Opinions on Sako 85 rifles

USP

USP

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I was interested in buying a Sako Kodiak 85 in .375H&H. Ive never shot a Sako before, how is the quality? Is this truley a CRF type action? Thier press release seems a bit ambiguous. Is it better quality than say a new CZ Brno type? Any other advice about this rifle? Factory recoil pad- leave it or buy a new one? I was going to get the gun mail order.:D
 
I'm certainly far from a Sako expert but just handling my new (and only) Sako 85 S/S .338 Fed. I can tell you there fit and finish is top notch. Theres no sloppy side to side Model 700 trigger play, crappy Savage stock inletting ect. Theres a couple Sako guys that'll be chiming in shortly Martinbs and TodBartell come to mind. :redface:

EDIT: The Sako CRF is more like Winchester's Controlled round PUSH feed.
 
I have never owned an 85, but have owned three different 75's, an AV and an A1. All were great rifles, accurate, fed flawlessly, the stocks fit me like a glove, great triggers, beautiful deep blueing, nice wood on the walnut stocks.

I am not sure of the 85 is a true CRF, Bartell would know better. Just about everytime I see one for sale my heart flutters a bit and I want to reach for my wallet.
 
The Sako 75's arent the same bolt design as the 85's Martin? I always thought they were the same design...I never really looked.


Sako 85 CRF has a small claw ejector on the bolt face that allows you to feed cartridges WITHOUT having to load them in the mag first like the traditional Mauser CRF. I'll try and get some pics some day of the bolt, just gotta get off my ass and get some batteries:cool:.
 
Jess said:
Apparently the 75 is the better rifle. The 85 is getting closer to the Tikka in terms of construction and build quality.
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never shot a Tikka, is the quality on these poor? I dont think I can get a 75 anymore new?
 
USP said:
I was interested in buying a Sako Kodiak 85 in .375H&H.
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The Kodiak is a sweet looking rig, and I'm sure it shoots even better...:cool:

kodiak.jpg


A CZ would be a nice wood/blued rifle, but if you want SS and laminate, the 85 is the one...
 
USP said:
never shot a Tikka, is the quality on these poor? I dont think I can get a 75 anymore new?
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The Sako's like a BMW and the Tikka's like a Ford - if that analogy works. As you know Sako, who are now owned by Beretta (I think), developed the Tikka range as a cheaper alternative. A friend of mine has a 7mm Rem Mag Tikka and it's a tac driver, however Sako's are aesthetically much nicer and are better finished.
 
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Jess said:
The Sako's like a BMW and the Tikka's like a Ford - if that analogy works. As you know Sako, who are now owned by Beretta (I think), developed the Tikka range as a cheaper alternative. A friend of mine has a 7mm Rem Mag Tikka and it's a tac driver, however Sako's are aesthetically much nicer and are better finished.
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Actually Sako and Tikka were separate companies until some time in the last twenty years. I would make the analogy better a Lexus and a Toyota. Both are excellent rifles. The 85's are seemingly very popular, the only real beef anyone ever had with the 75 was overall weight, they were hard to lug around. The 85's are quite a bit lighter.
 
martinbns said:
Actually Sako and Tikka were separate companies until some time in the last twenty years. I would make the analogy better a Lexus and a Toyota. Both are excellent rifles. The 85's are seemingly very popular, the only real beef anyone ever had with the 75 was overall weight, they were hard to lug around. The 85's are quite a bit lighter.
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yeah the Kodiak is almost 8lbs, not the heaviest for this round put up there.
 
martinbns said:
The 85's are seemingly very popular, the only real beef anyone ever had with the 75 was overall weight, they were hard to lug around. The 85's are quite a bit lighter.
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That is true about the 75. My 270 loaded and ready to go is around 9lbs. and is a bit of a pig to carry. But it's a very accurate, good shooting rifle.

What disappoints me about the 85 is the decision to drop the small action. My .223 Model 75 is the nicest centrefire rifle I've owned and that includes 3 other Sakos. I've also found the 85 stock doesn't fit me as well as the 75.
 
I have both a 75 and an 85. If comparing factory walnut or laminate stocks, I'd take the 85, they are much trimmer and lighter than the 75, if the 75 were a synthetic I'd pick it over the synthetic 85. The rear of the 85 bolt is designed a bit different than the 75, purely cosmetic but I like the 75 better in this regard. Also the 85 has the goofy unnecessary safety latch on the magazine,...I may "fix" my 85 to eliminate this feature.
The 75 and 85 are both very nicely made rifles, either one is a huge step up from the run of the mill rifles I've owned in the past.
When comparing weights I think you have to compare like actions lengths,rings & bases,scopes and and stocks. My 75/6.5SE in a McMillan stock with a 4-16 Elite in Redfield bases and rings is 9-1/2 pounds,..the 85 in 260 with walnut stock and 2.5-8X Leupy in Leupy rings is 8 lbs.
I have an AV and an L61R here also, these are nice but the 75/85 is a whole other animal with it's three lug bolt and detachable mag, not better than the old two luggers,..just different.
 
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I just bought a 85 Grey Wolf in 22-250...

"WOW" beautiful gun and shoots 4 into the same hole @ 100 yards.

Two things about the gun its so nice I'm worried about banging it up and the only thing I have against the gun is when you lift the bolt after firing a shot the bolt recocks the action when you are lifting it up resulting in a slightly heavier than I like bolt lift.

I have only fired 50 - 60 rounds thru the gun so far so maybe this will lighten up with time.

Other than that the bolt/action slides like it is glass it is so smooth...

That Kodiak is a beauty if I didn't have my Rem 700 LSS in 375RUM already I would be looking at it myself...
 
looch said:
Didn't someone raise a concern at some point over the recoil lug set-up on the 85?
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the recoil lug on the 85 is fixed into the stock and fits into a groove in the bottom of the reciever, the 75 is fixed to the reciever. The 85 recoil lug set up is like the Tikka T3 and the Sako M995's and the Sako L491/591/691 rifles. I think it's a non-issue.
 
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