Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Dakota Arms Model 76 Single Shot

I’ve recently come into a very nice model 76 single shot .223. Not a ton of info out there on these... any info?

76 or model 10?.

I think it should be a model 10.

I think they offer a SS varminter type rifle in the 76. Never seen one though.

It’s a model 76

Ahh, a single shot bolt gun? If so, my bad.

Single shot .223 bolt. I’ve never seen one before.

Cooper makes some varmint guns that are single shot. I presume this will be similar to those. I’ll check my blue book values when I get home tonight.

Thanks!

My Bluebook shows the 76 Varmint Grade from 1994-97 in 9 calibers between 17 Rem and 6mm PPC. Last MSRP was $2,500. Current value is estimated at $2,275 for one in 100% new condition. Hope this helps.

The 76 is one of the best bolt actions made. I think the Blue Book is low on their estimate. I bet there are not too many single shot 76s around if they only had a three year production run. I was interested in a 220 Swift but ended up with a 7RM instead. If that serial number means anything that is a very early one.

This thing is in the wrapper nice. I also have a Model 76 in .243 AI that looks like its never been shot. Thanks for the value info.

Blue Book values are not exact but will give you an idea of value. Also, values are different in certain parts of the country. It would be interesting to get in touch with Dakota to see how many model 76's were built and how many of those were built in 223. Then, you can begin to really assess values.

It would probably not be too hard for Dakota to convert it to a magazine rifle, if desired.

I have the 76 in a magazine style too so I’ll probably leave this as is, especially considering the condition and the low serial number.

I don't know if all the 76 Varmints were single shots, but they could have been. First Stop has listed several on Gunsamerica over the years

Is this a push feed model 76?

yes

There were some different prototypes of extractor designs on this model. Pretty sure most of those released into the wild had a sliding extractor in a T slot somewhat based on a Savage. If not then an AR style extractor. These models also had the standard M70 Trigger. I've got a "scrap" varmint action that had the rec threads buggered. Scrap actions were sold to employees for around $300 and the reasons for not selling as a production "full blown" Mod 76 actions were various. During the early production of the varmint action shown above Dakota policy changed to have the serial# start with a "S" for any of the scrap actions. There are a lot of these out there. My scrap varmint action S# starts with SV*****. However it's not a varmint action anymore. As I bought it from one of the machine shop guys, he had already finished the machining to turn it into a standard Kurz Dakota short action repeater. Pretty sure the scrap part on mine was the Rec threads were buggered and they were just opened up like all the blueprinted services you see offered today. Extra machining to turn it from Varmint to Short repeater were:
Machine magbox lip and feed rails opening
machine feed ramp
machine M70 style ejector slot & drill return spring pocket & ejector pivot
open right bolt lug raceway to clear CRF extractor
This operation was done just like the 03 Springfields using a mandrel with an advancing cutter like a cut rifling mandrel shaving .0003" each pass. Slow work so the Varmints weren't cut to full repeater depth to save $$.

The Varmint bolt should have a plunger ejector. Pretty sure the breech faces were the same as a repeater76.

I've got another scrap action that is a very early version of the Varmint action that Pete worked on before I got there. It was more of a BRest action with a flat bottom rec full length other than the recoil lug that is only 1/8" lower than the bottom of the action. The Varmints had the same step in front of the mag well as a standard M70. My BR also has a trigger carrier that houses a Rem style trigger, coned bolt & breech, and Sako extractor. There are very few of these out there.