I am interested in this cartridge and see it as being a complete handloading proposition which is fine. Just wondering what your experience have been with loading the cartridge and if you have been satisfied with it. Any feedback or input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

Loading data at http://stevespages.com/308_20.html

To give you input on the ballistics of the .300 Dakota, from www.cpcartridge.com:
150 Gr. Barnes TSX 3575fps
165 Gr. Swift Scirocco 3400fps
168 Gr. Barnes TSX 3415fps
180 Gr. Swift A-Frame or Nosler Partition 3230fps
200 Gr. Swift A-Frame or Nosler Partition 3050fps

It would appear that the .300 Dakota would give you 100-200fps greater velocity over the 300 win mag that you currently have.

The .300 Dakota gives you almost the same ballistics as the .300 Weatherby but in a standard length action. It also has no belt. One thereby gains theoretically improved feeding and accuracy advantages over your 300 win mag.

I believe a minor bolt-face alteration (from .532-inch to .544-inch) is needed when rechambering. The magazine will need gunsmith work to maintain mag capacity of your .300 win mag.

If anyone else actually owns one I would also like to hear from them. What velocities are you really gettig from the 300 Dakota, performance etc.?

BTW, Dakota has contracted Lapua to make their brass from now on.

With Lapua making the brass, do you think the price for brass will go down. They seem to be reasonably priced on the other rifle brass they produce. I hope so anyway as that would increase my interest in this cartridge a bit more if I knew the cost to reload for it was reasonable. From what I've seen at Midway USA, it costs around $1.40 per unprimed brass. That adds up quickly.

I'm glad to hear that they've changed brass makers, because the original stuff left a lot to be desired as far as unifomity was concerned. I loaded a lot of 300 Dakota stuff, with Barnes X 165-grain bullets and 200 grain Nosler Partitions. I decided I prefer the .308 Norma over the 300 Dakota.

I sent an email to lapua last night in regards to them producing 300 Dakota brass and this was the response I got:

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Neil,

We have no short term plans for producing the .300 Dakota brass.

Best regards,

Janne Pohjoispaa
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Thats real disappointing!!

Completely FALSE, according to Ward Doubler (Factory Ammo MFG. Specialist) at Dakota Arms. He is the fellow at Dakota Arms that produces all of their factory loads.

He mentioned that Lapua will definitely be making their brass in January 2005; however, for some cartridges (like the .300 Dakota) they currently have an oversupply and will only have Lapua brass available in early to mid-2005.

Call him yourself at: 605 347 4686 ext. 305. I am curious to see if he is giving the same message to all. Further, he also explained the pluses and minuses of the .300 Dakota. If you have a conversation with him like I did, maybe we can share notes

Cheers,
CL

CanadianLefty,

I hope you are right, I really do. I sent an email to Lapua last night but that doesn't mean that the person who responed back to me is in the "know." It would appear that you already have a dirct contact person from Dakota Arms and I think it would be a good idea for me to call him since there really isn't a lot of information out there on this great cartridge. I think this cartridge is awesome. Take care!!