Sako 85 ejection problem
- Thread starter jerrya
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Mighty Peace
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Must be a m85 issue. Lots of guys say issue with LOW mounts / rings. Read this quite a few times. I would try taller rings.
No issues on any of my m75 Sako rifles..which is quite a few. All have Low Optilock Rings and bases and a couple set up with the Optilock Ringmounts. All have Leupold 40mm scopes...VX2's, VX3's, VXIII's, Vari-X III's.
I have on in a 270WSM (thanks duble gun's brother !!). I also had a 300WSM, but sold it to a hunting buddy.
No issues on any of my m75 Sako rifles..which is quite a few. All have Low Optilock Rings and bases and a couple set up with the Optilock Ringmounts. All have Leupold 40mm scopes...VX2's, VX3's, VXIII's, Vari-X III's.
I have on in a 270WSM (thanks duble gun's brother !!). I also had a 300WSM, but sold it to a hunting buddy.
I have a Sako 85 Greywolf in 7mm mag which I was having the same issue with. I was running a Bushnell Elite 6500 30mm scope with Optilock lows. It would eject loaded ammo fine but would drop fired brass back into the action.
I just tried medium Optilocks and it ejects fine now but is still a bit weak compared to my older model Sakos. I have an extractor spring from Gre-tan coming and will post if that improves it further but as it is now it is fully functional.
I just tried medium Optilocks and it ejects fine now but is still a bit weak compared to my older model Sakos. I have an extractor spring from Gre-tan coming and will post if that improves it further but as it is now it is fully functional.
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As many on this site know, I used to be a Sako collector.
I have had this issue with Sakos as well, with the following models:
-- M85 Greywolf (2011) in .270
-- A7 (2012) in 7mm08
-- Aii L579 (1980) in .243
-- AV L61R (1980) in .30-06
All had Leupold Vx-II or Vx-2 scopes mounted in various low to medium rings (Optilocks, Leupold, etc.)
I did NOT have this issue with:
-- M85 Finnlight in .308
It also had a Leupold Vx-2 scope mounted in low ringmounts (Optilocks)
I have never heard of anyone having this problem with M75`s
This topic has been mentioned in the past on this website, and on many, many other websites for many years.
Conclusion: the problem it not just limited to just M85`s
Some, perhaps many, other owners have never experienced this problem -- they are lucky.
And the fact that its not a problem with every rifle suggests that the fix may be easy.
However, although Sako has known about it since the 1980s, they have never fixed it.
Instead, their response has been to recommend high mounts.
I eventually sold all my Sakos.
I have had this issue with Sakos as well, with the following models:
-- M85 Greywolf (2011) in .270
-- A7 (2012) in 7mm08
-- Aii L579 (1980) in .243
-- AV L61R (1980) in .30-06
All had Leupold Vx-II or Vx-2 scopes mounted in various low to medium rings (Optilocks, Leupold, etc.)
I did NOT have this issue with:
-- M85 Finnlight in .308
It also had a Leupold Vx-2 scope mounted in low ringmounts (Optilocks)
I have never heard of anyone having this problem with M75`s
This topic has been mentioned in the past on this website, and on many, many other websites for many years.
Conclusion: the problem it not just limited to just M85`s
Some, perhaps many, other owners have never experienced this problem -- they are lucky.
And the fact that its not a problem with every rifle suggests that the fix may be easy.
However, although Sako has known about it since the 1980s, they have never fixed it.
Instead, their response has been to recommend high mounts.
I eventually sold all my Sakos.
I've got:
- greywolf in 308 that has no problem with extra-low optilocks
- Kodaik in 375H&H also with extra-low optilocks that had a slight problem with ejected rounds occasionally bouncing back in after hitting the scope, but...
I added some low friction tape from amazon and there is no problem at all now - and nothing gets scratched either. The rounds hit the tape on the scope and slide right out.
I have only 1 Sako 85 but have had experience with several of my friends rifles. (22-250, 243, 270WSM, 25-06, 30-06) None of us have this issue we keep hearing about. My Sako 85 synthetic stainless in 243 works flawlessly. It's topped with a Vortex Razor HD Light Hunter 3-15 which has relatively small turret caps. I installed medium height rings because that is all the place i bought it off had at the time. Should have waited and went with lows instead because I have tons of clearance when ejecting. Not one single mark on my windage turret cap.
As far as using a scope with larger turret caps or exposed tactical style turrets I can see it being an issue not only on the Sako but on other rifles as well. My Winchester 70 Extreme Weather will not eject without hitting the windage turret if the turret is large. I have a Nikon Monarch 5 ED 3-15 on it which comes with both the short and long turrets and caps. I have the tall turret installed on top for the elevation adjustment and the short turret installed for the windage adjustment. Although I would like to have the long turret for the windage as well I can't because it would not eject with it on.
I guess my point is that Sako's aren't the only rifle out there that won't work with every possible scope and mounting combination. So why do we keep hearing about all the "Sako ejection issues"? Short answer is there are no "ejection issues". The ejector blade is positioned at the bottom of the bolt to tip the shell casing up and the extractor is positioned so that the casing pivots around it ejecting the casing out to the 10 o'clock position. Cycle the bolt with some authority and it does what it is designed to do every time. Baby it and I think that is where people are having their troubles as you get more up instead of out. But a more honest opinion as to why we keep hearing about this "Sako issue" is it's simply that people think because a Sako costs more it should just work the way they think it should no matter what.
As far as using a scope with larger turret caps or exposed tactical style turrets I can see it being an issue not only on the Sako but on other rifles as well. My Winchester 70 Extreme Weather will not eject without hitting the windage turret if the turret is large. I have a Nikon Monarch 5 ED 3-15 on it which comes with both the short and long turrets and caps. I have the tall turret installed on top for the elevation adjustment and the short turret installed for the windage adjustment. Although I would like to have the long turret for the windage as well I can't because it would not eject with it on.
I guess my point is that Sako's aren't the only rifle out there that won't work with every possible scope and mounting combination. So why do we keep hearing about all the "Sako ejection issues"? Short answer is there are no "ejection issues". The ejector blade is positioned at the bottom of the bolt to tip the shell casing up and the extractor is positioned so that the casing pivots around it ejecting the casing out to the 10 o'clock position. Cycle the bolt with some authority and it does what it is designed to do every time. Baby it and I think that is where people are having their troubles as you get more up instead of out. But a more honest opinion as to why we keep hearing about this "Sako issue" is it's simply that people think because a Sako costs more it should just work the way they think it should no matter what.
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One other thing is if you want to mount the scope higher, you can offset the increased height with a cheek pad.
As with most american style stocks, the stocks are setup to put your eye at the right height for iron sights rather than a scope. Even with the extra-low mounts I have, I find that the stock would require a chin weld that didn't naturally put my eye in line with the scope.
I ended up with some blackhawk cheek pads. I considered doing a built-in adjustable cheek piece (This one: http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/07/26/adjustable-cheek-rests-kalix-teknik-sweden/) But in the end decided that i like the recoil mitigation and the much lower cost that the foam pad provides
My setup:
What I considered (this is actually a boyd stock, but the Kalix Teknik would work on the Sako stock):
As with most american style stocks, the stocks are setup to put your eye at the right height for iron sights rather than a scope. Even with the extra-low mounts I have, I find that the stock would require a chin weld that didn't naturally put my eye in line with the scope.
I ended up with some blackhawk cheek pads. I considered doing a built-in adjustable cheek piece (This one: http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/07/26/adjustable-cheek-rests-kalix-teknik-sweden/) But in the end decided that i like the recoil mitigation and the much lower cost that the foam pad provides
My setup:
What I considered (this is actually a boyd stock, but the Kalix Teknik would work on the Sako stock):
scott_r what did you end up with on your 22-250?
I heard about this issue and when I read the posted reply from Beretta it jogged the fatty grey material between the ears some.
Something about those fat stubby wsm short mages causing the grief and aggravation jerrya is having with his new rifle.
But, I dont recal the fix.
I watched the three ewe toob clips and noticed they covered Leupold , Zeiss and Vortex scopes and none with what one would consider tall or extended turrets.
The first one in slow motion showed the extraction, but the shell did bounce from the turret as it did in all three.
Slamfire, what rings are you using on your setup?
Is this just a predominant issue with the wsm cartridges ?
How about the action itself of clearing the discharged round?
Is it done with authority ir with a gentle extraction so as to not toss the spent shell across the range bench?
There where some clips where guys where just drawing the bolt back slowly and not as vigorous as one would in the feild.
Interesting situation that is something that shouldnt be so hard to address but the manufacture has washed their hands of.
Rob
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No reply from Stoeger yet but they have only had the rifle for just over a week. I will say I got to shoot a new Browning x bolt Hunter 270 wsm at the range today. This is the way a new rifle should work. No issues at all and it is only $1100 cheaper, go figure.
Well, maybe that would work, maybe not.
Anyway my 'fix' was NOT to mount my scopes higher and install cheek pads ..
instead .... I just sold ALL of my Sakos ... the entire collection ... and
replaced them with a few lightweight Kimbers (84M/84L) and mediumweight FN Winchester Model 70's (SG/EW/FWT).
Now I have several rifles that work perfectly, as advertised, right out of the box.
All with zero risk of having the rifle jam while trying to chamber the 2nd round ... say, right when an angry bear is approaching.
Your not likely to hear from them until your gun arrives back in your possession.
Hollow words, but chill and wait for the gun to be returned or a call from them.
I know hunting season is just around the corner and its like being 4 years old waiting for the 25th of Dec to roll around
Rob
