new Sako model 85

Thanks for the link. The price is creeping up even more, I wonder how it will be recieved. The Model 85 Hunter is US$220 more than the Model 75 Hunter. This would put it at least ~CDN$1700....
 
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I agreed with 1899. You don't see many Sakos sold now, and I'll bet even less unless the price goes down. Hard for John Q. to rationalize spending a grand on a new rifle, let alone $1500 or more. To boot, the damned thing looks like a gussied up Tikka from the picture.
 
I prefer the look of the stock on the 75. Does anyone know when Beretta bought sako?
 
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BigUglyMan said:
You don't see many Sakos sold now, and I'll bet even less unless the price goes down. Hard for John Q. to rationalize spending a grand on a new rifle, let alone $1500 or more.
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Especially when you can get a very accurate Tikka or Savage for under $700...
 
It does look more like a T-3 if you compare the T-3 stainless to the 85 Stainless? Humm. I own a couple of 75s but $1800-$1900 with tax is pushing it out of my reasonable gun price range. May be its time for another Tikka at $675? before they go up. Its only a matter of time. who ever commented about them not selling as well is right, I have seen 2 75s Stainless in 300 Wm and 300 WSM sit in a gun store for the better part of 2 years now, while the savages and tikkas are flying off.
 
I own both Tikka's and Sako's. Closest I can describe is zooped up fiat vs ferrari. When you handle and shoot one vs the other the differences are apparent. I for one don't like the T3 stock or the one onthe new 85.
 
I own one M995, one 75-V, one L61R, two A-V, and one L579 Sako, the A-V's are my favourites. The one 75 I own is the only stainless rifle of the bunch. Its quite nice, but I prefer the older CRF.

It is the feel and balance that attracts me to these rifles. I think the Hunter Stock design plays a big part in that. I hope Beretta hasn't ruined a good thing. Having said that, I'm already anxious to shoulder one of these just to see.
 
I have a couple of the 75’s and they are tack drivers that fit me just right.

Do not like the straight stock on the Tikka and I am not pleased to see it on the new Sako. They have also made a change to the detachable mag. From what I understand you have to press in on two points to get it to detach. Supposed to make it harder to lose. Can’t see how you could lose a 75 mag anyway so I’m not a fan of this either.

The 75 comes in five action sizes while the 85 is listed in three action sizes. This may be just until they get production up but I wouldn’t be surprised if they are trying to cut production costs and lower the action sizes. Bloody shame if they stop making the # I action. I’m amazed that there is no .300 Win Mag listed in the 85 only the .300 WSM.
 
What I've seen from Sako after the Beretta acquisition hasn't been impressive but I'll wait until I get a Model 85 into my hands before passing judgement.

I have two Sako Model 75s, a .223 made before the Beretta take over with a lovely piece of light figured walnut and a delightful trigger. The .270 that came after the Beretta take over and has a little creep in the trigger, isn't as nicely fitted and the rear guard screw was installed so tightly that it was almost impossible to remove. The checkering and the wood quality isn't as nice as the older rifle.

Both are tackdrivers however. Despite some unhappiness with the .270 I can't complain too much when it shoots Federal 150 grain Classic ammo into one hole groups when I do my part.
 
Claybuster said:
Despite some unhappiness with the .270 I can't complain too much when it shoots Federal 150 grain Classic ammo into one hole groups when I do my part.
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Yes, but a Remington or Winchester will do the same or better if you hand it and $750 over to a gunsmith. I don't know about Sako any more. They are nice, but a custom or semi-custom rifle becomes very attractive when looking at their prices.
 
1899 said:
Yes, but a Remington or Winchester will do the same or better if you hand it and $750 over to a gunsmith. I don't know about Sako any more. They are nice, but a custom or semi-custom rifle becomes very attractive when looking at their prices.
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Very true and I don't know about Sako any more either. I'm not terribly impressed with having to spend money with a gunsmith to get my .270 on par with my older Model 75.:mad:
 
From what I understood Beretta bought out Sako/Tikka as the 75s were produced.
The 85 leaves me cold, having handled 1 in Vegas last month. They reek of cheap, just like what Beretta has done to the entire line of Sako and Tikka over the last 10 years.
I have collected Sakos for 30 years but it ended with the last A5s . I am not sure I would call Sako a CRF rifle in the pure sense, like a K98 or pre64 Winchester is.
I would guess that the stainless is less expensive due to fact that stainless guns are bead blast finished and their are done, blueing means polishing and blueing, which translates into labor cost, that the end user eats.
 
I didn't really care for the 75's and when Beretta got involved I quit looking at them completely. With rifles, when Beretta gets involved things go down hill. Just look at their other offerings in the past.......totally unremarkable rifles for grossly inflated prices.

I will stick with my Sako AV's.
 
I love my Sako 75 in 300WM; grabbed it in the first year of production. It's all class and quality as far as I'm concerned. I was curious about these new 85's but like ATR said, they're just leaving me cold. :( I think if I look into any Sako's it will be the pre-75's.
 
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