Parkwest Arms Ace .204 Ruger

[lawman29]

I purchased a Parkwest Ace .204 Ruger this winter. It's a single shot, with a Shilen 12 twist, #17 contour barrel. It came with a trigger tech, which was replaced with a jewell. The fit was excellent, very good bedding job! I topped it off with a Swarovski Z5 5-25x52 with BRX reticle.


The rifle is a shooter. I used Nosler brass and tested 39 sbk and benchmark. I ended up at 27.1 of benchmark. Tested F205M, CCI 450 and 7 1/2 primers; 223, 225 and 226 bushings. Ended up with F205M and 226 bushing - light tension seemed to behave the best. Increasing tension - pressure - vertical etc



Confession: Keith Kilby shot the F205m groups... today we were at the range and there you have it. I had previously shot that combination and it shot good, his was a mite better.

 

[Mark M.]

I purchased a Parkwest Ace .204 Ruger this winter. It's a single shot, with a Shilen 12 twist, #17 contour barrel. It came with a trigger tech, which was replaced with a jewell. The fit was excellent, very good bedding job! I topped it off with a Swarovski Z5 5-25x52 with BRX reticle.
View attachment 1565647View attachment 1565648View attachment 1565649

The rifle is a shooter. I used Nosler brass and tested 39 sbk and benchmark. I ended up at 27.1 of benchmark. Tested F205M, CCI 450 and 7 1/2 primers; 223, 225 and 226 bushings. Ended up with F205M and 226 bushing - light tension seemed to behave the best. Increasing tension - pressure - vertical etc

View attachment 1565654

Confession: Keith Kilby shot the F205m groups... today we were at the range and there you have it. I had previously shot that combination and it shot good, his was a mite better.

Very sweet set up, Would be curious to see what remington 71/2 do

 

[lawman29]

Very sweet set up, Would be curious to see what remington 71/2 do

I tested them, didn't play well. I should add that I took a 100 rounds of virgin brass and used them to figure out what was going to play. Did final tests with the once fired brass. I've been burned before making a decision to quickly before the barrel settles in... Also the barrel cleans easy peasy.

 

[SmokinJoe]

Do you know whose barrels Park West is using? This rifle is same as the old Dakota Predator/Varminter, beautiful rifles and very well made including flawless bedding. I have 12-14 of them and love them all; use them for PD shooting and targets. What was your delivery time, or was this off the shelf?

 

[lawman29]

Do you know whose barrels Park West is using? This rifle is same as the old Dakota Predator/Varminter, beautiful rifles and very well made including flawless bedding. I have 12-14 of them and love them all; use them for PD shooting and targets. What was your delivery time, or was this off the shelf?

Mine is Shilen. ~ 6 months.

PW-ACE™ Single Shot Heavy Barrel Rifle - Parkwest Arms

The Parkwest Arms ACE Heavy Barrel rifle is handcrafted to benchrest tolerances and built from the ground up on a single-shot, small round action. Forever

parkwestarms.com

First Stop Guns in Rapid City is a dealer and may some in stock or on order, or order direct.

About

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www.firststopguns.com

 

[L1986]

Who is making the actions on these?

 

[jds holler]

What a sweetheart. That's about as tasteful and well done as any rifle I've seen. The wood is to die for. I expect that ya paid good money for it, -- and I expect that it was worth it. jd

 

[SmokinJoe]

As far as I know, Park West is making the actions with the old Dakota equipment, then putting the rifles together but buying the barrel blanks. Those are the nicest little actions I have ever encountered for the 223 family of cartridges, both SAAMI and wildcat. One of the nicest features is the use of Remington type triggers so there is an endless variety of possibilities there. I like single shot actions so perfect fit for me. I have also had the ejectors removed and filled in all of mine. Can't imagine chasing that carefully prepped brass in the field, still easily can get of over 500 carefully aimed shots/day.

 

[Keith Kilby]

I think the action both Dakota and now Parkwest use for the varmint models are pretty much a Nesika clone. Glen Harrison (Nesika founder) was hired by Dakota and Dakota procured rights to the Nesika actions. At some point after Dakota went away Glen started up Defiance. Dakota was making the actions in house mid 2000’s when I interviewed there and I’m betting Smokinjoe is correct about them still being done by Parkwest.

 

[nakneker]

WOW, what a beautiful rifle, beautful and it shoots!

Checked out first stop guns via the link listed, they have a 20 VT for 3500.00 and a 204 for 3900.00 I think, both are new and have outstanding wood. Link below to the 20VT.

Parkwest/Dakota Arms Sporter Varmint 20VarTarg : 982899074

Buy a Other Other <p>ParkwestDakota Arms Ace Sporter Varmint 20VarTarg,beautiful high grade bastogne walnut stock with for sale by First Stop Gun on GunsAmerica.com the best online marketplace for buying and selling semi auto pistols, firearms, accessories, and collectibles : 982899074

www.gunsamerica.com

 

[SecretCode]

Wowza!. That sure is a pretty elegant piece you have there. Congrats on that.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Very beautiful rifle and great cartridge/bullet choice!

Sierra 39gr BKs are always crazy accurate. I run Fed 205 primers with the 39gr BK as well in my 204R and get similar accuracy with stout loads of RL-15 and BLC-2

 

[17VLD]

Cooper rose up from the ashes of Kimber,ParkWest rose up from the ashes of Dakota. The little wheels in my mind sure are spinning now.My wallet will certainly not be able to stand the strain. I was blissfully unaware of such beauty, thank you for sharing your beautiful 204 . It certainly shoots as good as it looks.
Matt

 

[SmokinJoe]

Have never understood why Dakota, now Park West, didn't have a better marketing scheme. They are wonderful rifles made every bit to as high standards as most any custom but marketed through hock shops and the like, except for First Stop and maybe one or two others. Seems like a good marketing program would take them where they need to go for long-term success.

 

[drover]

I am surprised that a rifle of that quality and price range does not have checkering, to me the stock looks unfinished without a small amount of checkering. Just a small tasteful pattern on the pistol grip would enhance the looks dramatically.

drover

 

[lawman29]

Y

I am surprised that a rifle of that quality and price range does not have checkering, to me the stock looks unfinished without a small amount of checkering. Just a small tasteful pattern on the pistol grip would enhance the looks dramatically.

drover

You can add upgrades to your hearts content and your pocket book can afford...

PW-ACE™ Single Shot Heavy Barrel Rifle - Parkwest Arms

The Parkwest Arms ACE Heavy Barrel rifle is handcrafted to benchrest tolerances and built from the ground up on a single-shot, small round action. Forever

parkwestarms.com

 

[drop_point]

Beautiful rifle!

 

[drover]

Y
You can add upgrades to your hearts content and your pocket book can afford...

PW-ACE™ Single Shot Heavy Barrel Rifle - Parkwest Arms

The Parkwest Arms ACE Heavy Barrel rifle is handcrafted to benchrest tolerances and built from the ground up on a single-shot, small round action. Forever

parkwestarms.com

Perhaps I should have phrased it differently. As a rifle selling in that price range there should be a small amount of grip checkering without it being a $295 add on.

drover

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Perhaps I should have phrased it differently. As a rifle selling in that price range there should be a small amount of grip checkering without it being a $295 add on.

drover

That’s more of a prairie hunter/varmint style stock with a wider beaver tail fore end. People usually don’t put any checkering on stocks like that. Checkering would muddy up that pretty wood anyhow

 

[drover]

My apologies to the OP - the discussion about checkering has drifted away from your post it was not my intent to do that. the Parkwest is a good looking rifle and certainly looks like a great shooter.

Ledd Slinger -

It seems that we have differing opinions on what muddys up the wood or enhances it. I don't find that the small amount of tastefully done checkering on the grip detracts from the wood at all. To me not having at least some grip checkering leaves the rifle with an unfinished look.

I understand them charging for upgraded patterns, but my point was that a rifle selling at that price point the buyer should not have to pay $295 upgrade fee for a minimal checkering pattern on the grip.