The Dakota rifles I've seen and shot have all been nice rifles, but are not what I would consider to be "BEST" guns in the traditional term.

There's no way they match up to a Wiebe, Ottmar, Echols, Miller, Heilmann, Hensley, Huges, Stratton, etc... rifle. They are less expensive, though. BEST rifles do have a price tag to reflect the work that goes into them.