7mm Dakota Kit Rifle

[mountainman56]

I can't stand it anymore........I gotta try it. I keep reading about pre-chambered and drop in barrels and I intend to find out just what a person can expect from a basically "bolt together" project.

I "accidentally" purchased a like new Stevens 200 .270 the other day for $239.00. When my wife isn't looking I'm going to order a varmint weight barrel from 4D chambered in 7mm Dakota $360.00. Going to get a magnum bolt head from PTG (maybe a fluted bolt as well). I am going to form my brass from 300 ultra mag, mostly because I have a bunch of them, so basically it will be a 7mm Dakota with a rebated rim. Will add some nice bottom metal and bolt it all into a good quality (likely laminated) stock. 20 moa one piece base and likely a Vortex scope should finish it off. Haven't researched what trigger I want to use yet.

Not really trying to build a bargain basement rifle here but I think the whole project should come in at a very reasonable price. Be nice if it shoots well too

Any input from you gurus out there will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Rich Coyle]

Maybe I can give a little encouragement to your project. I purchased a cheap plastic stock Savage .223 26" heavy barrel for testing. After about 2,000 rounds I certainly knew what it liked and took it squeek shooting. (The throat eroded .021" during the test.)

My adult daughter wanted to go deer hunting so I ordered a very light 22" take off barrel from the 'net for $75. She never went hunting so I took it and killed a couple deer with 60 grain Nolsers. Both exited.

I decided to convert it to a .257 Weatherby so ordered a .25-06 barrel from Midway for $130. The bolt face was replaced with a magnum. After deciding on a load I fired one shot from a cold barrel every morning for six days. The group measured 1 1/16". I took it hunting and killed a couple deer with Barnes TTSX 100 bullets.

I wasn't try to cut corners, just playing and having fun.

 

[liltank]

Look into the rifle basix trigger. Haven't used one yet, but the go to for Stevens/savage builds.

 

[calib]

I have 1 in the 7 millimeter 300 win mag that I put together and have shot 1 minute 1 mile

 

[Deleted member 46119]

Rolling your own and having it work is OMG fun and satisfying.

I wish you much fun and joy with your project.

 

[mountainman56]

Rolling your own and having it work is OMG fun and satisfying.

I wish you much fun and joy with your project.

Thanks! I always have several projects on the go but with the exception of a couple barrels I set back and re-chambered (back when I had access to a lathe) I have always had someone else install my barrels. I am really looking forward to this project as I have always wanted to check out the 7mm Dakota. Fortunately I decided a couple months ago I was going to build a rifle with that chambering and had ordered dies. The dies came in the same day I bought the rifle. Maybe it's a sign

 

[calling4life]

I built on the model 10 action, ended up with an adjustable McMillan A5, went with the sharpshooter supply comp trigger. I got to try the rifle basix and the target accutrigger on the line after an fclass match, the ss comp trigger was the way to go, loved it.

Had a rock creek in 260 on mine.

she was sold a while back, it was an 18" barreled 308 with a badger fte sitting in a choate tactical stock before I decided to really go all out, I wish I would have left it alone.

 

[liltank]

she was sold a while back, it was an 18" barreled 308 with a badger fte sitting in a choate tactical stock before I decided to really go all out, I wish I would have left it alone.

Why the regret on the updates? What did you like that you wish you would have left it alone?

 

[SA1000]

I've put together several on a savage 110 action they have all shot very good.I shooting couple in 6.5 creedmore and 6-284 now.I have also got one in 257 stw all will shoot under a moa at which ever distance I'm shooting to,out to 1000.Waiting on a barrel for an 338 edge too.Good luck with yours.

 

[calling4life]

In its final 308 version, choate tactical stock, re-bedded, sss comp trigger, 18", braked, I had a consistent cheek weld, a great trigger, a gun that didn't print fluke sub 1/2moa groups, but rather pushed me to see them often.

I had what I now know I wanted. And if you want to see proof of how it shot I've got a thread on the hide titled in the area of "my 308 and torque values," that details the process of me finding out I needed that re-bedding.

but choate stocks are junk right... Get rid of the barrel nut, the 308 is a boat anchor... I fell into believing what I was told instead of relying on what I knew.

As a 260 it was neat, the McMillan was a McMillan, it worked as advertised, the rock creek was a rock creek, the round had better ballistics, but dialing to 8 instead of 10 was rather moot to me.

That 18" 308 put a smile on my face when I shot it, I was more comfortable on that stock, I realized that I don't care what name is on the side of the stock, barrel, scope... Etc.

It wasn't about money, the setup I have now cost a good bit more... I thought the grass was greener and found out otherwise.

 

[mountainman56]

As a 260 it was neat, the McMillan was a McMillan, it worked as advertised, the rock creek was a rock creek, the round had better ballistics, but dialing to 8 instead of 10 was rather moot to me.

That 18" 308 put a smile on my face when I shot it, I was more comfortable on that stock, I realized that I don't care what name is on the side of the stock, barrel, scope... Etc.

It wasn't about money, the setup I have now cost a good bit more... I thought the grass was greener and found out otherwise.

I understand completely. I almost pulled apart a factory Remington 7mag that shoots to nearly .5 moa just because I wanted something different. It lives on and will remain a hunting rifle that I have taken to 1200 yards.

This project most definitely about the "I want" factor rather than "I need". I have always been curious about the 7 Dakota, I have the donor rifle, I have the time and I have the money (if I get everything ordered before my wife gets home) and so I aim to find out............pun intended.