I am putting together a .416 Rigby and wanted opinions (I know I'm asking for it) on the action. Is the Dakota action worth the extra money? I am familiar with the CZ, but have not had a chance to play with a Dakota. My uncle just swears by them and suggested I "do it right with a Dakota." Now, I am the black sheep of the family anyway, so it doesn't bother me to go with the CZ, I just wanted some good honest opinions.

Thanks

I have been vexed by this question too, and decided against the Dakota, and chose the SigArms Mauser 98 Magnum in 450 Dakota. It is a better action than the Dakota 76 African, due to the self-locking extractor and better gas handling, etc. Sumbuddy who know different? Please set me straight if I am wrong.

The CZ 550 Magnum also has the self-locking extractor like a true Mauser.

The CZ safety and trigger can be replaced, but I like them like they are just fine, thank you.

The only reason I would buy a Dakota is if they would make their Dakota 76 African action in stainless. But that ain't gonna happen as it would be like finding an alternate energy source to replace petroleum. It would upset the status quo.

Still, I would much rather have a true M-98 Magnum action in stainless, and would settle for the CZ 550 Magnum in stainless ... get my drift???

My drift is that I own 10 of the CZ 550 Magnums and zero Dakotas.

I did not know they made the 550 magnum in stainless. I have only seen them blued. Also, what do you mean when you say "self-locking extractor?"

Thanks for the info.

CZ's work, Dakota's work smoother.
If you are buying your first big-bore and want to experiment and play around a bit, the less expensive CZ is a good gun to start with.
If you are spending a few thousand dollars to make a really nice custom rifle and want to go all out, the difference in action costs would be worth it............DJ

I don't know price (could be high), but great Mauser 98 actions and rifles are from Golmatic :



http://www.golmatic.de

Well, it all depends on what you want to create and what your budget will allow. A CZ will can be made into a nice rifle with work. THey are now in the same league as Dakota for fit and finish. If you want to get them on an apples-apples stage, then you have to add a 3 position safety and better trigger on the CZ. Also, the bottom metal is pretty cheap, and I would not have a DGR with a push button mag release in front of the guard Bow (they have popped open on 2 differetn friends of mine. One was deer hunting, which did matter. THe other was following up a wounded Brown Bear on the Kenai Pennensula. Not the time to go digging rounds out of th emud). If you change th ebottom metal, safety, trigger, bolt handle (CZ has a terrible abortion of a bolt handle for some reason) and polish up the action, it will cost you more than a Dakota.

Dakota $1600
CZ $500, safety $300, trigger $100, bottom metal $400, bolt handle $100, polishing & smooting $???
Granite Mountain Arms action $2200

SO if you want first rate, then going with the Dakota will cost no more than the CZ. but you donot have ot go first rate to have a functional rifle. The CZ can be tweaked a little and and you can save a lot fo money. But you also will not have a compaorable action to the Dakota. It is a judgement call that depends on what you want. No right or wrong answer here

Hunter,
Yep, no stainless 550 Magnum either, just wishin'.

The Mauser self-locking extractor is a dovetail bevel of the groove on the fore part of the bolt where the extractor mates, the little raceway circumferentially partway around the bolt.

This bevel forces the extractor to move inward against the extractor groove on the case when the bolt is withdrawn.

Dakota 76's and Winchester 70's and Ruger Mark II 77's all have rectangular sided extractor grooves on the bolt that do not lock the extractor inward as the bolt is withdrawn. They are more likely to over-ride and jump off a sticky case in the chamber. A Mauser extractor would have to bite all the way through the rim of the case to lose control of the case in extraction. Unlikely.

Look at a military Mauser (or a CZ 550) and it will be obvious. Paul Mauser genius.