I went to my local dealer here in New Brunswick (The Gun Dealer-- great guys , 4000 guns in stock, huge brand selection and display). My intent was to check out a few upper level long-action guns.
I looked at the SAKO 85, the Weatherby Mark V and a couple of the "Full Line Dealer" Brownings (which are beautiful rifles). I want upper quality actions and barrels, good feeling triggers, and nice wood. After trying them all, I settled on a SAKO 85 Bavarian in 7mm Rem Mag. The rifle was used, but it was impossible to tell. The sale price was $1600.
On the shelf, the wood looked flat with an open grain, almost unfinished. Once i got my hands on it, i could feel the smoothness of an oil finish. Having finished many stocks, this one feels like about 7 coats of pure Tung oil (or some recipe like it). The finish matches the matt bluing very well, but it fails to show off the tiger-striping in the otherwise well figured walnut. The checkering is really impressive, very sharp and pointed, not that crushed-down feeling of some others i have seen. I know some folks have said that their SAKO 75's feel better quality than the new 85's. I think part of that is that the 75's had a thicker glossier finish on the wood. The Bavarian has a Schnabel front on the stock, a unique cheek shape, and a palm swell. It feels perfect in my hands and comes to point so quickly, despite feeling slightly heavier than the weatherby. This one has no irons on it, so the glass should come in the next month or so.
I took it home and waxed the wood. SAKO recommends using their oil to rejuvenate the finish when the time comes. I dont have the 2-prong wrench to disassemble the rifle and wipe down the underside of the barrel ( i use pure tung oil so as not to soften the wood where it touches metal).
If anyone can direct me to an online source for a manual, that would be great. Likewise the cross-bolt wrench
Pics to follow
I looked at the SAKO 85, the Weatherby Mark V and a couple of the "Full Line Dealer" Brownings (which are beautiful rifles). I want upper quality actions and barrels, good feeling triggers, and nice wood. After trying them all, I settled on a SAKO 85 Bavarian in 7mm Rem Mag. The rifle was used, but it was impossible to tell. The sale price was $1600.
On the shelf, the wood looked flat with an open grain, almost unfinished. Once i got my hands on it, i could feel the smoothness of an oil finish. Having finished many stocks, this one feels like about 7 coats of pure Tung oil (or some recipe like it). The finish matches the matt bluing very well, but it fails to show off the tiger-striping in the otherwise well figured walnut. The checkering is really impressive, very sharp and pointed, not that crushed-down feeling of some others i have seen. I know some folks have said that their SAKO 75's feel better quality than the new 85's. I think part of that is that the 75's had a thicker glossier finish on the wood. The Bavarian has a Schnabel front on the stock, a unique cheek shape, and a palm swell. It feels perfect in my hands and comes to point so quickly, despite feeling slightly heavier than the weatherby. This one has no irons on it, so the glass should come in the next month or so.
I took it home and waxed the wood. SAKO recommends using their oil to rejuvenate the finish when the time comes. I dont have the 2-prong wrench to disassemble the rifle and wipe down the underside of the barrel ( i use pure tung oil so as not to soften the wood where it touches metal).
If anyone can direct me to an online source for a manual, that would be great. Likewise the cross-bolt wrench
Pics to follow
