Anybody use a .404 Dakota round?

[deltecs]

I find the .404 Dakota round most interesting for use in standard length actions for DG.  The .404 Jeffrey had a good rep in Africa for DG using the 400 gr RN and solids.  The ballistics of the .404 Dakota compare favorably with the Jeffrey round and use in a standard length action intrigues me.  I can see myself with an identical pair of rifles in .333 Jeffrey wildcat and a .404 Dakota for African hunting.  The .333 would also be used here in Alaska for larger game.  I realize the difficulty of lost ammo, hard to find brass and bullets, but the rounds would be effective on game.  Anyone have any experience with the Dakota?

[deltecs]

Still looking for information from anyone having experience using the .404 Dakota.  I realize it is an uncommon proprietary round but it intrigues me.  I really am hesitant to believe the ballistics by Dakota Arms as the info is derived from 25" barrels, or so I'm led to believe.  I'd like some more info before really getting excited about buying one for African hunting.  Help me out here, OK.

[Gun 4 Fun]

I haven't used the Dakota round, but I have a .404 Jeffery I had built on a controlled round feed M-70 action. It is sweet! The .404 is like the .45 Colt in that it'll do way better than the original factory specs. I wanted one for a long, long time and finally decided to have it done. Now I see Hornady is bringing out ammo and brass for it, in 2009. Every time I build one that is a little different somebody decides it's time to come out with a new rifle in that caliber. I like being the odd man out!

[deltecs]

With the case capacity of the 404 Jeffrey and modern powders, I am sure it is a good performer and better ballistics than printed.  I would love to have the Dakota for standard length actions with the original performance of the 404 Jeffrey.  It seems to me to be an ideal DG rifle without the recoil of the .45 mags with excellent terminal ballistics above the .375's.  A pair of identical rifles in .338-350 and the 404 Dakota for all African hunting would for me be the ideal set of companions.  As both are the same, one could easily use the smaller bore in NA and have the same familiarity with the big bore on DG with the same confidence.  Now that is a good combination.  I envy those having a good 404 in their cabinet.  I hope to soon have one.

[Gun 4 Fun]

I will say this, I can't tell all that much difference in the recoil of my .404 and my .458 Lott. The Lott does come back a little more, but not enough to say that you'll enjoy one and not the other. There just isn't that much difference. Mine are both made on the same action and the Lott is about a quarter pound heavier. However the .404 is my favorite and the one I will take if I get the chance to go to Africa. That and my .340 Wby. Like I said, I havn't played with it, but if case capacity of the Dakota round is close to the Jeffery, I think you'll get your best loads with Reloader-15. It isthe best powder in the Jeffery as well as the .416 Rem. I've had two of those, so that's not just my opinion. Several companies are starting to offer good bullets for the .404, Swift, Barnes and Hornady and of course Woodleigh. The Woodleigh's are really good bullets and seem to be quite accurate. I have the Barnes "x" bullets in their original configuration, but I haven't tried them yet.
I believe you'll really like a .404 in any configuration so go for it! Scope it with a good low power scope, [I don't use anything but Leupolds] in quick release rings and bases and you'll have a great African, Alaskan round, that wouldn't be rediculous to use on elk, with a lighter bullet.

[deltecs]

We are on the same page, if not in agreement with the exact cartridges.  I'd think the 338-06, another .338 bore like the .340 Weatherby, is a very good round for almost all of NA hunting and especially in Alaska.  It will shoot 400 yds and that is generally farther than most of the game I'm likely to shoot at.  At close range within 150 yds, it will do anything one could ask of it with the appropriate bullets.  Most elk up here with the exception of possibly those found on Prince of Wales Island, is in dense brush, so close shots are the norm.  The same for brown and grizzly bear.  Caribou generally can be taken within 300 yds easily.  Our woods bison and muskox are generally short range shots.  Black bear are normally short range shots, as are the deer.  I think it would do for most Western hunting also and familiarity with it in NA, would lend itself to a good African plains game rifle.  I'm not taking anything away from the Weatherby, but my choice would be the .338-06.  The 404 Dakota round has 96 grains of powder, which is a bit more than the .416 Taylor or .458 Win Mag.  The ballisitcs of the Dakota round is comparable with the European loading for the 404 Jeffrey, which is a couple hundred feet faster than the British loading.  400 gr bullet at 2400 fps in a 23" barrel.

[Gun 4 Fun]

Suonds good to me. I've never had a 338-06 but I have had two .338 Wins, and three .340's. I just plain like any gun! I'm on my third .35 Whelen and this time I'm not gonna trade it off. Technically, a person could get along just fine with the good ol' '06, with the possible exception of the big bears, on this side of the pond. I like big guns. The last wild boar I took was with my .340. The place I go knows me and they know that I don't think I need a .340 for hogs. They know I'm always trying something new or different and if I can't get away to hunt something appropriate to the gun, I'm gonna bring it down there and deck a hog with it. Let me just say, the .340 is a hog gun supreme! They seldom fall straight down regardless of what you hit them with, but the .340 is a whole new ball game. I actually think that this hog got a look at the caliber stamp on the barrel and died of fright.
Seriously, If you want that combo you should go for it and not look back. You won't be disappointed.

[deltecs]

I don't have either right now, but am looking strongly toward having a couple made up.  Probably after the first of the year before any further taxes make it prohibitive.  I'm sure I'll be satisfied.

[Gun 4 Fun]

Try to get it done, or at least started and paid for berfore Nobama starts signing all the bills that Schumer and Reid and their buddies have, and are drafting as we type.