Tell me more about this round
I am looking to convert my 300WSm to something
and this round caught my eye.

quote:

Originally posted by mr.pepper:
Tell me more about this round
I am looking to convert my 300WSm to something
and this round caught my eye.

If you’re using a standard length action for your 300 WSM then you shouldn’t have a problem, however if you’re using a short action you will have a problem as the 300 Dakota requires a 3.4†magazine.

And maybe more issues. The Dakota cartridges are designed to function in '06 length actions, but the rig must have a magnum bolt face. I really like the Dakota cartridges, I like to think of them as a 'long fat' magnum, where everyone calls the short magnums 'short fats'.

I have looked at converting a number of '06 length actions to a Dakota, but there has not been enough bolt face to allow opening up to accomodate the Dakota cartridge. Most WSM's had a shorter action, so I doubt yours will be readily converted.

If wildcats don't bother you, the guys at Serengeti have built a bunch of bigger bore calibers as wildcats off of the WSM cartridge.

Example: 338/WSM. I haven't done one, but they tell me that Redding does the dies as a stock deal, just pick your caliber and order the dies to match. The 338 WSM sounds interesting....

If your action is an '06 length and you can get the bolt to work, you will find the Dakota is an efficient powerful case, I have 2 300 Dakota's being built as we speak.

Good Luck!

Unless your WSM is custom built on a standard length action, or you're using a Tikka (they put bump stops on 06' length actions to make the 308 length) its not gonna work. If you're looking to convert the WSM, stuff a .358 bullet in there! The 350wsm/358wsm/35 Sambar (i've seen articles about each name, all the same though) would be a great choice! You're basically just a hair short of 358 Norma Mag numbers in that little package. But, if you're just wanted a bigger, faster 30 cal, you're gonna need a different rifle.

Also, be careful when having custom Dakota's made. Dakota and SAAMI specs differ, and you'll find many people who have bad case stretching problems due to the differences in specs from the factory vs a gunsmiths chamber dies.