

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
... The purchasers of such rifles should be aware that resale value might be limited, however.

500groans,
There you go again, always worrying about money! Loosen up!

Mike375,
I'll take one of each from .30 to .45 caliber. And throw in a .270 just for tee-hees.

Rich,
Hey, who needs motorcycles? To each his own hotrod!