How do people feel about Dakota quality for a 2000 vintage rifle?

Every Dakota rifle I've owned - three - has been a gem and a joy to hunt with. In my limited experience, they are quality, classy guns.

I had problems with a Mod 76 in 7mm Rem in 2006. The rifle had to be rebarreled to get it to shoot accurately. I would imagine the 2000 vintage is a better QC'd rifle. I would be hesitant to order another one now.

I bought mine in spring 1994 and it is about a 1990 vintage as it came from a special order for Kesselring Gun Shop of Alger, WA.It was and is a beautiful rifle and will shoot 250NPs into bugholes, consistently, it is a .338WM.

I had minor fitting and a major feeding issue with it, which were resolved and now it is totally reliable. I especially like the weight and handling characteristics of these rifles and the wood on mine is superb.

However, I would NOT pay a top dollar for one as too many of them that guys I know have bought have had issues; there are, IMHO, better options if you are spending major coin. IF, you can find a nice used one at a lower price, then, they can be adjusted by a competent smith to become a firstclass rifle and the action is a fine design well worth fine-tuning.

My experience with Dakota rifles is they are like factory rifles, 3 out of 5 I have owned in the past needed work (sent back to Dakota or had the work done elsewhere). They are beautiful rifles but as I've always told my kids, handsome and beautiful can hurt you. In a nut shell you can make any Dakota a nice rifle but it might cost you some time and money, if your lucky you might get a rifle they got right the first time.

Dirk

I own four. Two are circa 1998 and they took some wrangling with Dakota, particularly Norma Allen who was a PITA to deal with, but I got the rifles I ordered. Once that was accomplished they have been really excellent rifles.

The other two are Dakota Youth Models, circa just after their bankruptcy, but someone there was looking after me (actually a couple of people) and the rifles were both perfect.

JPK