What'd you know about these rifles? I know their no longer being made. But how does it compair to a Model 70? What about weight? I've found a 280rem I'm thinking about buying and rechambering to 280AI. But I know very little about these rifles.

[ 04-16-2003, 23:08: Message edited by: mark65x55 ]

I don�t think they are Beretta rifles at all.
As i remember they are made Dakota or some other small manufacturer.

Regards

a fellow at the range had one a week or so ago. The action is a Dakota, whether beretta supplies the wood and barrel or not, i have no idea. It is a nice gun though, and has claw extraction if that is of importance to you.

[ 04-17-2003, 01:17: Message edited by: Curtis_Lemay ]

Dakota action. The stock is in question. I've heard that the synthetics are Mcmillans,the wood stocks are those made in house. Scheels had one in rapid city. It was a nice looking rifle,but the $800 price tag was a bit much. If you're right handed buy a pre64 M70 for as much or less and have a better rifle or just as good of one.

The stock is Bell & Carlson with an aluminum bedding block. I have a 7 mag that I haven't scoped or fired yet. It seems heavy to me-my point of referrence is a .270 model 70 Classic SM and a few Rem 700s. Fit and finish is very good. The main drawback is the detachable mag-I wish I could find replacement bottom metal at a reasonable price.

I got in on the big Mato closeout this past fall. Between myself and friends, we bought 9 rifles. I can tell you that a few of the early rifles DID have McMillian stocks, the later ones however had the Bell and Carlson. Either way, the stock is MUCH better than the injection molded plastic garbage you find on most factory rifles. The action is a Dakota as mentioned however it is the M 97 action NOT the M 76. The difference between them being that the 97 is a tubular action while the 76 has the flat bottom of a Winchester 70. The bolt can be field stripped in a very similar manner to the 70. The trigger is a Shilen and is factory adjusted to about 4 lbs. If you desire a lower weight, Shilen will sell you a $20 component that will allow for the pull to be adjust down further. The barrels are Lothar Walther and of modest to good quality. While we haven't experienced terrific accuracy, out of nine rifles, none are stinkers. All will shoot 1" or better averages with handloads.

Based on what it would take to assemble this rifle from the sum of it's parts, the gun really is a deal for $1200. If you put the gun together from pieces it would cost about $1370.

If you do buy one, you are somewhat limited as to the bases that will work. Leupold makes a QR and a set of QRW's for it. Redfield also makes a turn in front / windage adjustable rear set. The bottom line is this, you can use a Winchester 70 base set, but the rear hole spacing is .435. This spacing was used only on pre 64 m70 magnums. Talley may also make a base set, but I don't care for the rings so I haven't checked.

This rifle would still be in production and selling like hotcakes if Beretta had a clue on how to market rifles. I wonder what that bodes for the Sako line.

Gabe

papaschmud, you got any idea what a 280, or for that matter a 270, 30-06, weighs. I'm looking for a 8 pound +/- rifle, total weigh,. Including scope, sling, rings.........

Mark

My Mato bare is 7 5/8 lbs. My friends rifle all set to go with a Leupold 3.5-10X40, Redfield bases, Burris Signature rings, and a lightweight sling comes in at exactly 9 lbs. A lot of the weight is in the stock as the barrel contour is very similar to a Winchester 70 Sporter. This rifle is not a liteweight, but the weight is not burdensome, and the rifle handels very quickly.

Gabe

Forgot to mention, both are .280's

Gabe

Bought a .338 Win. Mag. at the Galyan's closeout last summer--it weighs 9 lbs. or just under that, with a Leupold 4x33 in Leupold PRW rings. I can't remember if that includes a sling.

Mine wouldn't feed worth a damn, that detachable magazine is definitely the weak point of the design, especially with a belted cartridge. But I live 45 min. from Beretta and they fixed it right up for me.

Accuracy is decent but not extraordinary. I haven't played with a huge number of loads but it likes the 200-gr. Ballistic Tip seated .030" from the lands, with 65.0 gr. of RL-15. Throat is a bit long and I haven't tried heavier bullets.

The barrel fouls a bit, there are visible tool marks on the lands near the muzzle.

John

I have a Mato in 338 Win. It is a very smooth action and I have had no problems with feeding
and ejection. I haven't been able to generate a failure in this regard no matter how hard I try. I agree the barrel fouls and is definitely harder to clean than a premium barrel.

David