Just wondering about the difference. I would assume the Dakota is nicer (never seen one), but at about 6X the cost is it worth it? Been thinking about a nice single shoot lately.

If I was getting a Dakota, it would be a .257 Roberts. With the Ruger, I'd have to settle for the 7X57 which I could be very happy with just not my 1st choice.

opinions please.

Thanks
Terry

The Dakota Model 10 is to the Ruger Number 1, as a Mercedes 500 is to a VW Jetta.
It's more expensive, but the lines are nicer, the materials are better, the workmanship is better, the accuracy is better, and there is a lot more pride of ownership.

Oh yeah, the owners of Dakota didn't try to screw gun owners.

George

quote:

Oh yeah, the owners of Dakota didn't try to screw gun owners.

George

Hey George, I know there is some humor to that statement, but it's lost on me Until recently I never had much interest in single shot rifles. Please elaborate.

Thanks!

Terry

I've looked at both and for the life of me don't get it. I suppose the Dakota is completely machined from a billet whereas the Ruger casting has some un-machined surfaces on the inside. Still operates smooth as glass and tight though. I don't know how the forearm is attached to the Dakota but it can be a problem with respect to accuracy on some Rugers w/o proper adjustment. I don't care for the lever on the Dakota as well as the Ruger and IMO the Ruger is better looking overall, somewhat like a classic Farqharson, not to mention the cost differential. I guess there's some cache to owning the more limited production Dakota as opposed to the mass produced Ruger.

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:
Just wondering about the difference. I would assume the Dakota is nicer (never seen one), but at about 6X the cost is it worth it? Been thinking about a nice single shoot lately.

If I was getting a Dakota, it would be a .257 Roberts. With the Ruger, I'd have to settle for the 7X57 which I could be very happy with just not my 1st choice.

opinions please.

Thanks
Terry

Ruger has made #1's in .257 Robt. I have one and it's a #1B and a tackdriver. A bit on the heavy side, but nice anyway.
Paul B.

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:

quote:

Oh yeah, the owners of Dakota didn't try to screw gun owners.

George

Hey George, I know there is some humor to that statement, but it's lost on me Until recently I never had much interest in single shot rifles. Please elaborate.

Thanks!

Terry

TC1,
If you are not aware of the dirty tricks Bill Ruger played in the 1980's and 1990's, which involved vocal support for gun and magazine restrictions on law-abiding gunowners, you need to do some 'net searches.

George

The Ruger is the better choice unless you want a vault queen too perty to use
Mike

I've got a couple of dakota bolts but no #10's, I do however have several #1's & i'd pick the #1, but maybe do some different things. It costs about $350 to re-barrel, the reblue, and as long as it's apart might just well do a trigger job. Fitting a nice looking piece of wood adds $$ and depends on if you want it or not. End result is the last few I bought used and did the above to them and end up with a custom #1 that shoots well looks nice and costs less than 1/2 of the dakota

quote:

Originally posted by 7mauser:
The Ruger is the better choice unless you want a vault queen too perty to use
Mike

I hear that statement from time to time and would have to strongly disagree. There isn't a rifle on this earth that's too pretty for me to hunt with. While some rifles are works of art, they are functional works of art or they have no place in my safe. If I decide to go with a model 10, even a fancy one. It will be hunted. I've owned a few rifles some would consider "safe queens" and have enjoyed and taken game with them.

Terry

I was just kidding Terry.
I won't own a gun I can't hunt with.
Mike

Hi TC1 The Ruger No1 RSI in 7x57 is as nice a little rifle as one could want, with it's 20 inch barrell and fully wooded fore end it's pleasing to my eye. However if you want a real pretty rifle there's the Blaser K95, it's available in 7x57. The first I saw was a Luxus model in 7x57 with a Zeiss 1.5-6x on top of it, it took my breath away!
There was a test report in one of the local shooting magazines the K95 proved to be very accurate. Beauty and precision, Wow!

oldun - know what you mean, I ran into a K95 with 2 sets of barrels, 06 and 222, it was the plain version, so I ended up putting a nice turkish stock and forend on it, but for this little 5# rifle I shoots like a big brother. Handy as hell to break down and transport, only thing I don't like is the arming mechanism, where it unclocks everytime you break it open, and then arms itself with the safety as you push it off. Good for regulars things, but not good for DG

While I do not own a Dakota 10, I do have a long history with the #1, it is my considered opinion that there are only these considerations in the choice. Price and quality. The #10 is superior in design in nearly all regards and allows for a much lighter rifle if that is of consideration. The squirrely way Ruger configured the forend hanger is the source of many evils. You can however buy a lot of #1's for the price of a single Dakota, and still have the money left to "fix" them. I have yet to own a #1 or #3 that did not profit greatly from aftermarket enhancements(trigger, barrel, forend), as reflected in accuracy. I have purchased my last #1 BTW, future single shots may or may not involve the Dakota but it is a wonderful action for a custom rifle in my opinion. I would not buy a production gun from Dakota FWIW, their prices are a bit steep for the finished goods, also my opinion.

I've owned the Dakota #10 and Ruger #1. Each has design flaws, and strong points. The forend hanger on the Ruger requires bedding work to get it to shoot. The Dakota has the safety positioned so that a cleaning rod is difficult from the breech, and you can't dry fire a #10. The Dakota is a little more more svelte. If buying another single shot I would buy a Ruger and spend the money to get the flaws fixed. I almost bought a Blaser K95, single-shot, and didn't care for some of its features either...

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:
Just wondering about the difference. I would assume the Dakota is nicer (never seen one), but at about 6X the cost is it worth it? Been thinking about a nice single shoot lately.

If I was getting a Dakota, it would be a .257 Roberts. With the Ruger, I'd have to settle for the 7X57 which I could be very happy with just not my 1st choice.

opinions please. Thanks Terry

I wish I could afford a Dakota M 10! I have a lot of No.1's that I've acquired over about thirty-five years, and my hunting buddy just got a M10 in 7X57mm. It's worth ALL of my No.1's, with maybe even a Mannlicher-Schoenauer thrown it!

My .458 #1 has one of the nicest pieces of wood I've seen on a production rifle. It's a Liberty Model ca. 1976, so perhaps the fit/finish was better then, not sure, but I've been very impressed with this particular #1.

quote:

Originally posted by 458RugerNo1:
My .458 #1 has one of the nicest pieces of wood I've seen on a production rifle. It's a Liberty Model ca. 1976, so perhaps the fit/finish was better then, not sure, but I've been very impressed with this particular #1.

When the No.1 first hit the market, Ruger was using a lot nicer wood than they do today, as a rule. There are still a few new ones coming out with some figure, but not many!

Check out some of Mark Stratton's work on the #1's. These things really look nice to me after the receiver is surface ground square, and with a half octagon barrel, and a nice stock.

I have a couple of Dakotas #10s (one factory and one custom). They make a slim, trim rifle - more suitable for a 257 than the Ruger.

Dakota does not have an ejector, only has an extractor. Ruger's ejector will toss your brass into tomorrow. The lack of an ejector on the #10 is sometimes an issue for me.

Maybe you've already eliminated it as an option, but you really should consider the small Hagn for your 257. It would be my choice (w/ the ejector option).

I also had a ca.1976 #1 , this in 30.06. It had very pretty wood and fit.
After fully divorcing the front wood and working on the trigger I spent a bit of time working on a load.
I ended up with RP cases because they were plentyful, Federal primers, 51gr H4831 and Hornady 168 HPBT loaded .005 off the lands.

Other than that and recutting the checkering and putting a better finish that's it.

I would consider this rifle very repeatable. So much so that it was almost boreing. Enough that a fellow at the range offered me more money than I though a sane person should so I sold her.
I regret doing that to this day and it's been 24 years.

So when someone says that a #1 can't shoot that has certainly not been my experience.

Don

For those wanting something above and beyond there is always the Griffin-Fraser.

[IMG][url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=282220&c=500&z=1"] [/url][/IMG]

I prefer my Hyper-Single in 257 Roberts. The trigger is excellant and adjustable, the factory myrtle wood is great, and it came with a Shilen CM barrel. Ser.#00x Butch

If money were no object... and regretfully it's always an object, a Martini & Hagn single shot would be my first choice.

http://www.martiniandhagngunmakers.com/

Brianbo.
Well there was I quite happy with my little Ruger No 1 and you go and show a link to the Martini Hagn single shot.
If only I could afford to put the money to one I would buy one as quickly as I can say 7x57.
Not only does the action look very good the stock work is first class.
They look to be much better than the Blaser.

I didn't finish reading before someone posted the same idea- Martini&Hagan .You just have to see them in person-The pictures while incredible just don't compare to the real thing. A friend has two of them I have not shot -probably out of fear of what I would do!

quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeS:
The Dakota Model 10 is to the Ruger Number 1, as a Mercedes 500 is to a VW Jetta.
It's more expensive, but the lines are nicer, the materials are better, the workmanship is better, the accuracy is better, and there is a lot more pride of ownership.

Oh yeah, the owners of Dakota didn't try to screw gun owners.

George

The funny thing is, both will get you there. I have tried to justify spending that kind of cash, but there is so many other toys I could get with the money I saved. If driving that Mercedes 500 make you proud then go for it. Not much for a hunting vehicle and no place to put game.


GET THE RUGER

Best to start with an original Winchester High Wall, the only contemporary action that compares is the Hagn.

While not as well known, this action is in the same class. There is more on it in the big bore section under 500/416 Fraser.

I own 2 #1s & like them a lot. A bit heavy but for the money of the Dakota you could have A #1 built from the action up, anyway you like & still have money left over. Just my thought.

Mine isn't as pretty as SDH's, I'm not the brilliant gunsmith he is - but it could be had for less :



The one arguement against the Model 10 that isn't related to cost is the extractor instead of an ejector (which is why the Ruger has the problematic front end hanger). Well that and you really don't want to dry fire one, it takes to long to replace the block and firing pin.
Another analogy is that the Model 10 is to the Ruger #1 what a fine English double 20ga is to a Remington 11-87. Model 10's handle and point like one of your fingers. But then again Ruger #1's can be made into awesome rifles too......DJ

Are you saying you shouldn't dry fire the Ruger? Or is it the Dakota?
Paul B.

The Dakota. No clicky-clickey. I don't dry fire any of my guns anyway, NBD for me. Tried it once on a deer, didn't kill it, gave up that line of reasoning.

Looked at all 3 at RENO

RUGER #1, if you must
DAKOTA 10 :neat &sweet
HAGN SMALL Numero Uno!absolute delight,elegant, refined,supreme quality,locks up with the feel of a bank vault. The choice of Champions

It may just be my luck, but I have NEVER had to screw with the forend hanger to get any of my No.1's to shoot well....except the .22-250s. I've never found any way to get them to shoot really as well as good .22-250's should (1/2" or below).

On the three No.1s I had rebarreled, I did find that a quality barrel does significantly reduce even good group size.

Neat thing is, you can have a Ruger No.1 rebarreled & reblued for about $600, with a really top quality barrel. So, if you find a good used No. 1 for $300-$400, you're still right at $1-Large or less.

quote:

Originally posted by DigitalDan:
I have purchased my last #1 BTW,

DD,
I am curious about the problems with the #1 you found.
I have shot my #1 .223 ~500 rounds, 1moa average.
It is ugly with the stock off, compared to a Mauser, but works great.
I have not shot my #1 7mm mag yet.