tell me about Sako rifles

I see a pretty broad section of rifle brands.I have to say old Sako's were nice guns and I have owned quite a few.Always shot well bad scope mounting design .Sako 85 bad ejector design .Who in their right mind makes the ejector push the cartridge right up into the scope and they still never fixed the dumb ass tapered dovetail mount .Its like the ejector was an afterthought. Nicely finished but poor design, overpriced for what you get especially the plastic stocks.They are heavy as well. A7 is there best rifle in my estimation.They put a plunger ejector in it so it solves the ejector and feeding issue they had with the 85 and 75.
I have seen a fair number of the new ones that dont shoot as well.
 
bearkilr said:
Stocks: McMillan, Boyds, Fierce to name a few
Rings/Mounts:Talley,Near for aftermarket........ and the Sako factory ringmounts are awesome, no need for aftermarket.
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Stocks continued: ....Pendleton, wildcat, mpi, brown precision, Staffordshir, accuflite
Mounts continued: Warne, leupold, Burris, Weaver, conetrol, Lynx, spuhr, contessa

For me I like: multiple action sizes appropriate for the cartridge size, all steel, 1-piece bolt with three lugs and easy field strip, integral bases, good trigger, nice clean DM, and best of all they all shoot good or better. The only down side for me is they aren’t light, but that comes with the features I like. I’ve had dozens of Sako rifles from the L series to the 85 and I’ve never experienced the failure to eject.

If the OP goes and handles one and likes it great! If he doesn’t like it, don’t buy it. Pretty simple. There are several brands I see very knowledgeable guys go nuts over that I’ve bought and couldnt get rid of quick enough - it comes down to what works for a guy / personal preference.
 
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Sako M110, nice rifle :)

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double gun said:
For me I like: multiple action sizes appropriate for the cartridge size, all steel, 1-piece bolt with three lugs and easy field strip, integral bases, good trigger, nice clean DM, and best of all they all shoot good or better. The only down side for me is they aren’t light, but that comes with the features I like. I’ve had dozens of Sako rifles from the L series to the 85 and I’ve never experienced the failure to eject.
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100% agree, and as far as lightweight goes, unless a person really needs the absolute minimum weight for an extreme mountain hunt, ultra light rifles really aren't that easy to shoot well. I find that for many purposes there is such a thing as too light.
 
conor_90 said:
Sako m85's are very nice rifles. The older models as well. Well put together "european craftsmanship".

I want to know about the sako "handy rifle", anyone have the 18 inch 7mm mag?
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In 18 inch? You will lose any advantage of the 7mmRM at that length. A 30-06 at 18 inch would be a better choice.
 
G.E.FLACH said:
I see a pretty broad section of rifle brands.I have to say old Sako's were nice guns and I have owned quite a few.Always shot well bad scope mounting design .Sako 85 bad ejector design .Who in their right mind makes the ejector push the cartridge right up into the scope and they still never fixed the dumb ass tapered dovetail mount .Its like the ejector was an afterthought. Nicely finished but poor design, overpriced for what you get especially the plastic stocks.They are heavy as well. A7 is there best rifle in my estimation.They put a plunger ejector in it so it solves the ejector and feeding issue they had with the 85 and 75.
I have seen a fair number of the new ones that dont shoot as well.
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They are heavy if you want them to be, there are a lot of short action Sakos that are very light
 
tazzman said:
In 18 inch? You will lose any advantage of the 7mmRM at that length. A 30-06 at 18 inch would be a better choice.
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Not really. If all your rifles have 18" barrels, you will see a performance gain still from medium Caliber to magnum.

I have a 18" 338lapua, still good accuracy and performance at 1000yds
 
I have a locker full of Sako 85s. I love them all. Accuracy is amazing, smooth functioning, and never any problems, on every rifle including the many I have assembled for friends and colleagues. In my own collection I have two of the medium action lengths that are reported as having the ejection problems. I have never seen the problem in any of the rifles I assembled, own, or operate. I truly believe the "problems" experienced are like feral pig sighting in Alberta. One guy sees a single pig and after telling everyone in town, everybody else is reporting that same sighting as their own, firsthand experience. And, in my own experience, the guys that keep recycling the ejection problem stories, are guys that do not own Sako rifles because the topped out with a Ruger American, Savage Axis, or Remington 710/770/783.

Just buy the Sako. Great rifles!
 
Duncan Idaho said:
I have a locker full of Sako 85s. I love them all. Accuracy is amazing, smooth functioning, and never any problems, on every rifle including the many I have assembled for friends and colleagues. In my own collection I have two of the medium action lengths that are reported as having the ejection problems. I have never seen the problem in any of the rifles I assembled, own, or operate. I truly believe the "problems" experienced are like feral pig sighting in Alberta. One guy sees a single pig and after telling everyone in town, everybody else is reporting that same sighting as their own, firsthand experience. And, in my own experience, the guys that keep recycling the ejection problem stories, are guys that do not own Sako rifles because the topped out with a Ruger American, Savage Axis, or Remington 710/770/783.

Just buy the Sako. Great rifles!
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I have SAKO 85 magnum length action that has the ejection issue. I also have Dakota, HS Precision and Cooper rifles.

Ive never owned any of the other rifles you've listed.
 
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L42A1 said:
I have SAKO 85 magnum length action that has the ejection issue. I also have Dakota, HS Precision and Cooper rifles.

Ive never owned any of the other rifles you've listed.
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All the SAKO rifles I have owned are the earlier ones. All are fine rifles and never had an ejection issue of any kind.

Ted
 
Whenever I read the Sako ejection issue threads, I think of this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wBH-rAKD4A

FYI, I have a Kodiak in 375 H&H with no ejection issues, but I have a somewhat more "reasonable" scope mounted on it.

And for those worried, all it takes is a different extractor spring which Brownell's sells for dirt cheap. I've had numerous Sako 85's and none have exhibited this problem.
 
My question on Sako is how they relate to Tikka. Same company, and Tikka is roundly praised basically everywhere for being the best $1000-$1500 rifle out there, with great guaranteed MOA ratings. So why a Sako over a Tikka? Are they that much better really?
 
Tikka is a good rifle, cheaper because of production choices.
Multiple piece bolt, one action size, plastic bottom metal, plastic mag, plastic shroud (I guess the t3x has a metal shroud?)

Are those differences “that much better” depends on you and what you value.
 
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