Sako quad precision build opinions
- Thread starter Mike112288
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For precision shooting, the heavy varmint barrel is desirable. I had a Sako Finnfire II, which is very similar to the Quad -- except it has a walnut stock and the barrel is not interchangeable. It had the sporter profile barrel. The FFII is a great rifle, very well-built with excellent attention to fit and finish, and no doubt the Quad is equally fine. The problem for me was I found the rifle too light for serious bench shooting. When I was looking for a Sako, I couldn't find the Varmint variation.
I have tried the CZ route. I've had a number of different models, including 455's, 453's, and a 452 American, which I still have in a Boyds Pro Varmint stock. Aftermarket stocks can make a CZ more "shootable" on the bench, but often pillars and bedding are needed. In the end, unless you are prepared to add an aftermarket barrel for a 455, you are often limited in accuracy improvement potential. Changing a barrel on a 452 is not typically a do-it-yourself proposition.
The Anschutz 54 is more expensive than the Sako, but it has the advantage of being available in a number of different models, including sporters with heavy barrels such as the 1710 HB. Anschutz barrels are as good as they come on a factory rifle, and they have a well-deserved reputation for accuracy. The Anschutz factory stocks are very good in terms of bedding as they rarely need any work. Parts and service, should they be necessary, are very accessible with Anschutz. I am more than pleased with how my 54's shoot.
But for cost considerations, do not overlook the Anschutz 64. It is an excellent choice, a compromise among available precision shooters only to the venerable 54. Many shooters, myself included, can report that Anschutz 64 action models are a great way to get into precision shooting. The Anschutz MPR is a very good example of this and it is just a little more expensive than a Sako. Other Anschutz 64 action rifles with heavy barrels are available and they shoot very well, typically much better than CZ rifles.
I have tried the CZ route. I've had a number of different models, including 455's, 453's, and a 452 American, which I still have in a Boyds Pro Varmint stock. Aftermarket stocks can make a CZ more "shootable" on the bench, but often pillars and bedding are needed. In the end, unless you are prepared to add an aftermarket barrel for a 455, you are often limited in accuracy improvement potential. Changing a barrel on a 452 is not typically a do-it-yourself proposition.
The Anschutz 54 is more expensive than the Sako, but it has the advantage of being available in a number of different models, including sporters with heavy barrels such as the 1710 HB. Anschutz barrels are as good as they come on a factory rifle, and they have a well-deserved reputation for accuracy. The Anschutz factory stocks are very good in terms of bedding as they rarely need any work. Parts and service, should they be necessary, are very accessible with Anschutz. I am more than pleased with how my 54's shoot.
But for cost considerations, do not overlook the Anschutz 64. It is an excellent choice, a compromise among available precision shooters only to the venerable 54. Many shooters, myself included, can report that Anschutz 64 action models are a great way to get into precision shooting. The Anschutz MPR is a very good example of this and it is just a little more expensive than a Sako. Other Anschutz 64 action rifles with heavy barrels are available and they shoot very well, typically much better than CZ rifles.
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grauhanen has got it right.
I wouldn't expect much, if any, improvement if all you do is slap a manners stock on either a quad or a 452. Before a stock, custom barrel. The 452 factory barrel can be a bear to remove, there is a risk of distorting the receiver, and new barrel fitment is more costly than it would be on say a 455.
People knock down the CZ 455 for it's barrel attachment system, but have you seen the quad's? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nKPQl6rJEk A single set screw on the bottom flat of the barrel! Not what I'd call a precision design. You can get a Lilja "drop in" but if there are headspace issues with it, adjustment of the quad barrel is not as straightforward as it is on a 455 where you simply set back the barrel shoulder. What you'd have to do here on the quad platform is dedicate it to one caliber, and permanently attach a custom fitted blank with Loctite retaining compound.
For my money, I'd go with either a 64 or 54 Anschütz. Very good chance of getting an excellent shooter out of the box. It is also a fairly easy action to fit with a custom barrel, should you find yourself wanting even more precision. The hard part is knocking out the press fit factory barrel, after that it's just like fitting a 455, Cone breech, headspace set on the barrel shoulder, glue in with loctite.
I wouldn't expect much, if any, improvement if all you do is slap a manners stock on either a quad or a 452. Before a stock, custom barrel. The 452 factory barrel can be a bear to remove, there is a risk of distorting the receiver, and new barrel fitment is more costly than it would be on say a 455.
People knock down the CZ 455 for it's barrel attachment system, but have you seen the quad's? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nKPQl6rJEk A single set screw on the bottom flat of the barrel! Not what I'd call a precision design. You can get a Lilja "drop in" but if there are headspace issues with it, adjustment of the quad barrel is not as straightforward as it is on a 455 where you simply set back the barrel shoulder. What you'd have to do here on the quad platform is dedicate it to one caliber, and permanently attach a custom fitted blank with Loctite retaining compound.
For my money, I'd go with either a 64 or 54 Anschütz. Very good chance of getting an excellent shooter out of the box. It is also a fairly easy action to fit with a custom barrel, should you find yourself wanting even more precision. The hard part is knocking out the press fit factory barrel, after that it's just like fitting a 455, Cone breech, headspace set on the barrel shoulder, glue in with loctite.
Got to go with grauhanen on this one.Depending on your budget a MPR 64 or a 1710hb.The MPR maybe a little heavy for field work unless your a strong guy.Also the MPR trigger is set right around 1lb from factory.The 1710 being a sporter has a 3lb trigger that will need lightening for serious target work but it is a 54 action.Both are repeaters.The MPR has a decent stock that rides the bags well and is more suited to target work than the 1710 stock.The MPR is about 7-800 cheaper which leaves a lot of $$$ for a good optic.
I have few issues with this. First its clear you haven't owned a sako quad if you are trying to infer things you've seen from a youtube video into this conversation that just arent correct. Secondly the set screw doesnt directly contact the barrel. It contacts a flat piece of metal anchored on the front of the reciever and adjusted by the set screw at the rear to contact the flat cut out of the sako barrels locking them tightly in place. This coupled with tight tolerances creates much more surface area to lock the barrel in place. Put a little blue thread locker on the set screw and you will never have any issues. We are shooting rimfire here not large bore center fire!!! Thirdly has anybody ever had headspace issues with a .22? like ever? that weren't actually caused by rim thickness discrepancies from the ammo manufacturer? Lilja makes a fantastic product that drops right in. Never had an issue with mine ever. Buy good ammo, learn the basics and youll shoot great groups all day!
What I have spent on CZ's would have bought me an Anschutz 1710 or 1712. I now have a 1416D and that may be where I stop.
I apologize for offending your sensibilities about the Quad. You are correct I've never handled one in person. My mistake for not performing thorough enough research into it's barrel attachment system. Detailed schematics, pictures and videos of it are not readily forthcoming, and even still trying to find something a second time, I am unable to do any better than the already posted video. Based on the barrel flat, I thought it odd that only a single set screw would be used to secure the barrel, and rationalized some sort of clamping system must be used, and that someone such as yourself would jump in with pictures or an explanation to clarify it. Thank you
Now for headspacing... yer barking up the wrong tree on that one
Factory barrel had loose headspace, Lilja barrel also loose at 0.0465" (No-Go is 0.046", Field is 0.051"). Did you miss my post about the recent Lilja barrel group buy for CZ 455 barrels? Lilja recognizes the issue of barrel fitment on a drop-in platform. For American folk, you can send a barrel back to them for headpsace adjustment at no-charge. We do not enjoy this service in Canada due to ITAR, as it would cost about $400 for a round trip to send a barrel back to Lilja. The issue is so common with CZ 455's, that the group buy barrel will be featuring an extra long shank and the buyer will be provided with a shim kit to precisely headspace the barrel to their action. If feedback on this run is positive, they will switch production to this design.
Sako probably runs tighter tolerances than CZ, but it is indeed still possible for tolerances to stack and have an out-of-spec drop in barrel. Correcting this is not straightforward due to their barrel attachment method.
Perhaps one does not want a Lilja? Perhaps they want a Benchmark, or Shilen, or Krieger, etc? Fitment of these blanks to a Sako is most likely by way of permanent attachment, rendering it's switch barrel design useless. It just isn't an ideal platform for a custom project.
Sucker, was about to buy a new sako varmint I located. Almost had her before some one snagged her. The only time I handled a sako was in grand forks, ND at scheels. They had the sako finnfire ii and I thought the action felt great. I was hooked. I had already owned a cooper and Anschutz at that point so the action must be quite nice as I'm the pickiest detailed person I know lol.
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Shot a CIL 190 for competition out to 50m and loved it. Never thought I would need better rifle. Then I got an Annie 1613 and knew for sure I was done.
I own a tikka t3 and if the bolts on the sakos are anything like the t3 then it would definitely be nice action.
I own a tikka t3 and if the bolts on the sakos are anything like the t3 then it would definitely be nice action.
Never had a Sako, if they're between CZ and Anschutz, I missed that step. Sold a surplus 190 to fund a CZ 452. One Cz grew to four, all shoot great. Short while ago, had the twinge of new 54 action Anschutz bite. Nordic had a sale, now have a sweet 1710 DKL that shoots as good as my 452 FS. Action wise the 64 is the bottom of the three brands, still better than the old Cooey I had as a kid. My suit's on, let the s##t fly.
I had a Sako Finnfire II in .17HMR. It is definitely a significant step up from CZ rifles, of which I've had a few. The bolt action on the Sako is as smooth as you could desire. I was very impressed with the fit and finish. Only the magazine had problems feeding some kinds of .17HMR ammo, but a newer mag was problem-free. Although I couldn't resist buying it after seeing it slightly used at a LGS, I sold it because it was not a good bench rifle as the fore arm is narrow. Otherwise the Sako FFII is a splendid rifle, well-made with great fit and Finnish.
I have a Sako Quad with the 4 'sporter' profile barrels, lovely rifle. I use it for plinking / hunting and a bit of target work. For bench / target I would consider a heavy barrel / replacement barrel version, but there are many other choices here's.
My only gripe is the lack of accessories. I have been looking for the butt spacers for about 8 years, no luck to date. And I have only seen the 10 shot mags available once, and I bought them both! Pricey parts again, but as they are so rare to find its almost irrelevant!
I use my modified Norinco NS522 for benchwork, so the real thing would work well I'm sure.
Candocad.
My only gripe is the lack of accessories. I have been looking for the butt spacers for about 8 years, no luck to date. And I have only seen the 10 shot mags available once, and I bought them both! Pricey parts again, but as they are so rare to find its almost irrelevant!
I use my modified Norinco NS522 for benchwork, so the real thing would work well I'm sure.
Candocad.
That sucks. Those rifles are hard to come by. I have only ever seen one new one for sale in all my years of looking. The supplier (stoeger) is very hard to deal with so ordering is never easy as you often get what they send you not what you want.
