Anyone else on the board shoot a 7mm Dakota? I have a Ruger #1 rechambered & it shoots great!
My most accurate loads seem to be w/ heavier 160-175gr bullets. RL22 & IMR7828 both work well (3250fps-3100fps).
Just wonder what you shoot in yours.

That is one of the Dakota calibers I have not used yet. I think it is much better than the 7 STW or 7 Wby.
RL22 is an excellent powder for the Dakota cartridges.

Forgot to ask: Who did your rechambering work for you? What did it cost? I assume you started with a 7mm Rem. mag. Correct?

Hey Ken, I actually called Dakota & asked them if they would do rechamber my 7rem. mag. The folks there were great & the turn around wasn't bad. If I remember right it was about $250, but they had to reset the 1/4 rib, set the bbl. back & some other little things. They said it would have been easier to go from ,338WM to .330 Dakota as the bbl. wouldn't need setting back. It shoots great though w/ just about everything I put thru it. It does seem to have a pref. for the heavier bullets though (the only reason to shoot a mag IMO). I have hunted w/ the 160grNP/72gr.RL22 & like it alot. I've been playing w/ IMR7828 more & more & it seems to be a bit more uniform across the temp. extremes. Do you think I would gain anything going to H1000 or RL25?
You're right, I think it is a bit more efficient than the STW & no pesky belt.

[ 03-27-2003, 06:01: Message edited by: fredj338 ]

I was surprised to see that you got Dakota to do the work for you on a "non-Dakota" rifle. It is great that they would do that for you. I guess it helps get the word spread about their excellent line of cartridges!
That price sounds pretty good, considering what had to be done. Also, you know they did it right! It is correct that the only factory magnum chamber that can simply be rechambered to a Dakota cartridge is the 338 win. mag. to 330 Dakota. All the others just don't work out because of the shoulder position. I was hoping a #1 in 280 could be just rechambered, but no luck there either. The 280 is longer to the shoulder than the 7mm Dakota.
I just looked in the Barnes book, and they recommend RL22 for every bullet weight in the 7mm Dakota. This powder also gives some of the highest velocities for all bullet weights listed.
I just finished loading for my 300 Dakota, and I used RL22 in that as well.

Yes, they did the work. I spoke several times to the chief eng. Ward, he was great about it. I think it's a customer relation thing. Beside, I still have to buy brass from them. I have thought about doing the same thing to a #1 in .330 Dakota. I think they are the right balance in a std. length bolt action.
If you have a #1B, it wouldn't be such a big deal, no front sight to index. Have a good one.

7mm Dakota Fans,

I have a 76 with a 25 inch barrel that I am still working up loads for. It was great to see some other loads that are working well. So far, here is what has worked for me..

71 grns H4831SC
150 Nos BT
CCI 250 primer
Always shoots 3 shots from 1/2 to 7/8 inch.

77 grns H4831SC
120 Barnes XBT
CCI 250 primer
Has shot 3 touching, other times more in the 1 inch to 1.5 inch range...I did kill a small mule deer buck last season with this load at 380 yards, bullet went through both shoulders and kept going.

The rifle so far does not like 139 Hrndy SST's, best group is around 3 inches.

I have tried some 140 grn Barnes XLC "blue" bullets. The jury is still out. I am definitely going to try some heavier bullets after reading y'alls posts. Thanks!

My Pet load for 7mm Dakota is 70gr of H-4831sc with a 160gr Nosler Gold. I am netting just shy of 3150fps with this load. This is near max pressure load - work up to it and watch for pressure signs.

I have not had the accuracy success with RL-22, however I was netting a little over 2300 fps with 75gr behind a 160gr Nosler Gold.

bc, try a slower powder like RL22 or IMR7828. I think you'll get an improvement in vel. (you didn't say what your 4831 load was doing) & you might find accuracy improves w/ load density. I think it's a great cart. Just @ the limit of overbore, efficient, flat shooting & can deliver all of that w/ a hard hitting 160-175gr bullet.
My rifle seems to prefer the 150 & up weights. I have some of the new Hornady 154grIB & NOsler 160grAB that I want to give a try before hunting season this fall. Good luck w/ your load developement.