The 450 Dakota on paper looks like a great big bore cartridge (137 grs H20 capacity), but it seems not to have caught on...why?

After Don Allen died, the company was owned/controlled by a real horse's ass for several years. Now, they are part of the Freedom Group, and seem to many to be very overpriced compared to others in the same market segment.

About 1/3rd of the cost will get you the CZ 550 Magnum in 450 Rigby (same case +/-) with just as nice wood.

IMHO, today's market for big bores is rather limited, and you can build a nicer rifle by a good custom gunsmith for less.

I think Wendell Reich that posts here had one for awhile. He said it is a real hammer - on the buffalo and on the shooter.

I had one for a number of years, the main problem was the brass sold by Dakota was absolutely junk-would often crack on first firing and was not really reloadable because of quality. If interested I can look up my data. Would not go that way again. ISS said it well get a 450 Rigby so you do not have to buy proprietary brass. Thanks, Lynn

+ 1 on the 450 Rigby, same wine different bottle. I have two rifles in this caliber, easy to reload and no trouble getting brass etc.

I had a CZ converted from 458 WM to the Dakota. Got it from Safari Kid in 2007. It was a Dakota because he got a screaming deal on Dakota dies and brass. Sound familar?

It went to Zim in 2008, and I hunted Buffalo with CM Safaris. 500gr softs and solids at 2470, and two rounds of each under 3" at 100 yds.

You can also make brass from 416 Rigby if need be for either.

Just on the brass issue, I would go Rigby.

enjoy,

Rich

Thanks guys, your comments make good sense - 450 Rigby is the best bet. A hammer for certain.

I have owned and shot a .450 Dakota for years and love it. It is very versatile and can be loaded from 2100 fps to a shoulder watering 2550 fps with a 500 gr pill.

There was a problem with Dakota (MAST) brass as it had excessive head space and it was easy to split brass. This is the same problem all non-belted cases can exhibit. However, if you fire form the cast to eliminate the excessive head space, brass life is excellent. I have reloaded cases 8 to 10 times without any issues. Don't bump the shoulder and anneal every 3 to 5 reloads and you will get good brass life.

The Rigby and Dakota can be loaded to the same performance. Rigby load data was a little anemic because it was used in older firearms. Otherwise the two cases are nearly identical.

Opus1,

The 450 Rigby and 450 Dakota are essentially the same...but

Rigby brass might be easier to get.

Correct?

Dakota has in the past kept a good supply of brass. However, Rigby brass is very difficult to find. A quick check showed the usual suspects were all out of stock.

So difficult to say which is easier. I wouldn't build either without at least 100+ cases in hand.

Midway USA does have Dakota brass but does not have Rigby brass - http://www.midwayusa.com/Produ...450-dakota-box-of-20

I bet .450 Rigby would better choice when talking in long therm. When lack original factory cases just buy .416 Rigby's, open and fireform them.

You don't shoot such big ammos so many tenpieces per year so sooner or later you'll find factory ones.

quote:

Originally posted by Opus1:
Dakota has in the past kept a good supply of brass. However, Rigby brass is very difficult to find. A quick check showed the usual suspects were all out of stock.

http://www.grafs.com/retail/ca...gory/categoryId/859?

Graf & Sons is out of Jamison, but has Hornady and Norma .416 brass available.

And .450 for $2 more a case...

http://www.grafs.com/retail/ca...ory/categoryId/3867?

I used one as a back-up rifle for a few years, it was super calibre and rifle. Put the brakes on many an elephant and buffalo.
Truly a great round similar to a 460 Weatherby but more manageable.
Pulled off some good shots with it. Sadly had to sell it when I left Tanzania.
Probably better to go with a 450 Rigby due ammo or a downloaded 460. But don't shy away from a 450 Dakota!

The 450 Dakota was first, the 450 Rigby is a me-too.
They are both equally odd-ball, and the latest Norma-made Dakota brass is as good as it gets.
The Mauser Banner folks chose the Dakota.

450 Rigby Cases (Norma) are $88.00 for 20 at Huntington's.

IMO, the 450 Rigby (Dakota) should be getting more attention.

This cartridge has't to be a major HAMMER.

Rich, I believe the cz 450 dakota you got from Tom was mine and I traded it to him. I got it from Wendal Riech. It can be loaded up to near 460 weatherby specs if one was so inclined.

yes, that rifle has a history here. I should have kept it. A gentleman here bought it and my CZ 375 H&H as a set. He was taking his Father on Safari, and wanted the pair. Close to Wby velocity. Buffalo make me nervous. 500gr softs and solids at 2470fps grouped very close at 100, in the 2" range for four shots (2 of each).

any way, build the 450 Rigby, use 416 Rigby brass for practice, and go happy!

Rich

I've seen that caliber in action; it's a hammer. Michel Mantheakis carries one. In 2012 hunting in Masailand, he had loaned his rifle to Lupo Santasilia. I wounded a buffalo and when he ran, Lupo had the angle. I yelled at him to shoot and the bull collapsed DID (dick in the dirt).

Just returned from a hunt with Thierry Labat ( great guy and PH, all kudos he has are well deserved) at Sango. He recommended I load North Fork Cup Point Solids in my Dakota450 Rigby. One shot at 75 yards almost flattened the Dugga Boy on contact. He hunched so hard his chin almost hit the ground ( shot on the point of the shoulder quartering towards us took out both lungs). Ran about 70yards and dropped dead. Previous buffalo hunt only about 40 yards with a heart shot. Also Bang -flopped an old 'blue' Eland. Probably best summed up by PH Johnny Hume" Buffalo don't like that caliber' 'nuff' said.

A good friend of mine is in Zimbabwe now with his 450. Shot buffalo with it couple days ago, very impressive results. Its a great round if one can tolerate the recoil!

Bought a CZ550 in 450 Rigby this year, brass & bullets readily available. Shot at range with chrono and found 103gr H4350 with 450 gr TSX is my recoil limit. Seems accurate. Expect it to be a sledgehammer next year in Mozambique on buffalo. Regards, a fellow 375 HH mag AI user.

Just returned from Zim on the 14th of September, used my 450 Dakota with 450gr Barnes TSX on buffalo with very effective results. Current Dakota brass is much better quality than the early stuff.

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Looks like it!! Wow!! congratulations on a nice bull!! Very.....Very nice.

Worked hard to find this one, looked at over 700 buffalo during the hunt. The only other animal I used the 450 Dakota on was an impala, we jumped the impala heading back to the cruiser at the end of a buffalo hunt. Though I can push the 450gr TSX slighty over 2500 fps in my 23" barrel with RL-15, I used H-4350 and loaded them to 2425 fps.

Regarding the brass, I have two different batches of brass from Dakota which were made by different sources and had the same issues mentioned in previous posts, too hard, too soft...ect. I called up Dakota and they replaced all my brass with current sourced brass which is much better.

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Its a great round - brass is on the expensive side, most shooters can't handle full house loads, it really doesn't offer MORE than a lott, and frankly, my 458 AccRel can do the same thing in a standard length action, with cheaper brass. Further, it is more or less identical to a 460 weatherby, sans belt, along with the savage recoil of too much powder and velocity for "most" people to shoot.

the 458 AccRel is the minimum case to put a 500gr bullet at 2400 fps... though I recommend 2300 for recoil and brass life. oh, and you can make the 458 AccRel from remington ultramag brass --