I've read about them in magazines and this past weekend I held one at Cabelas. It is a beautiful rifle. The wood was amazing the action was silky smooth. It had a three position safety and nice recoil pad. The trigger was perfect for a hunting gun. The stock was probably the nicest thing about the rifle. It was oversized and had a generous palm swell. The checkering was excellent. The swirls in the wood were job dropping.

A couple of things I was surprised about. For a gun in that price range I would have thought the bolt throw would have been less and I was surprised to see that it was a push feed and not a control feed. Also this rilfe came outiftted with a Leupold with a ballistics retical that was matched to the gun (300 wsm). The scope was a very low magnification scope with only a 33 mm bell. I was really surprised by that.

Why would you put a low magnification scope with a small bell on a 300 wsm? Doesn't make sense to me. So even though the scope was stamped custom with the serial number of the rifle I see it as a throw away.

It was priced at $4k.

Anybody else see/hold one of these? Any thoughts on them?

Tom

Hmm, don[t know why they put a 33mm bell scopeon that rifle. If you examine that rifle real close you would think it is a Howa action. It is actually a cloned Howa action that is cast just for Nosler. The trigger is a howa timney trigger and I am betting it has a Schneider barrel. The Floorplate/magazine is a Blackburn unit that is very pricey. 4k these days for a semi-custom is not all that bad but I would spend a little more and get one with CRF . That is a personal choice there is just something about claw extractors and nice walnut stocks.

It sounds like OEH summed it up pretty good. All I can add is that you could get a really nice Cooper or have a very nice rifle custom built for $4,000. You could get some really nice wood on a Cooper and some really nice custom stock features for that price. So I would think twice before I spent that much on the Nosler. However our Cabela's is extremely high priced. You might be able to buy that rifle for a lot less somewhere else?? Tom.

Oh that gun isn't on my list from a reality perspective. Just admiring a really nice rifle.

The wood on that rifle was exceptional. It was a very unique stock in that the cheek placment was swelled and poked out theside a bit and was outlined with a deep groove.

The scope on the rifle was really a bad choice. For such a long range shooter it was a shame to put such short range glass on it. Very odd.

Tom

I would save $1000.00 more, and purchase a Dakota. Good luck.

I have had 2 LH Dakota's. I was disappointed in the accuracy of both rifles. They were beautiful pieces of craftsmanship. And theyhandled and functioned like a dream. They are truly a fine firearm. But even when they first startd building their rifles their motto was fit and "utmost function", with accuracycoming in third. IMO the Cooper's definitely outshoot the Dakota's. I remember the first one I bought was $1500. That was in 1991(maybe 1992). I bought it from a dedicated Dakota dealer in Nashville, TN. I am very happy with the appreciation of the rifle, but I believe they are very overpriced, just like the Nosler.

You can have an unbelievably beautiful custom built for the cost of a Dakota. But I will admit that the Dakota will definitely have a better resale value over the custom. If you build a custom you better buy exactly what you want, a custom is very hard to sell. Tom.

The first time I held a www.DakotaArms.com was at a RMEF Convention, and have always wanted to own one. In about one year I will have enough to buy one if everything works out. I don't know if I want a Model 10 in 30-378 Wby. Mag., or Model 76 African in 416 Wby. Mag. The wood will be either Bastogne or Turkish Walnut. The Model 10 will have a 28" barrel with a case hardened receiver. The Model 76 will have a 25" barrel with blue receiver. I am still undecided on other options. Good luck.

I got a Nosler 48 "Custom" in 300 wsm several months ago ($2500). I will likely shoot it tomorrow (weather pending) for the first time. Supposed to be fantastic accuracy from owners. I know the trigger, feel, composite Kevlar stock, and smoothness of action are all that I could ask for ina hunting rifle. Covered in Cerakote and Microslick as well. I'll have to let you guys know how it does after I break it in!

Definitely let us know how that goes!

Tom