Opinions on the Dakota model 10 single shot actions wanted. Are they worth the price and effort?
What are the differences between the the standard and the magnum action?

Pettson

Are they worth it? I would say only you can answer that. I have one in 25-06 that I love. It is light and very quick handling. The trigger is light and crisp from the factory. I have never worked up a reload for it because it has grouped MOA or less with all the Winchester supreme ammo I have tried. Could I have bought a Ruger for less? Sure. Could I get a Ruger to group as well? Maybe. Would the Ruger be as light and look as nice? Not in a million years. Would an animal be just as dead? Absolutely

The Dakota just has so much more soul. LOL The choice is yours.

I don't care for the shotgun-type feel or the operation of the Model 10.

If I wanted a fine single-shot, I'd rather send a Ruger Number One to Mark Penrod for a complete, best-quality makeover including Penrod's own patented replacement trigger, Kreiger barrel, custom open sights, detachable mounts (the works!) then send it to someone like James Tucker for a properly dimensioned stock.

AD

If I wanted a premium single shot I would get a Hagn. - Dan

What I want is an action suitable in size for the .22 Hornet or similar.
I looked at the No.1 for a while, but I think it might be a bit of an overkill for that cartridge.

Who makes the Hagn?

Pettson

Hagn action by by Martin Hagn & Ralf Martini. They can be contacted at martini&hagn@telus.net
Their action comes in 3 sizes, the smallest being scalled for the various 22's. I guess it would be perfect for a hornet. Last price I saw advertised was about US$2400 just for the action. The bigger actions are slightly more expensive again.

Dakota advertises their model 10 action for US$1625. But you can have their barrelled action for only $325 more which seems to be a bit of a bargain if the quality is any good.

I've only seen pictures of both so far, so I can't comment any further.

Doesn't Cooper now offer a small single shot falling block called the "Peregrine"?

Jordan

A #10 I built for myself in .257 Roberts. Note the propritary trigger guard and custom trigger. Also how much more drop there is in the stock. this is a pure and simple hunting rifle.

[url= http://"http://www.hunt101.com/?p=56917&c=500&z=1"] [/url]

[url= http://"http://www.hunt101.com/?p=56921&c=557&z=1"] [/url]

The scope is a 2x7 compact which didn't have enough eye relief. It now has a 2x7x33.

Pettson-

Here's another custom built on a Model 10 action. Like SDH's rifle, this one is a 257 Roberts. I really like this rifle, but now I wish I had started with a Hagn action. I would especially prefer the Hagn for larger calibers. I know you said you're thinking about a 22 Hornet, so a Model 10 would be my preference over a Ruger #1.



You might think about letting Hagn build the complete rifle, their pricing is reasonable (as far a custom rifles go).

[ 12-05-2003, 06:09: Message edited by: ForrestB ]

Pettson, Check out this rifle sounds like what you are looking for.

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=5267812

Thats great looking wood, wish mine had wood that pretty.

Steve E.....

Forrest, that is absolutely beautiful. You have great tastes in firearms and gunsmiths.

Chic-
I know a few gunsmiths with taste and I learned the hard way I should just turn them loose and wait for the finished product. I won't tell you about the hard knocks I've had along the way.

I look forward to seeing you in Reno.

Forrest

Thanks for the input all of you.

SDH and ForrestB; I really like what you did to yours. Nice looking rifles. Any opinions on the quality of the actions as they come from Dakota?

How about the Ruger #3, would that be worth looking in to? How hard are they to find, and how much should I expect to pay for one?

Sorry about all the potentially stupid questions. I do live in Sweden, and single shots, with the exception of new #1's, High Walls, old rolling blocks and the occasional Martini, are hard to find here.
I know of one Remington Hepburn, but unfortunately it is not for sale...

Pettson

[ 12-06-2003, 07:07: Message edited by: Pettson ]

Pettson,
I've built four rifles on Dakota barreled actions and I think the quality quite good. The action has several idiosyncrasys including the mainspring which is extremely difficult to disassemble or reassemble. There is a fix to this. Also the safety button is too high to get a cleaning rod past it and extracted cases tend to hang up on the rear of the breechblock mortice. The Lothar barrels are very accurate in my experience and Dakota offers several barrel contours. I have developed modifications to address each of these concerns.

In my opinion, the tangs are way too high and straight and I lower them both. The quarter rib and sights supplied are very good and allow reshaping.

The trigger/sear/mainspring arrangement, as well as the extractor were directly copied from the Hagn action. Now that Martin and Ralf are offering a small action I may not do any more Dakotas.

I've got a standard Hagn brld action in the safe and a small one on order. Ralf Martini does incredable octagon barrel work, although expensive for most. The fit, finish, design and function of the Hagn is superior, but the styling is quite different.

I've enjoyed tweaking the Dakota actions and would never do one with the standard wimpy trigger and ugly trigger guard. Take a close look at mine and you will see a much larger trigger shoe and the guard filling in the gap between it and the lever, ala' Farquharson.

The rifle in the photos will be on the cover of January 2004 Accurate Rifle magazine along with a feature story.

I prefer the Ruger #3 to the #1, but each needs more modification to get what I want than I care to do.

[ 12-07-2003, 00:48: Message edited by: SDH ]

Very nice SDH. I see by your line that you're in Livingston. So am I for another week. Perhaps we could meet for coffee. You seem like a pretty savvy gun guy, judging from your comments and pictures. - Dan

SDH,
Can you tell me what sort of wood and stain (if any) and oil you used on that .257? I'm restocking a low wall with English and it's color is something really new to me. Not sure what to try.

Beautiful work whatever it is.

Brent

Dan, check your PM.

Brent, The stock was a slightly orange colored blank of California English, the color very much like that of the true French walnut we used to get years ago. It has been stained with Behlen Solar-lux "American walnut" avaiable from www.woodworkingshop.com
I stain most of my stocks because I enjoy the reddish tones.
The trick is staining AFTER filling the pores. The basic method is outlined in my Fine Gunmaking column in Shooting Sportsman magazine, May/June 2002. Way to complicated to relate here.
Have you ever seen any of my Low Walls?
Thanks for your kind words.

This is my most recent Low Wall project, a .25-20 engraved by Michael Dubber and cased by Huey. One of the few stocks I didn't stain because it had such rich chocolate background color.

[url= http://"http://www.hunt101.com/?p=77658&c=500&z=1"] [/url]

A rather lousy photo I might add.

[ 12-09-2003, 00:02: Message edited by: SDH ]

SDH,
have you ever seen the red oil sold by Winchester Restorations www.winrest.com? I have some on the way.

I would really like to hear about that technique of staining after sealing. Seems backwards to me and one that would likely become ugly as the stock gets used, but your photos tell me that you know a lot more than I do, so I could stand to learn. I don't have access to that article you mentioned either.

Brent

[ 12-09-2003, 02:10: Message edited by: Brent ]

I'd be a candidate for that staining seminar also...

Pettson

SDH - Man am I slow. I actually couldn't put those initials together - what an idiot.

BTW, I saw your traveling low wall in Minneapolis this summer - changed a few details on my low wall project, esp. that cap box. It was spectacular! Wish I could push my project back one step to reconsider a keyed forearm instead of the screw - very nice idea.

Sorry for being thicker than a brick. But would still like to learn about that staining technique. I'd swap you a reprint of one of mine for that one of your's Of course, my reprints probably aren't worth a heck of a lot to you.

Brent

quote:

---

Originally posted by SDH:
This is my most recent Low Wall project, a .25-20 engraved by Michael Dubber and cased by Huey.

---

[ 12-09-2003, 02:14: Message edited by: Brent ]

The best way to get the whole story on staining is to get a back issue of Shooting Sportsman, May/June 2002 by calling 207-594-9544 or shootingsportsman.com

I could only give you an abbreviated version here.

There are lots of photos of that Low Wall in my book Custom Rifles in Black & White available for $34ppd from:
Fandango Press
P.O. Box 251
Emigrant, MT 59027
40 custom rifles, over 250 photos, bolt, single shot and lever actions.

Thanks, I'll give them a call.

And I have your book already - make that books - both of them. Those things are like drugs - should be illegal!

Beautiful work indeed.

Brent

quote:

---

Originally posted by SDH:
The best way to get the whole story on staining is to get a back issue of Shooting Sportsman, May/June 2002 by calling 207-594-9544 or shootingsportsman.com

I could only give you an abbreviated version here.

There are lots of photos of that Low Wall in my book Custom Rifles in Black & White available for $34ppd from:
Fandango Press
P.O. Box 251
Emigrant, MT 59027
40 custom rifles, over 250 photos, bolt, single shot and lever actions.

---

Brent,

Sorry, the story is in March/April 2002. It was a three part series on refinishing with other craftsmen's methods in the next two issues.

Shootingsportsman.com

Go to Store, then to back issues.

Did not Nesika Bay actions merge with Dakota to help solve their action problems? Is this just a rumor? Butch

Dakota bought out Nestica, and ripped off the Little Sharps Rifle co. Another conglomerant.

[ 12-09-2003, 11:56: Message edited by: SDH ]