doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Dakota model 10s?

Chris, As I remember that is an oversize dovetail in the rib and I woudl suggest getting a replacement sight from Dakota to make fitting much easier... Front sight bead/blades are Recknagle(?) and avilable from NE Custom Gun
Ask about the firing pin when you call.

SDH-MT,
I don't know what to think, don't worry, I won't pipe up again.
Mike

My apologies Mike.
Sometimes I just don't get it???

I had a chance to talk to the folks at Dakota about the position of the block when the action is open. As I understand it, the block needs to drop down further for larger case heads, in order for the extractor to have room to swing through its arc. Which could be why the block didn't seem so low on a another rifle chambered for a smaller round (257 Roberts).

I'll shoot it for the first time this weekend and see how it goes.

Re the action size, I would guess this is the larger action. The options page from Dakota's catalog says the 45-70 is in the larger action. I measured mine, and it is 1.567" in width, and 2.420" in height, from the bottom flat to the top of the receiver's arc, but excluding the scope mounting block. Length is 2.079".

When I called Dakota, they said the dovetail was sized for either the one-standing or one-standing + 2 folding rear sights. (I'd sent them a picture before we called.) They were very helpful on the phone and sight itself isn't very much.

I looked on the NECG site re their front sight inserts. I definitely saw the bead+folding night sight that's on my rifle. Now I just have to figure out why the big night bead won't fold down.

Thanks for the help.

Had a chance to shoot the rifle for the first time yesterday. 405gr Magtech cowboy loads were very reasonable from a recoil perspective. Accuracy was excellent at 50 yards (2 rounds touching and the third about 3/4" off. Will try further out today. Fun times.

Does the case hang-up on extraction?

Hi Steven,

The 45-70 cases didn't hang up during extraction, but I was lifting the muzzle as I worked the lever. The real problem has been feeding new cartridges, as they hang up before entering the chamber because the block is too low. I don't know if smaller meplat projectiles would solve this...something pointed like the lever evolution would seem perfect. The 405gr projectiles I was shooting had a substantial flat frontal area.

Accuracy with the Magtech rounds from a cold barrel was awesome...one inch or less for the first two 3 shot groups I fired at 100yds on my second outing. But I also had larger groups at this distance as I continued shooting...might be my fault or could be an issue caused by the barrel getting warmer.

I also had a few cases that were too large to allow the block to lift into position. I assume because their rims were too thick, but I won't know till I get home from this trip and can measure.

Chris

Two quick follow ups --

The cases that wouldn't chamber with normal pressure on the lever turned out to have rims that were 3 thousandths thicker (.063) versus the fattest rims that did chamber (.060). Most of the fired cases I measured were .055-.056 thick. I imagine a bolt gun's better leverage could force these, but I didn't want to take a chance my first time out with the rifle. (Looks like SAAMI specs call for a rim thickness of no more than .070, so mine may not be cut deep enough, or may have dirt or something impeding seating of the rim into its recess.)

Second, the issue with cartridges hanging up on their way into the chamber is definitely eliminated using pointed bullets like the Hornady LeverEvolution 325gr FTX bullets. Something like SDH-MT's custom spring and plunger would be a better option, but this at least makes one type of round trouble free for loading. I'm looking forward to seeing how they shoot.

When I was a kid I had a Farmingdale Shiloh Sharps back when they were made with Navy Arms barrels. It never shot well, and about one case in 100 or so seemed to have a thicker rim than would allow the block to come up easily. I set the case down into the sizing die, put it in the reloading press upside down, and dressed it down with a file.