Long time lurker here, never had much to add. I appreciate all the helpful information. I thought I'd add a review on my new Dakota Predator.
Dakota Prairie Predator (20 TAC)
Other varmint rifles owned (past or present): Cooper M21's, Weatherby MkV Varmint, Savage 110, Anschutz 1717D
Dakota Specs:
Nesika Action
Douglas Barrel 24in 1/12
Remington 40X Trigger
Stock: Claro Walnut, checkered grip, glass bedded action (there is no recoil lug, the action has a "relieved" area, and the bedding sets up into that)
I was looking for another varmint rifle anticipating my first prairie dog hunt this summer. I considered a number of alternatives. I had my head set on a custom job, but the top builders all quoted a year's wait. I talked with Lance Hendershot www.hendershots.net and he said they were getting some great results out of the Dakota Predators. I was willing to try it, and received the rifle in March. Lance mounted a new Leopold VX3 LR 6.5-20 before shipping.
Out of the box, it's a pretty rifle. My tastes run to classic lines, and I consider Coopers to be the gold standard in terms of what a classic varmint rifle should look like. The Predator isn't as pretty as the Coopers. It's a nice piece of Claro, though. The fit and finish is great (every Dakota I ever looked at had great wood to metal fit). I was taken aback by the bedding method, but heck, how many times do you see a "factory" rifle that is actually bedded at all...even the Cooper bedding is a joke, in my opinion. The real question is does the stock provide a platform so that the rifles shoots well.
The barrel is a 24 in. Douglas in stainless, well finished, with some bedding support under the first inch or so. It appears to be the Douglas "Target" profile. It has a target crown.
The trigger is a standard Remington 40X so far as I could determine (and that's what the factory tech told me on the phone). I don't own a trigger gauge, but it appeared to be set well into the 2 lb. range: heavier than what I like, but very crisp with no creep. I called the factory (they answered the phone at 8AM local and were very helpful) and talked to Jed, the final assembly tech for the Predators. He was helpful (and cautious). I have no experience with the 40X triggers, but with Jed's advice and a couple of good internet tutorials, I had a pretty good trigger going. Not as light as I like, but nice. And no, I didn't lose the little ball bearing that sits on a spring under the end of the plunger screw that adjusts the pull weight...but it was a near enough thing. If you don't know what you're doing (like me) and you fool with that bottom screw, be careful: that ball will come flying out a lot sooner than that screw backs all the way out. Reportedly, a Jewell trigger is a available (Remington fit) but Jed reported that some wood work is necessary to open up the safety slot, and I've put that decision off for later.
The action is described as "Nesika designed". Dakota bought Nesika actions some time back and moved their operation to Sturgis. (Remington also has bought Dakota...I'm not well versed enough about all this to comment, but you have to wonder whether good things come from great little companies being snapped up by bigger companies with their own ideas on how things should be run). I always wanted a Nesika action, and I wasn't disappointed. Compared to a Cooper M21, the action is massive. It is also slick as glass. I don't have any experience with actions this well designed and produced...it's out of my league and I can't offer any comments except...wow.
How does it shoot? I have one rule when it comes to firearms: if you can't play, you can't stay. I'm not an expert benchrest shooter. I coached on the range for a while years ago in the USMC, but I have never shot rifle competitively. My eyes are going and I'm not as patient as I should be waiting on the wind, etc. My bench sits on the front porch of my hunting cabin, and the "butts" is a big rock 100 yds up the hollow. The wind in that hollow is constantly moving, never in the same direction. Just so you know.
After a little research, I settled on test loads based on 30 and 35 gr Berger Match Varmint bullets, Benchmark powder and Federal 205M primers. At around 3800 fps, I had groups in the .300's. At around 3900 (the fastest I'm willing to push it) I had groups in the mid .200's. Not every time (it never printed a group over .500) but most of the time the test groups settled into these ranges.
That's good enough for me. If you made it this far, thanks for reading!
I should have added:
I used Lapua brass new out of the box.
I tested a .204 39 gr bullet...I learned pretty quick that it wasn't going to shoot out of a 1/12 twist barrel.
Dakota Prairie Predator (20 TAC)
Other varmint rifles owned (past or present): Cooper M21's, Weatherby MkV Varmint, Savage 110, Anschutz 1717D
Dakota Specs:
Nesika Action
Douglas Barrel 24in 1/12
Remington 40X Trigger
Stock: Claro Walnut, checkered grip, glass bedded action (there is no recoil lug, the action has a "relieved" area, and the bedding sets up into that)
I was looking for another varmint rifle anticipating my first prairie dog hunt this summer. I considered a number of alternatives. I had my head set on a custom job, but the top builders all quoted a year's wait. I talked with Lance Hendershot www.hendershots.net and he said they were getting some great results out of the Dakota Predators. I was willing to try it, and received the rifle in March. Lance mounted a new Leopold VX3 LR 6.5-20 before shipping.
Out of the box, it's a pretty rifle. My tastes run to classic lines, and I consider Coopers to be the gold standard in terms of what a classic varmint rifle should look like. The Predator isn't as pretty as the Coopers. It's a nice piece of Claro, though. The fit and finish is great (every Dakota I ever looked at had great wood to metal fit). I was taken aback by the bedding method, but heck, how many times do you see a "factory" rifle that is actually bedded at all...even the Cooper bedding is a joke, in my opinion. The real question is does the stock provide a platform so that the rifles shoots well.
The barrel is a 24 in. Douglas in stainless, well finished, with some bedding support under the first inch or so. It appears to be the Douglas "Target" profile. It has a target crown.
The trigger is a standard Remington 40X so far as I could determine (and that's what the factory tech told me on the phone). I don't own a trigger gauge, but it appeared to be set well into the 2 lb. range: heavier than what I like, but very crisp with no creep. I called the factory (they answered the phone at 8AM local and were very helpful) and talked to Jed, the final assembly tech for the Predators. He was helpful (and cautious). I have no experience with the 40X triggers, but with Jed's advice and a couple of good internet tutorials, I had a pretty good trigger going. Not as light as I like, but nice. And no, I didn't lose the little ball bearing that sits on a spring under the end of the plunger screw that adjusts the pull weight...but it was a near enough thing. If you don't know what you're doing (like me) and you fool with that bottom screw, be careful: that ball will come flying out a lot sooner than that screw backs all the way out. Reportedly, a Jewell trigger is a available (Remington fit) but Jed reported that some wood work is necessary to open up the safety slot, and I've put that decision off for later.
The action is described as "Nesika designed". Dakota bought Nesika actions some time back and moved their operation to Sturgis. (Remington also has bought Dakota...I'm not well versed enough about all this to comment, but you have to wonder whether good things come from great little companies being snapped up by bigger companies with their own ideas on how things should be run). I always wanted a Nesika action, and I wasn't disappointed. Compared to a Cooper M21, the action is massive. It is also slick as glass. I don't have any experience with actions this well designed and produced...it's out of my league and I can't offer any comments except...wow.
How does it shoot? I have one rule when it comes to firearms: if you can't play, you can't stay. I'm not an expert benchrest shooter. I coached on the range for a while years ago in the USMC, but I have never shot rifle competitively. My eyes are going and I'm not as patient as I should be waiting on the wind, etc. My bench sits on the front porch of my hunting cabin, and the "butts" is a big rock 100 yds up the hollow. The wind in that hollow is constantly moving, never in the same direction. Just so you know.
After a little research, I settled on test loads based on 30 and 35 gr Berger Match Varmint bullets, Benchmark powder and Federal 205M primers. At around 3800 fps, I had groups in the .300's. At around 3900 (the fastest I'm willing to push it) I had groups in the mid .200's. Not every time (it never printed a group over .500) but most of the time the test groups settled into these ranges.
That's good enough for me. If you made it this far, thanks for reading!
I should have added:
I used Lapua brass new out of the box.
I tested a .204 39 gr bullet...I learned pretty quick that it wasn't going to shoot out of a 1/12 twist barrel.
Last edited: