Sako .308 Black Bear vs .308 Grey Wolf?

vpsalin

vpsalin

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
18   0   0
Deer rifle; Sako .308 Black Bear vs .308 Grey Wolf? I'm torn.

SAKO%2085%20black_bear.jpg

SAKO%2085%20GREY%20WOLF.jpg


BlackBear
Medium heavy fluted barrel, probably better suited for range use which is 90% of what I would be using it for, the other 10% hunting
With shorter barrel and possibility of iron sights, rifle must be noticeably 'handier' for my <300yd hunting needs
Rifle slightly lighter then the Grey Wolf

Grey Wolf
Much more attractive looking rifle
Slightly less expensive
Stainless/laminate indestructibility

I appreciate your opinions on this !
 
Last edited:
If you hunt a fair amount of thick woods , I would go for the black bear. Ive handled and shot the Grey wolf, its pretty and shoots well but I find it on the heavy side. If you wont' use the iron sights I would consider the finnlight.
 
I vote for the Sako 85 Grey Wolf !! ..

but then I am biased, as I own one. Yes, it IS gorgeous. But I personally do not find it to be 'heavy' (not any more so than my walnut-stocked Sako Aii Hunter)...
instead, it just feels right, and when you throw it to your shoulder, it is instantly on target.

By the way, I like the 85 Bavarian too .. and maybe one day .. lol.
 
Greywolf gets my pick of the 2. I have a couple in the m75 model. As mentioned, if going synthetic, I would go the SS or Finnlight-depends if you want the iron sight feature I guess.

Maybe look at a Grizzly in 308. Too bad couldnt get a Brown Bear or Kodiak in 308-only available in 338 & 375.
 
Can't go wrong with either, but I like the looks and practicality of the Grey Wolf better. I own a Bavarian Carbine, and yes, it's very nice :)
 
Of those 2, I'd probably go with the black bear, but then I'd drop it in a McMillan EDGE olive/black granite stock...:)
 
So you made me visit the sako website, first thing I notice is a model called the grizzly. I like that better than either of the other two, and it's available in 9.3x62.
 
9.3mauser said:
So you made me visit the sako website, first thing I notice is a model called the grizzly. I like that better than either of the other two, and it's available in 9.3x62.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your help everyone, I finally went with the Black Bear in .308, I must of called every shop in Canada and finally found one in stock! I've come to the conclusion that buying outside of Québec often means better customer service and another bonus is saving the 10% sales tax!

About the Sako Grizzly, while reading the documentation closely, it appears that the grizzly has a 540mm barrel while the black bear has a 510mm barrel. Also, everyone who says that the black bear is simply a finnlight with sights are wrong in my opinion, the black bear has a medium bull barrel, the finnlight does not. I'm hoping that medium bull barrel will serve me well at both the range and the field.
 
Last edited:
owlowl said:
Black Bear and Grizzly have same 540mm barrel length.

http://www.sako.fi/sako85models.php?black_bear_showdata#pagedown
http://www.sako.fi/sako85models.php?grizzly_showdata#pagedown

These are completely identical rifles with Bear in plastic stock and Grizzly in walnut stock. Grizzly will cost you extra $1k compared to Black Bear
Click to expand...

There must be a typo somewhere because no two spec sheets concord.
http://www.sako.fi/pdf/specs/85BlackBear.pdf
http://www.sako.fi/pdf/specs/85Grizzly.pdf
o0zers.jpg
 
Ha, in fact you are right, there are different in barrel length. The specs on the websites are all messed up.

Have a look:

bearvsgrizzly_zpsd3d6e711.jpg


bearvsgrizzly_2_zpse8a015ad.jpg


On these images Black bear is obviously in S action and Grizzly is in M action. But both the barrel length and length of pull are clearly different.

Beretta conspiracy, marketing deception or sloppy work? ;)
 
I'm betting its 540mm.

All the other rifles in the Bear series are 540mm (21.25"). (Kodiak, Grizzly, Brown bear...)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom