ORIGINAL: oldelkhunter
I own a Dakota in 330 Dakota. Its plain jane... 97 Long Range model. No frills. Got it when I worked at the gun shop... set me back about $3K. Which is about as inexpensive as they get. Its an amazingly well built gun. In a fantastic caliber. I sold the first one I bought at a considerable profit, and decided I wanted to keep one for myself anyway. I'm glad I did
Last week I had my hands on a 97 in 257 roberts(black synthetic stock) that was at my Gunsmiths place for work . I normally don't get excited about rifles but that one got the bp going. It fit and pointed perfectly for my taste and the caliber is as good as it gets for WD.
One of the things I liked the most about Dakota, both times I purchased with them, was the level of involvement that I got to have in the building of my rifle. From engraving, to quarter ribs to sights to finish, I got to hand pick everything. I went to economy route, because this gun is a hunter first and foremost. I don't want to fret over my exhibition grade wood and gold inlays when my rifle gets kicked off the back of the hunting vehical in the middle of the Kalihari Desert. But I could of had any of those if I want to ante up the fee (would have more than doubled the cost to go with wood... no thanks).
Is the rifle any better than a custom shop Remington in 338 RUM... ehh not really I don't suspect. But I really enjoyed the entire experience. Took me almost a year to get each one made. And when they came in, they even told me what bullet to load and what formula to use. They have a real wizzard working there in the ammo shop.