Allen Day,

Your comments about your experience with Dakota are interesting. I have two Dakota 76's and both are excellent shooters and one, a 375H&H, is really exceptional. The rifles are nearing ten years old now and function has been perfect. The stock finish has held up really well, better than I would ever have guessed, blueing is holding up OK, but not as well as expected so far as wearing from handling. Both rifles are glass bedded and have aluminum pillars as well. Fit, checkering, etc is excellent. Personally, I like the grip on the Dakotas and the drop suits me well. I had the stocks made to my length so that works too. If the rifles were truely custom I would have had the forearms made slimmer. The barrels were broken in at Dakota and targets supplied that had been shot with factory ammo of my choice.

When I first got the rifles they were unaceptable in fit and finish and quality of wood and they went back. They went back a second time as well and for the same reasons. After a couple of long and difficult conversations, and a year and a half of sending rifles and eventually stock blanks back and forth I got the rifles I wanted, at the price I was willing to pay. I would never do it again, and I suspect that the resolution I finally got from the Allens is no longer available.

On the other hand, if I found a used Dakota that suited me, at a fair price, I would snap it up. They are generally very good rifles, but, as you point out, they aren't in the same league as a really good custom rifle.

JPK