.450 Dakota/Rigby

13 April 2008, 19:20

Dave Bush

.450 Dakota/Rigby

Guys, does anyone have any experience with the .450 Dakota of the .450 Rigby? I have a PH action on order from Montana Rifle Company and I am thinking about turning it into a .450 Dakota. If you have one, I would appreciate any comments or suggestions you might have.

Dave

Dave
DRSS
Chapuis 9.3X74
Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL
Krieghoff 500/.416 NE
Krieghoff 500 NE

"Git as close as y can laddie an then git ten yards closer"

"If the biggest, baddest animals on the planet are on the menu, and you'd rather pay a taxidermist than a mortician, consider the 500 NE as the last word in life insurance." Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (8th Edition).

13 April 2008, 19:35

Idaho Sharpshooter

I am shooting the one I got from Safari Kid. So far so good. Am at 2550fps and easing my way up to matching 460Wbee numbers. I have the Dakota.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

13 April 2008, 19:39

ROSCOE

Dave,
Do a search and you will find quite a bit of info on the 450 Dakota. I have used it quite a bit in Africa along with my 470NE. It is a great round IMO with lots of flexibility. Load it hot and you have a 460 Weatherby. Load it light and you have a 458 WM. One other thing that is seldome talked about here is shooting 350 grain bullets. It will give you some very impressibe ballistics and make this gun suitable for longer range shooting.

Have fun

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R. Lee Ermey: "The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle."
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14 April 2008, 06:13

bigdoggy700

I had a CZ in 450 dakota and it worked great. Max hand loading by dokota spec sheets shows 500 grain bullets achieving 6770 ft.lbs at 2470 ft/sec.Which will bring down anything you want it too.

15 April 2008, 06:53

Andy

Dave,

I have shot nearly 1,000 rounds of full power 450 Dakota loads through my highly modified CZ 550. Weighs 11 pounds w scope and sling. 10 pounds without either.

One of the easiest ctgs you will ever reload for.

Likes RL-15.

In a short 21 1/2 inch barrel I easily get 2700 fps with 400 grain bullets, 2500 fps with 465 grain solids, 2550 fps with all types of 450 grain, and 2,350-2,400 with 500 grain.

One of the few big bores you can sight in w a 500 or 465 grain solid for elephant at ten paces and shoot a 400-450 grain soft point 1-2 inches high at 100 yards.

Andy

15 April 2008, 19:47

Dave Bush

Guys, thanks for all your comments and thanks to Rich for tipping me off on Ken Cline's dies. I called Dakota and got some load data from them and sent a check off to Ken this morning for the dies. Hopefully Montana Rifle Company will start production of their PH action within the next three to five months and I can get this project off the ground.

Dave

15 April 2008, 21:32

Idaho Sharpshooter

my CZ 450D is becoming my favorite big bore rifle.
I can use 460Wbee starting data, or the information from Dakota. Hard to decide whether I prefer an Express-type rifle (400@2700) or Thor's Hammer (550-600@2250), but it works well as either.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...