I've never shot one, but the ballistics look excellent. Thing is, that M70 will hold a 3.6" round, so it's hard to overlook the 338 RUM. You can pretty well stomp the 340, though recoil will be commensurate. You can also download quite a bit. Brass is MUCH cheaper than either Dakota or 404 brass.
All that said, the 338 Win is pretty darn efficient as well as being a known game stomper. Basically a 30-06 with heavier and thicker bullets. I.e., all you need in B.C.
If I was just making up a 338 caliber rifle, I think I'd have to go with either the 340 or the 338 RUM. I'm not recoil-proof, but have more tolerance than some of my buddies, at least, so that has some to do with it. If I were concerned about recoil, I'd go with a .284" caliber.
Last, if you decide to go with the RUM (or 340 even,) start with a .308 caliber in the same case (300 Weatherby or 300 RUM) so that you don't have to deal with the feeding issues.

I have one and use it for Moose hunting, there are three 330 Dakotas in our group. We have taken three moose with them. They will give you an honest 2950 fps ot of a 24" barrel without high pressure and the bolt handle opens with your little finger. I used a 338 WM, 338 Lapua and 8mm RM prior to the Dakota and have taken animals with all of them. I find the Dakota is superb and the company is No.1 for service. It will give you at least 200 fps over the WM and keep good accuracy, my accuracy deteriorated with the WM when I approached max. It is a good rechambering option for someone who already has a WM and wants more power. The brass is higher priced than 338 WM brass. I enjoy owning and hunting with this round so much that I also aquired a 300 Dakota for a lighter gun, I only recently started handloading the Accubond in this and so far it has given superb accuracy.

bigbull

I have gone full circle on the Brass issue. I started with Dakota and then got myself forming dies and used 404 brass and now use none other than RUM brass, works great in both my 300 and 330 Dakota, brass is cheap and plentiful. As far as recoil is concerned the 330 Dakota is no pussy, it will rattle you if you shoot it in a light rifle( I can only imagine what the RUM will feel like). I don't get bothered too much by recoil but in the last years my rifles have been getting lighter and of coarse the felt recoil has increased. These are hunting rifles and I prefer to carry less weight. Having never felt the recoil when shooting at live game I don't miss the extra weight. You do pay a price at the bench though but I consider this a good tradeoff and compensate by using a muzzle break for most of the load development. Yoy might ask why the Dakota and not the RUM well the Dakota will fit a shorter action and also provide you with a shorter bolt throw (I hate getting poked in the nose when I cycle my bolt!) and less recoil.
bigbull

Let me start by saying that I own and use 2 .338 WM's. I have taken 19 species of African plains game from Impala to Eland with this caliber and have found that it hits like the hammer of Thor with 225 and 250gr premium bullets(Barnes X,Trophy Bonded Bear Claws,Swift A-Frames,etc.).I am able to get 2900fps with 225gr bullets without breaking a sweat and with no presure signs. One of those guns, a blueprinted Ruger 77 Mk II will shoot .4-.7" all day long with the above mentioned load. I use the above illustration just to show what is easily possible. I think the .330 Dakota is a great caliber, I just don't know that it offers any real world improvement over the .338WM to warrent the increased expense and lessened availability of dies and brass. Just a little food for thought.

Geronimo

I have a 7mm Dakota on a Ruger #1 & really like the design of the cart. I think the .330 may be the best of the Dakota line. It can be rechambered in a .338wm for perf. close to the .340wby. on a std. action. I may have to do that someday.

Thanks guys. You are always a wealth of information. Seems to me the 330 Dakota idea is looking stronger, with tons of great excuses for using one, despite high brass cost (unless I go the RUM route) and limited availability.

Bigbull,

How do yo form Dakota brass(300, 330) from RUM brass (virgin, I assume) ? I'm confused since the conversion doesn't appear to be evident at first sight, due to the shoulder positions.

tks !

The RUM has a rebated case head at .534, the Dakota is .545,
not the ideal match.
Shayne

That was excatly one of my concerns, the other was how to account for the difference in case length (shoulder).

tks!