I am thinking about building a 330 Dakota and wondered if anyone had hunted with one? I also would like some feedback on recoil. I have hunted with a 338win just fine, however I did not like the 338RUM at all.

Where does the 330 fall in the recoil picture?

Thanks
Dennis

Dennis,

As a sort-of off the wall comment, the .330 Dakota was Don Allen's favorite of the Dakota cartridges.

jim

I have heard that. Does anyone know why? My guess is that it is the take anything, anywhere theory of the caliber. I would love to hear if anybody knows the basis of his feelings about the 330.

Thanks
Dennis

It doesn't offer enough advantage over a .338 Win to justify the huge increase in compenent costs and the limited compentent availability.

IMHO.

The theoretically best solution between the .338 win. mag. and the .340 Weatherby/.338RUM.

Unfortunately, high ammo or component costs, limited availability, limit its usefulness as a N.A. or World big-game cartridge.

If you are prepared to deal with higher costs and the risk of not having ammo where, when you hunt if you lose your supply, then it is a great cartridge.

I particularly like the idea of a .225gr bullet at 3050fps.

quote:

Originally posted by Hunter:
I am thinking about building a 330 Dakota and wondered if anyone had hunted with one? I also would like some feedback on recoil. I have hunted with a 338win just fine, however I did not like the 338RUM at all.

Where does the 330 fall in the recoil picture?

Thanks
Dennis

Performance and recoil are the same as the 340 Weatherby. From a design point of view, I think it makes more sense than most.

I love the 33's, shoot the 340 a ton as I do the 338/06 and tyhe 338/300 wsm.

Unless I just wanted something different I do not believe I would be going to the 330 Dakota.

I looked hard at it once but I do not think that I will be going there.

Just my thoughts but a 338 wm is tough to beat. Now if your action is long enough and I wanted more then I would just go 340.

Good luck

Mark D

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:
It doesn't offer enough advantage over a .338 Win to justify the huge increase in compenent costs and the limited compentent availability.

IMHO.

+1 on your comments, there is nothing the 330Dakota does enough better to justify the
grotesquely increased price of brass.
Though being honest 250-300pieces of brass properly cared for should last the life of the barrel.

AllanD

If I remember correctly Dakota uses an action with dimensions designed specifically around their proprietary cartridges. I believe it is wider that the standard 76. I may be incorrect. At the very least to get proper function you would need a new magazine box designed around the dimensions of the .330 Dakota. I'm pretty sure Blackburn has these. Couple that with what could turn out to be some serious action work, the same dollars could be put into a premium barrel and blueprint job on a .338. And as others have pointed out the availability of ammo and component brass is the deal breaker with the Dakota cartridges. I have and use both the .338 Win and .340 Wby. and think either are the most practical .33's of the lot. Besides with new bullets like the Barnes TSX the .338 takes a back seat to no cartridge.

Now, what if lapua starts making their brass?

Have been some rumors..also, it will fit in a ordinary long action, with almost the same performance as the 338 LM, with good brass.

I have a 330 Dakota M-76 with a 26" barrel. I have used it on plains game in Africa, deer and elk hunts. My longest shot to date was with this rifle - a red heartebeest at 350 yards. It shoots flat and hit's hard! I handload for mine.

225 grain Northforks = 3050fps
240 grain Northforks = 2900fps
250 grain Nosler Partitions = 2870fps

I have reloaded some of my brass ten times. I usually anneal the necks after 5 firings. It is a great round. The brass is readily available from Midway, but yes it is more expensive. Would I buy another one - probably not. I bought mine before the 338 RUM was developed, but if I was looking for a fast 338 today that's what I would get. Cheaper brass and you would have the flexability to load it up or down.

Unless you want to get stuck with a gun with no ammo or brass I would stick with the 338 win mag.It will be around till there is still hunting going on with rifles.I skipped up to the 338-378 weatherby because the 338 ultra mag has alot of over lap with the 338 win mag.you can get 2800 fps with the 338 win mag with a 250 gr bullets.It takes alot more powder and rifle to get 300 fps more out of the 338-378.I like both of them and find myself hunting with the 338-378 over the 338 most of the time.Its the best rifle for the open range hunting if thats what you need.if your shots are 300 yards or less the 338 is perfict.I have taken deer out to 425 yards.

I have a7mm Dakota on a Ruger #1 & love the efficincy of this round. I think the Dakota mags are the best of the .404 based rounds. It will fit & function in a M70 or M700 w/ a bit of feed work. You could even rechamber you exist. .338wm by turning the bbl. in a bit & then run the .330Dakota reamer through. As to brass cost, just lay in 200rds when Midway has a sale & you are set for quite awhile. My 7mmDakota brass has 6 firings & still looks great.

The 340 will work in the 700 just fine and in the M70 quite easily as well.

I've gone this route and would again.

The 330 is kind of neat because it is not one many have/use. But, IMO the 340 is the way to go if one wants mo juice than the 338.

Mark D

I built a nice 330 some years ago and love it. Honestly though, I'm not sure if I'd do it again. To significantly improve on the .338 you really need to hotrod things which at best wears out the $1.25 brass quickly. Dies are $100. If you have a true long action (MRC 1999, Rem 700, W70) the RUM is a better choice (I really hate to admit that) from the perspective of both performance and economy. That said, there is preciosu little the good old .338 win can't do. I'm building one in a light Mtn. rifle now.

I had a 340 Wby that started life as a Mod 70 338. IIRC, it weighed about 8.5 lbs scoped and recoil was a little brisk off the bench. Offhand it was fine....I've never been strong enough to carry the bench hunting anyway. It was a great carry rifle, but the 338 woulda been just fine, too.

Yes there are cheaper ways to kill elk but the 330 Dakota is a really nice way to go. It's a usefull ballistic improvement over the great 338 Win Mag and more efficient than the 340 Weatherby.
If you can afford a Dakota Rifle or another Custom 330 rebarreling job you can afford the dies and a couple hundred rounds of brass. It's not a gun you want to take prarie dog hunting so a hundred or so rounds of brass should last you quite a while. I've gotten a bunch of reloads out of my cases even with warmish loads.
The 330 Dakota isn't for the budget minded nor for those who want the fastest 33 going, but for a nice, practical and well balanced 33 it's a good way to go...................DJ

Well, anytime a big case like that is made without that damned belt, it's a move in the right direction......

Thanks for all the input. I still don't know what I am going to do yet, but I am more informed. I have a browning in a .338 and like the round, but I do like the idea of getting rid of the belt.

Having said that, my favorite gun is a 300H&H.

Go figure.

Thanks
Dennis