description

An Exceptional Dakota Arms Model 76 African chambered in Dakota's mighty .450 Dakota stocked, sighted, and regulated by Mel Smart.

The largest of Dakota Arms' family of proprietary cartridges, the .450 Dakota was based on a full length .416 Rigby case propelling a 500gr, .458" caliber bullet with a muzzle velocity of 2,450 fps with over 6,800 ft-lbf. of energy at the muzzle. This cartridge preceded Rigby's .450 Rigby by a few years and although both cartridges are based on the .416 Rigby parent case and the ballistics are nearly identical, they are not interchangeable. 

Dakota Arms made the M76 action to accommodate 6 different cartridge families, the largest designed around the .416 Rigby case which was available only in the African grade. The control round feed proprietary action incorporates the best features of both the Mauser M98 and the Winchester M70. The African has a slightly deeper magazine and is fitted with one-piece bottom metal that has  bit of a drop-belly straddle floorplate with an inside-the-bow release coupled with the magnum sized action holds 4 down in the magazine with room to close the bolt on a chambered round, giving the shooter a 5 round capacity. Dakota Arms actions also have M70 type trigger and safety. The bolt of this rifle is jeweled and the action fitted with Talley 30mm Lever Lock rings and dovetail bases. 

The 24" Douglas barrel has an EAW island rear sight with gold lined Express sight and folding leaf and EAW ramp front sight with a white "caterpillar" sight blade and removable sight protector.  

The original Dakota Arms stock of XXX English walnut is included, but the rifle was re-stocked by Mel Smart founder of Acra-Glass stocks that used a proprietary process of laminating fine walnut to make stock blanks to maximize both figure and strength. The stock has a bold horizontal figure that runs from the forend tip to the butt contrasting against the honey-colored wood which gives a very striking look. The stock has the same DA stock shape with a RH shadow line cheekpiece, 13 5/8" LOP over a brown Pachmayr pad, with two steel cross bolts, a smooth Jerry Fisher two-screw steel grip cap, a point pattern two-panel checkering on the grip and a wrap checkering on the forend with an ebony forend tip. Ken Howell inletted rear sling swivel and a barrel band front sling swivel.

This rifle is in as new condition and ammunition and/or loading components are available upon purchase. Please call or email us for details. 

share