Sako 85 vs Sauer 101

Manwithoutastar

Manwithoutastar

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After a lot of consideration and a strengthening addiction, I’ve decided to take the plunge and look into the mid level hunting rifles. I’ve read everything I can find on forums and writer’s reviews, etc. about these two models, which have been drawing me in the most. So (as a “newbie” CGN member) I thought it’d be fun to start a new discussion to see what experience members may have here with these models. I have a feeling, because of limited Sauer distribution in Canada, I’m going to hear from a lot of Sako enthusiasts! Let’s be a little more specific and see what you like between the Sako 85 Black Bear vs Sauer 101 Forest xt. The later being the fabled white buffalo in Canada :cool:
 
I love the new Sako 85s and the older models, excluding the tikka-esque A7. The A5, 75, and 85 lines have ll been amazing rifles.

Older Sauers are great rifles. Some of the new models are finicky.
 
Well, either way, great choice. I have a Sako 85 LR Hunter, and can say that they are an absolutely excellent rifle. I've also been lusting pretty hard after some Sauer rifles.

I would say to go for the Sako 85, simply because I like controlled feed systems, rather than push feed, which I believe the Sauer is.
 
Are the Sauers those press-fit barrels? The ones where they heat the action to expand, place the barrel in and when the action cools ,it shrinks and the barrel fit is tight. If so, I would pick the Sako for the fact that a barrel can be changed if damaged or worn out. It cant with the Sauer to my knowledge.
 
85_kodiak_0.png

Sako 85 Kodiak

Damn, that's ###y.
 
I've been looking at both those for awhile. I've closely examined both and wow they are excellent. I'm a shorter barrel open sighted bolt action kinda guy. So all that being said, I ended up with a tikka t3x battue and a cz 557 carbine. Both in .308. Basically, I figured I'd get two guns for the price of 1. :) Both are excellent with different features. But both 20" barrelled, open sighted bolt rifles. Enjoy the shopping!
 
Mostly sako admirers as I suspected lol thanks guys! I have not heard the Sauer is “finicky” other than some people don’t like the ‘Dura safe’ with its release button, fair enough. The other popular debate with Sauer is the heat fitted barrels causing replacement issues... For me it’s never been much of a concern, bc in my neck of the woods, I’d have a hard time finding a barrel/ smith to replace any european barrel. Also Sauer barrel quality is supposed to be pretty good(Blaser owned). Using a 308 (202 model) they guarantee 10000 rounds before “accuracy” is above 1moa. (Now that’s just what they say) The rifle would owe me nothing or I would be too old to care by the time I shot that many rounds out of my hunting rifle. Push feed or controled feed.. unless it’s in a dangerous game rifle prob wouldn’t bother me. But for the sako 85 ejection problems, that has always been on my mind, but again in the shorter actions it doesn’t seem to be an issue. Seems to plague the longer catridges, maybe someone knows why, not this guy. The Kodiak is Damn ###y! What about the Black Bear? And does anybody own a Sauer?
 
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Gregg M said:
I have a older sako. I would love a new one. To scared to buy a new one. You hear all the time about Sako ejection problems.
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I have three 85 Finnlights, 2 x .270 and 1 x 30-06 and made the mistake of selling a 3rd in .270 two years ago. I have been using them for 6 years and have never had an ejection issue with any of them. One of the .270’s is bnib, I was going to sell it, but decided to save it for my 4 year old grandson. I was surprised when I heard others mention the issue. Apart from a custom I am having built for the same grandson I would never buy anything else.
 
If you're looking for a Sauer (Sako too for that matter) talk to Marcus at the Calgary Shooting Centre.
He's a salesman who's also a gunsmith, so any questions you have about length of pull, setting up scopes etc, he can answer.
(Fair warning though, he's a busy guy, but its well worth getting a hold of him for technical questions.)

I wouldn't have bothered getting my Blaser if I hadn't stopped in to talk to him when I was passing through town.
 
if you want a no bs working/workhorse rifle, get the sako. I love my sako 85 black bear. talley bases/rings are the only way to go in my opinon. I have there quick detach rings. close second would be the burris weaver bases, but the set i got had one base that was milled incorectly. With this combonation rings and bases it is in my opinion the strongest scope base/mount setup other than if your weaver rail was milled right into the action. By design they would only get tighter under recoil, and definatly 10x stronger than any screw on bases. mine is a .30-06 and yes the ejection comes close to the scope, but even when i temorarily mounted a leupold mk 4 with target turrets, it still cleared the scope. Right now im running a vx3i in 1.5-5x20 with the turrets rotated 90 degrees left. this allows me to top load the rifle a bit better. this magazine/mag system is awesome, it doesn't deform the tips of the bullets under recoil. it latches at both the front and the rear, and can't be accidently dropped out, it will feed huge flat point cast bullets flawlessly as well.
 
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Sako 85 is a very nice rifle but the risk of ejection problems (empty cartridge hitting the bottom of the scope) would keep me away. Totally unacceptable on a gun in that price range. If the heat-pressed barrel doesn't bother you (and on a hunting rifle, I don't see why that would be an issue), Sauer 101 is the way to go. It doesn't have any downsides that I can think of. Well, maybe the fact that you can buy a Sauer 100, which is essentially the same gun, for about half the price...
 
I have several 85s in different action lengths and none of them have ejection issues. I have assembled several other 85s for colleagues and have not seen the ejection problems on them either.

I think it's like the feral pigs. Once in a while, one animal is seen, but twenty people talking about that one animal suddenly equates to plague proportions overnight.
 
Duncan Idaho said:
I have several 85s in different action lengths and none of them have ejection issues. I have assembled several other 85s for colleagues and have not seen the ejection problems on them either.

I think it's like the feral pigs. Once in a while, one animal is seen, but twenty people talking about that one animal suddenly equates to plague proportions overnight.
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I think it depends on the combination of caliber (cartridge size), scope size, scope placement and ring height.
 
I have played with Sako and Sauers and honestly prefer the Sauer. I currently have a 202 and a 101. The 202 is a beautiful gun but when its time to hunt I tend to grab the 101 more often.
Sakos are fine guns but I dont't think you would be disappointed with a 101.
 
Big JD-From the hills said:
if you want a no bs working/workhorse rifle, get the sako. I love my sako 85 black bear. talley bases/rings are the only way to go in my opinon. I have there quick detach rings. close second would be the burris weaver bases, but the set i got had one base that was milled incorectly. With this combonation rings and bases it is in my opinion the strongest scope base/mount setup other than if your weaver rail was milled right into the action. By design they would only get tighter under recoil, and definatly 10x stronger than any screw on bases. mine is a .30-06 and yes the ejection comes close to the scope, but even when i temorarily mounted a leupold mk 4 with target turrets, it still cleared the scope. Right now im running a vx3i in 1.5-5x20 with the turrets rotated 90 degrees left. this allows me to top load the rifle a bit better. this magazine/mag system is awesome, it doesn't deform the tips of the bullets under recoil. it latches at both the front and the rear, and can't be accidently dropped out, it will feed huge flat point cast bullets flawlessly as well.
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Do the open sights appear in your field of view at low magnification?
 
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apu said:
I have played with Sako and Sauers and honestly prefer the Sauer. I currently have a 202 and a 101. The 202 is a beautiful gun but when its time to hunt I tend to grab the 101 more often.
Sakos are fine guns but I dont't think you would be disappointed with a 101.
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Ha, thank you, finally some love for the Sauer. What are you running in the 101? How’s the ‘Dura Safe’ in field use?
 
I'm also a new member and am in a similar position to the poster.

A new Sako and Mauser with the first two guns to come to mind. I subscribe to the idea that "The pain of buying quality only costs you once". Rather than wasting ones money on something which wont hold value and will annoy you. Figured these two were a good starting point.

Although I'm concerned about the ejection issues I hear about with the long action Sako's. Apparently the short actions (up until mid size) don't have the issue? It's only with a long action and bigger. Can anyone confirm? Or does it also depend on the scope with the smaller actions?

I also like the idea of a Mauser, as I prefer the 3 position safety. But I also read about them being a pain to change the barrels eventually. Is this true, and can it be done? How costly? I would put 10K rounds through it, as this would be my main med calibre rifle, and I would be shooting a lot of rounds as I believe in practicing, so I would reach the 10k.

Or am I (and the original poster) better off buying something else? Any recommendations for another quality sporting/hunting rifle? Something with a smooth action and control feed? Ideally a 3 position safety (my preference anyways). I notice Cooper also mentioned in this thread....
 
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nick_w said:
I'm also a new member and am in a similar position to the poster.

A new Sako and Mauser with the first two guns to come to mind. I subscribe to the idea that "The pain of buying quality only costs you once". Rather than wasting ones money on something which wont hold value and will annoy you. Figured these two were a good starting point.

Although I'm concerned about the ejection issues I hear about with the long action Sako's. Apparently the short actions (up until mid size) don't have the issue? It's only with a long action and bigger. Can anyone confirm? Or does it also depend on the scope with the smaller actions?

I also like the idea of a Mauser, as I prefer the 3 position safety. But I also read about them being a pain to change the barrels eventually. Is this true, and can it be done? How costly? I would put 10K rounds through it, as this would be my main med calibre rifle, and I would be shooting a lot of rounds as I believe in practicing, so I would reach the 10k.

Or am I (and the original poster) better off buying something else? Any recommendations for another quality sporting/hunting rifle? Something with a smooth action and control feed? Ideally a 3 position safety (my preference anyways). I notice Cooper also mentioned in this thread....
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Hello,

Welcome from another Newbie. So the ejection issues people are referring to is in the longer actions from the reports I have read. Sako 85’s also feature a 3 position safety. Mauser and Sauer models are both made by Blaser and they do not have interchangeable barrels in their entry to mid level rifles (Mauser m18, m12) it’s reflected in their price. They have switch barrels in (Mauser m03, m98) but you’ve hit the 4K+ price point.
These are not bench/ match rifles and you could probably afford a cheaper rifle to expel rounds down range to practice with, if you can afford 10000+ rounds or the cost of rebarreling. That’s my plan, reserve the main one for hunting instead of barrel burning. Not to say you can’t enjoy it at the range.
I’m specifically looking for a European rifle, if that’s not your concern there are a substantial amount of quality/ sporting rifle made stateside. Check out a Remington 700, Winchester M70, Savage M11 especially if you want threaded barrels and hold value just as much as any rifle that’s taken care of. Happy hunting
 
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