7mm Dakota Benchmark Build -VIDEOs UPDATE-

[VarmintVentilator]

A very nice looking rifle.  Well done on picking your specific products.   

[Biggerhammer]

Whats this one weigh? Its got to be a heavy bugger too

10.5 lbs Just right if you ask me

Yep...

[xXLojackXx]

I got my first trip to the range in with the 7 Dakota yesterday. The pics are in order of the first groups through the virgin barrel. They closed up a bit, I need to knock the rust off my trigger finger too. That group is at 77.6gr of Retumbo behind the 190's and .020" off the lands. Thinking I'll bump it it down to 77.3 gr and it should help tighten it up.

Pics are sideways for some reason. That square is top of target

[Biggerhammer]

Off to a good start. Did you get your Matrix bullets from Benchmark or did you order direct out of Canada? I'm still a little on the fence for my next rifle from Bencbmark. I talked to Chris and more Deviant actions are coming in. I just am at a toss up between the 7mm Dakota or a 10 twist .300 Win Mag throated for the Berger 230 OTM's. As of now I may mess with the Dakota later. 

[xXLojackXx]

I ordered mine direct. Great customer service. I think i ordered them at like 9pm and they shipped out the next morning with tracking info. Going through customs takes a couple days more, but I buy enough to last me all year.

[safehunter]

 Starting to drool like Campmeat! What is the Chronograph saying?

[xXLojackXx]

Starting to drool like Campmeat! What is the Chronograph saying?

Haven't bothered chrono'ing the load yet until I'm satisfied with the grouping. My next step is to increase the jump between .020" and .040". Should help those long VLDs tighten up. I'm after one ragged hole on paper. Once achieved I'll run it through a chrono.

[CAMPMEAT]

Starting to drool like Campmeat! What is the Chronograph saying?

Haven't bothered chrono'ing the load yet until I'm satisfied with the grouping. My next step is to increase the jump between .020" and .040". Should help those long VLDs tighten up. I'm after one ragged hole on paper. Once achieved I'll run it through a chrono.

Very hard to control myself......

[WoodlandShooter]

good shootin!!

[xXLojackXx]

The final load development I settled on is 77.6gr Retumbo behind the 190gr Matrix VLD sitting .030" off the lands with a BR2 primer. I ran it through a chrono which gave me an average of 3063 fps with an SD of 8. I finally got a chance to get up to 5000' to see how it does downrange. I shot at 3 distances, appox. 680, 1180, and 1405 which needed 3.4 mils @ 680, 7.5 mils @ 1180, and 10.1 mils @ 1405. 6 mph steady crosswind with 10 mph gusts. The video is a bit shaky but you can make out vapor trails and impacts. The camera died right as I was setting it up for 1405 yards. Next time 

[xXLojackXx]

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[Caseknife]

Logan,
Sweet rifle and sweeter shooting, I thought you were a sharp stick slinger!

[xXLojackXx]

Logan,
Sweet rifle and sweeter shooting, I thought you were a sharp stick slinger!

I'm a man of many things Tom 

[Caseknife]

Are you a muzzlestuffer also?  Seems that the only people that benefit from the multi-season permits are the local sporting goods stores.

[xXLojackXx]

Are you a muzzlestuffer also? 

Never have stuffed a barrel. Only really bear hunt with a rifle.