Educate me on these rifles please. Is the price justifiable by the rifle? Are they really that much better than a ruger no 1? What makes them so expensive? I’m asking because a shop about an hour from me has one used with a zeiss optic for sale. It’s in 280 rem and looks to be in excellent condition for around 5 grand. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

They are a more refined rifle than a Ruger, for sure. A couple people here have them. No visible screws on the action, and (usually) better barrels than Ruger. The wood I think is over-graded, on most of the Dakotas. Not as nice a rifle as a Soroka or Martini, but very neat rifles.

I'd like to have a M10 in 7mm Dakota - assuming I can also find brass or ammo at the same time. Parkwest is selling them again, prices start at $12k. As DSC they told me they were hoping to have some Dakota brass and ammo in the future.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...-model-10-7mmdakota.cfm?gun_id=102566660


ya!

GWB

If you don't buy the Model 10 280 would you please PM me the name of the seller?

Thanks.

JMHO,

IMHO, a rifle is worth what someone is willing to pay in cash.


One sees Ruger #1's for $1,100 to $2k probably in a ratio of 20 or 30 to 1, compared to listings of Dakota's 10's

One seldom sees a Dakota Model 10 with (most likely Talley Bases and rings worth +/- $125) and a Zeiss Optic, whose value could be $350 up, depending on the model, under $5K.

If you could buy it for $4,900 out the door, you'd effectively be in the rifle for +/- $4,400 or less depending of the value of the scope.

Gordy's in Houston, Tx had a number of M10's in the past. IIRC the base price model was $7,999. I figure 60% of MSRP(+/- $4,800) is a fair consumer price.

If it is a case colored model, the figure that comes to my mind is add $400.





Are they a much better gun than a Ruger #1. If one was to intentionally decide to destroy each, the Ruger #1 would be the winner as it is much more robust rifle.



Mine chambered in 7mm-08 is svelte and petite.



It balances and carries like a dream.



The majority of my shots are 120 yds or less



I have taken a number of critters with it.







The only perceived negative IMHO is that it can be difficult to extract a spent cartridge. I shoot single shots a lot. Where I hunt, most time one only gets one shot. Consequently speed of reload is not particularly important. My experience is that with low mounts, one must pull on the rim of the cartridge with your fingernail.





I have found it advantageous to hold the rifle barrel upward to let the shell fall out.

Anywho, best of luck in your pursuits.

Ya,

GWB

Thank you geedubya, beautiful rifle you have there.

The last Model 10 I was watching at auction went for $5,288 so the above price is not out of line with what I've seen: https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/88/3639/dakota-arms-model-10-single-shot-rifle

Last year there was a thread on this particular model that had some nice photos in the later pages. You might find it interesting if you haven't seen it as you try to decide whether to part with that amount of money: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/18286665/1

They are nice guns but at that kind of price point I might start thinking a Merkel K3 or a Blaser K 95. Hell for stout actions, beautifully machined and in the K95, the ability to swap barrels, albeit at an "ouch" barrel price.

RAS

One more thing I forgot to mention.......

Do not know if it is true or not as I've not tried to prove it.

IIRC I have both heard and read that pulling the trigger on the Dakota 10 on an empty chamber can damage/break the firing pin/assembly. I always have a spent cartridge in the chamber except when hunting and the rifle is loaded with a live round. I guess I should buy a snap cap, but rather mark and X with magic marker on a spent case.

Best,

GWB

Well I went to the shop and someone had already put it on layaway. Probably a good thing since I didn’t need to drop that kind of money on a rifle.

Thanks for all the encouraging comments.

I have several Ruger #1's and have used that action for 3 builds. Last summer I bought a Dakota M10 off a member here. It's a gorgeous rifle in 6.5X55 with case colored action and exhibition wood. It was much more than $5K but IMHO worth every penny.

Wow, you’re right about that.

DF

I'm a single-shot fan & have always admired the Dakota 10's but the prices are definitely way out of my budget! But I always look them over & ask a lot of questions at the DSC & NRA conventions. I've never seen one at a gun show & I've been to some really big shows here in Texas. One comment that I've heard a couple of times, is to never dry fire the Dakota 10 as that can break the firing pin. Just FWIW from the sales guys at the conventions.

I don't know why Dakota always or so it seems put that big ugly black recoil pad on their guns. It's just butt ugly and not needed for the most part. Fortunately the previous owner of the gun I bought had a leather covered pad done.

Snagged this one yesterday.






Custom Build on Dakota 10 Action, 26" Pacnor Barrel, 405 Winchester

Hope to have it in soon.

Ya!

GWB

Yo list of fancy toys is growing.

I like that one.

DF

Those are some very nice rifles!

Nice snag there GWB. I have a #1 in 405 and love it. That will be a pig killer extraordinaire.

I have only had one 10 in my life. It was chambered in the “Bob” and was a dream to carry and shoot. The wood was ok but not nearly as fancy as The ones above. It shot pretty well but I just did not hunt much with it. As I recall, I was told to not dry fire it at risk of damaging the firing pin. I just sold it last year at a decent profit.

You can probably find a Browning/Winchester Low Wall in .260, .243, 6.5 CM, or 6.5x55 if you look around for a bit. Some of the Brownings have very nice wood. Not a Dakota by any stretch of the imagination, but slimmer and more attractive that the Number 1s IMO, and much less money than a Dakota, even at crazy Gunbroker prices.

You should avoid snapping those on an empty chamber too btw.

So, apparently the D10’s have extractors & no ejector.

Fully agree.

The Browning Low Wall is an extractor gun and with gloves on I have found it cumbersome, the High Wall on the other hand is an ejector gun. I have two Browning 1885's a 6MM with ok wood and a 25-06 with wood so plain it will get restocked in the future. Both guns have octagon barrels and are very accurate maybe more so than the #1. Both are a tad heavy for an all day carry at least for me.
I have several #1's in calibers from 250 Savage to 450-400. The #1A is a slim and trim rifle the Tropical (375 H&H, 405 Win, 35 Whelan, 450-400) are a bit heavier. I have three custom guns built on the #1 action and needless to say these are nice trim rifles and very accurate. There is a 38-55 built on a High Wall action with half round hale octagon barrel. It balances well between the hands accurate but no lightweight.
At the end of the day none of these rifles compares to my Dakota M10 with the possible exception of the custom guns.

I've wanted a Dakota M10 ever since they came out. I figured something like a 7x57 would be nice. Hasn't happened yet and frankly, probably never will. Just another unfilled item on my bucket list. Never know though.I just might get lucky. So until that happens I'll just go with my Ruger #1s and one Browning B78 and enjoy them for what they are.
PJ

I've wanted one for a long time as well. I have had #1's custom built exactly as I wanted for less than what a comparable Dakota would cost. Then out of the blue I came across one that suited me.
There's no dust on the Ruger #1 or the Browning 1885's I have several of both.

I've had three M-10. The only one I didn't really like was in 7mm Dakota. The extractor was inadequate to reliably lift the big fired brass cartridge from the chamber.

The 7mm Dakota is pretty interesting. most of them seem to have 23" barrels, and I'd rather see a 26" for them.

Back in 1991 and 92, I was the chairman of the first Friends of the NRA dinner’s in my area. One of the guns provided by the NRA was a Model 10. We ended up returning that rifle due to the cost and the poor wood match between the butt stock and the forend. In hind sight I should have bought it. If my memory is correct it was priced between $1700 and $2200, I don’t remember the cartridge.

I built a few custom rifles using Dakota#10 actions. I found the tiny triggers too small and bench made new ones with a scroll in back. I did not like the gap between the trigger guard and the lever. I made a pattern for a new trigger guard that would fill the blank space, had a mold made from the pattern and had a batch investment cast.
I fit these to just a few rifles and sold a few of the guards. The new triggers made a good functional and esthetic improvement and the new guard made it look like a different rifle. The safeties were also reshaped.
Once my good friend Martin Hagn came out with a smaller version of his marvelous single shot action I quit using Dakota’s.
Here are a few pics of a custom Dakota in .257 Roberts. This one engraved by Michael Dubber.
Steven Dodd Hughes, Gunmaker

Dang, that’s a heartbreaker!

What an improvement, beautiful work Sir.

Beautiful design and workmanship.

Thanks guys. Retired now, I loved creating cool hunting rifles.
SDH

Elegance personified. Thanks for what you've given us Steven. Even for those who can't afford such work the guns are inspirational.

Wow, and in a perfect cartridge for a lively stalking rifle.

As I remember I built 2-3 in .257 Roberts one in 7x57 and one as a .280 Rem.
All great, size appropriate cartridges.
I put countless hours into thinking about easthitic and functional improvements and how to blend the action, lever and barrel contours into a pleasing, well balance, fast handling hunting rifle. Many, many drawings before I changed anything. A couple of pics on the forend


And this .257R I built for myself but let it get away....SDH

SDH,
Can you tell me what typically was involved in fitting your triggerguard? Was it very labour intensive?
Did the factory trigger not work in the new guard or was your new trigger entirely for aesthetic purposes?

I can’t believe dakota nor parkwest wouldn’t offer a better fitting guard after seeing how yours improved the action.

Thanks

I may not ever be able to afford one, or find one, but I’d love to own a model 10 in .22lr.

SDH,

What wonderful work.

You and me both!

Fitting the proprietary trigger guard took quite a bit of experienced work fitting both the lever and new guard. I don't see any reason to explain because I have the only one left.
The trigger was the first modification I felt the #10 NEEDED to built a fine hunting rifle. The original trigger shoe is tiny, at an awkward angle and does not have a great sear interface. Look at it. The bench made triggers improved all of these issues and looks exponentially better. Also the recesses safeties can crack at the rear of the action when case hardened and the drawbolt is over tightened. I would never case harden a 4140 high carbon #10 action. I know it was done a lot but that doesn't make it a good idea. Hagn actions were made from relatively low carbon 8620 for exactly that reason. This was a well known option that Don Allen chose to ignore.

A case hardened, small Hagn actioned rifle in 7x57 by Jerry Fisher with engraving by Barry Lee Hands

Thank you for the detailed response.

SDH,

When I read your replies, I am constantly amazed at what I don't know.

Glad to see you posting!

Best,

GWB

You are very welcome. I always try to include good pics to go along with. I enjoy telling about what I've spent my career learning and have thousands of photos of fine guns.
Another case colored small Hagn actioned rifle. This one from my workshop in 6.5x55, with Diane Scalese engraving.. This action is why I quit using Dakota #10's.

I seem to recall I had the pleasure of meeting him at SCI or DSC several years back and was fortunate to handle one of his single shots. They handled better than they look and they look fantastic.

I understand this is the last Dakota, or the first Parkwest in 22LR. Marked as both, and built from Dakota parts in the pipeline from the reorganization.





Rich, while not as garish as the pad yours had, for this one I'm working on case colored steel...Tom

Tom thats one sweet rifle. I have several center fire rifles with case colored steel butts there very attractive.