New to me Classic Sako A1 Varmint 222 Remington

Crashman

Crashman

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Southeastern Ontario
I just picked this rifle up a few days ago from a gentlemen who is thinning his herd a bit. It is a rifle I have wanted for some time now, I have always had a love affair with the 222 Remington, I don't know what it is about that little cartridge but I just love it. I have had a few over the years, a Winchester post 64 and a Remington 600, but was never really satisfied with either. This rifle is gorgeous, has an oil finished stock, deep bluing, and no marks anywhere on it. It came with two sets of dies, some Federal and Winchester brass, a few bullets and an old set of Sako rings-not Opti Locks though.

I have taken it to the range twice now. Once I fired ten rounds of Sellier and Bellot 50 grain SP, the fumes from the powder were so terrible and the groups were awful so I quit and went home and gave it a thorough cleaning in fear that the ammo corrosive powder or primers. I then made up some careful reloads with the Winchester brass, H322, Federal GMM small rifle primers and Hornady 53 grain HP. These groups were better, with one group having all five shots touching, but the average was still above 1MOA. I have noticed it has a pressure point in the barrel channel of the stock, near the front swivel stud. I am wondering if this could be contributing to the rather less than stellar accuracy. Does anyone have experience with these older Sakos that could lend some insight? I also got a L579 Varmint in 22-250, it is sitting in the cabinet for now, awaiting some Opti Locks and a scope.

I will post some pics when I have some better lighting, but these rifles are beautiful!
 
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Try some BLC in the .222.
Works well in the the .223 so stands to reason it may work well in your new to you Sako.
Looking forward to pictures and the next range report followed by hunting report.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
Put something under the barrel on the pressure point to re-add tension, I use a piece of cork drawer liner or foam 2 way tape.
I run a 1974 Win M70 which is a long action 222Rem and it is without a doubt the most accurate rig I own. 24gr Varget over a 55gr Hornady flat base s/p just keeps shooting through the same hole.
 
All of my sako's HB are free float. Not sure whats going on with yours? Back in the day Sako found that stock pressure in a certain point would add to accuracy, but I thought it was only on pencil or sporter barrels.
If all else fails channel out the area that is the concern, and glass bed.
 
xfmrdude said:
All of my sako's HB are free float. Not sure whats going on with yours? Back in the day Sako found that stock pressure in a certain point would add to accuracy, but I thought it was only on pencil or sporter barrels.
If all else fails channel out the area that is the concern, and glass bed.
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These rifles both appear to be factory original with no alterations. Both have the wood in the barrel channel shaped into two "pads" near the front swivel stud causing a pressure point there. I have removed this on the 222, and added a bit of space throughout the rest of the barrel channel so it is now fully free floating. The inletting and bedding has also not been altered and appear factory original, and to be honest it is the best inletting I have ever seen with very little play front/back and left/right. I usually Devcon bed my long range rifles, but I am tempted to try this one as is just to see how it performs, but I am fully prepared to bed it if necessary. The rifle did shoot one group yesterday that was five shots at 0.404" but the rest averaged over one MOA so I feel there is definitely some work to be done here but I am confident this rifle will be a shooter once the mechanics are tweaked and the right load is found.
 
Here are some pics of the 222. Pretty sweet rifle, been looking a long time and finally found one!
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Dan B said:
Try 19-20 grains of 4198 with a 52 or 53 gr bullet.

Dan
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I have had 5 222 rifles over the years, and each time I aquirred another one ,.someone had a load for me with 4198 powder, and to this day not one of the many 4198 loads I tried worked worth a darn in any of my 222 rifles, Now reloader7, or 322, or Vhit 133, Win 748, my current 222 powder choices.....FS
 
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