.375 Dakota
Encyclopedia
The .375 Dakota is dangerous game cartridge
and was designed by Don Allen, the founder of Dakota Arms of Sturgis
, South Dakota
. Since the .375 Dakota is a proprietary cartridge, no other manufacturers have produced rifles or ammunition for the .375 Dakota cartridge. Currently Dakota Arms is owned by the Freedom Group together with Remington Arms
, Marlin
and Harrington & Richardson
among others.
Like the .375 Ruger
and the .376 Styer, the .375 Dakota was designed to compete with the .375 H&H Magnum yet have the advantage of having a rimless beltless
case and function through a standard length rifle action. Like the .375 Remington Ultra Magnum
this cartridge is based on the Canadian Magnum series of rifle cartridges developed by Aubrey White and Noburo Uno which in turn were based on the .404 Jeffery
cartridge. However, unlike the .375 RUM and the .375 Canadian Magnum cartridges which are rebated cartridges, the Dakota is of a rimless design. Since the .375 Dakota is a proprietary cartridge neither SAAMI
or the CIP
have provided guidelines or specifications concerning the cartridge.
The .375 Dakota ammunition manufactured by Dakota Arms has a slight performance advantage of 50–100 ft/s (15.2–30.5 m/s) with any given bullet weight. As both cartridges are strictly comparable, the .375 Dakota is capable of taking and game species for which the .375 H&H Magnum would be an appropriate cartridge. With careful handloads
, reloaders can gain up to 200 ft/s (61 m/s) over the .375 H&H cartridge factory ammunition.
The .375 Dakota is available in the Dakota Model 76 and Model 97 bolt action riles and the Model 10 and Miller single shot rifles. Both the Model 76 and Model 97 rifles are based on the Winchester pre-'64 Mauser design while the Model 10 and Miller are falling block rifles.
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
and was designed by Don Allen, the founder of Dakota Arms of Sturgis
Sturgis
Sturgis is a surname of Norman origin, shortened form of FitzTurgis "son of" "Turgis" from the Old Norse Þórgísl It may refer to:-People:...
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
. Since the .375 Dakota is a proprietary cartridge, no other manufacturers have produced rifles or ammunition for the .375 Dakota cartridge. Currently Dakota Arms is owned by the Freedom Group together with Remington Arms
Remington Arms
Remington Arms Company, Inc. was founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington in Ilion, New York, as E. Remington and Sons. It is the oldest company in the United States which still makes its original product, and is the oldest continuously operating manufacturer in North America. It is the only U.S....
, Marlin
Marlin Firearms
Marlin Firearms Co., formerly of North Haven, Connecticut, is a manufacturer of high power, center fire, lever action, and .22 caliber rimfire rifles. In the past, the company made shotguns, derringers and revolvers...
and Harrington & Richardson
H & R Firearms
H & R 1871, LLC is a manufacturer of firearms under the Harrington & Richardson and New England Firearms trademarks...
among others.
Like the .375 Ruger
.375 Ruger
The .375 Ruger is a rimless, standard-length rifle cartridge designed for the hunting of large dangerous game. It is designed to provide an increase in performance over the .375 H&H cartridge, yet to be chambered in a standard length action rifle...
and the .376 Styer, the .375 Dakota was designed to compete with the .375 H&H Magnum yet have the advantage of having a rimless beltless
Rim (firearms)
A rim is an external flange that is machined, cast, molded, stamped or pressed around the bottom of a firearms cartridge. The rim may serve a number of purposes, the most common being as the place for the extractor to engage...
case and function through a standard length rifle action. Like the .375 Remington Ultra Magnum
.375 Remington Ultra Magnum
The .375 Remington Ultra Magnum, also known as the .375 RUM is a .375 rifle cartridge introduced by Remington Arms in 2002. It is a beltless, rebated rim cartridge created by necking up the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum case to .375 caliber with no other changes. The .375 Remington Ultra Magnum is...
this cartridge is based on the Canadian Magnum series of rifle cartridges developed by Aubrey White and Noburo Uno which in turn were based on the .404 Jeffery
.404 Jeffery
The .404 Jeffery is a large caliber, rimless cartridge designed for large, dangerous game, such as the big five of Africa. Other names for this cartridge include .404 Jeffery Rimless, .404 Rimless Nitro Express, and 10.75 × 73 mm...
cartridge. However, unlike the .375 RUM and the .375 Canadian Magnum cartridges which are rebated cartridges, the Dakota is of a rimless design. Since the .375 Dakota is a proprietary cartridge neither SAAMI
Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute
The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute is an association of American firearms and ammunition manufacturers...
or the CIP
Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives
The Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives is an international organisation whose members are 14 states, mainly European....
have provided guidelines or specifications concerning the cartridge.
The .375 Dakota ammunition manufactured by Dakota Arms has a slight performance advantage of 50–100 ft/s (15.2–30.5 m/s) with any given bullet weight. As both cartridges are strictly comparable, the .375 Dakota is capable of taking and game species for which the .375 H&H Magnum would be an appropriate cartridge. With careful handloads
Handloading
Handloading or reloading is the process of loading firearm cartridges or shotgun shells by assembling the individual components , rather than purchasing completely assembled, factory-loaded cartridges...
, reloaders can gain up to 200 ft/s (61 m/s) over the .375 H&H cartridge factory ammunition.
The .375 Dakota is available in the Dakota Model 76 and Model 97 bolt action riles and the Model 10 and Miller single shot rifles. Both the Model 76 and Model 97 rifles are based on the Winchester pre-'64 Mauser design while the Model 10 and Miller are falling block rifles.