Sako 90

[The Kurgan]

Sako 85's are very fine rifles. I owned a few model 85's, but they do nothing more than a CZ 557 Lux or Tikka T3x's for less than half the price. I do miss my last Bavarian Carbine in 30-06, and if they come out with a model 90 in a similar configuration in 8x57, there will be another "Bless me Father for I have sinned thread".

 

[blakeyboy]

They are a bit costly I'll give you that.

The point remains, buy any of the custom sections you named, buy an hnt26 or even a mcmillan, get a high end barrel, pay a gunsmith. What's the cost going to be?

Look a noslers, weatherbys etc. Wait for the next import cycle. The 3k plus "high end" hunting rifle is becoming a reality. I'm scared to see what kimbers will go for if they ever come back

Now that you've shown us on the doll where sako touched you it makes a bit more sense. My experiences are my own, and have been overwhelmingly positive. Such is life

LMAO

Agree on sako a7, I had an early stainless synthetic, did 5 shot .6" and .7" ctc with a couple top factory ammo's of the time, was a true short action, and added some metal bits here and there including in magazine wear spots, it was worth it's moderate increase over the tikka imo and one of the best options available. When the get carried away with all these stocks and finishes is where I drop off, I just stuck with the regular plastic stock and quite happy with it.

 

[blakeyboy]

I'm not sure I follow, are we going to top end now? Ok fine:

walked into store, walked out, 1 range trip while on a hunt found 2 sub-moa factory ammos of 8 tried at 100, killed a deer the following day...

you haven't added in any range trips, time to research all the bits and bobs you listed, time to order and receive all the bits and bobs you listed, assembly time, god forbid you have any issues and don't require any trips to the smith to correct those, builds usually don't just go perfect as everyone knows, maybe you wanted a shorter barrel than you ordered? does it need to be reamed for your cartridge of choice? maybe you wanted it threaded/fluted/brake and dust cap...did you add in trips to machinest who likely not in your own town? time/fuel costs again?

the sako literally came with everything, 20", threaded/braked/dust cap/fluted...done, 20" for 308, like the ruger Hawkeye hunter, as sporters in 308 should come, both with short actions, one with integral picatinny, one with 20 moa pic rail installed already...better off ripping rail off the ruger and use the bomber integral rings options available for robustness to meet the sako.....ruger gets 4+1 flush bottom all stainless etc., sako gets 5+1 detach flush all alum/stainless, the ruger offers a lot for the money and yes several hundred more than a tikka, beauty walnut with red recoil pad is wash for me as I love that but equally appreciate synthetics or quality carbon of course but 90 degree bolt throw on the ruger vs 60 of the sako, but crf on the ruger washes that out imo...depending on scope eye piece size I guess, chunky scope advantage goes to sako...so many features and trade-offs one could mention....that you don't mention

since I'm building both the sako and tikka lets start talking about the tikka I have on the go
add in research time to find all the best bits and bobs to go with given build on a tikka, for me it's lightweight general purpose sporter with low low scope mount for cheek weld, 1.5" off bore, and extra robust optic mounting this go round...

Start: 22.4" barrel in 308 on long action and 5 round mags that hang down aways, off to machinest to chop barrel to 20".

1. Plastic bottom metal replaced to high desert aluminum with larger trigger guard, what a piece, but now you can torque action together similar to the sako, twice what you do with tikka from the box. Cost, time to wait for parts. Still a poly mag that hangs down for 5 to compare but saving grace is weight and how slick/effortless they feed so you accept the trade offs for the price, at least you can swap out the bottom plastic for aluminum.

2. For optical robustness you get sports match or couple other clamp style rings some have recoil pins some don't, it's not a straight forward process, but none of these options you get low enough. You do with talley x-low but lose robustness, so lowest rail appears to be area 419 but only comes 20 moa, so again...machinest to shave it to 0 moa (no tail high scopes please), it has a recoil pin and then weaver lows can get you low enough and maybe some others but I tried x-low arcs and they are 1/8" higher so maybe Henneberger for 30mm or weaver 30mm low, I've tried the weaver 1" in low and they do it as low as talley but way more robust. Yes you gotta deal with the weaver pre-cant to tighten things down but we know that game, not the end of the world and as much as they are such old school rings they are tough, old ugly wore them so these on a well installed rail with recoil pin should be in a different league than talley's. We're not done with that rail though...Now, to make a trijicon 3-9x40 work that low on that rail you have to shave down both front and back ends of that rail to clear magnification ring and bell housing lol, for a straight tube lpvo you only have to shave down the back end for the mag ring. Lot's of bubba work with a grinder/files and a sharpie, just finished that process now btw, after picking barrel/rail up from machinest.

3. Don't do good enough research on the tikka and you're doing a lot more trial and error than the above.

4. It's at the identical weight now withe a 13.4 oz scope, 3 oz rail, 2.5 oz rings, as the sako is with a 19.25 oz scope and 5.25 oz beasts for rings (arc m-10 x-lows), they are both at 1.5" off bore lining up with factory stock well for quick to the shoulder natural cheek welds. They are both sitting at 7 lb 3.5 oz scoped now, funny coincidence, both 20" barrels, great triggers, stainless. But the sako set up is in another level of robustness than the fiddlefarting around tikka set up trying to get close.

5. What's all that time and fussing worth? I'm efficient and yet we still haven't shot the tikka yet and the sako already has blood. Edit, tikka going to start it with leupold vx3hd cds-zl 1.5-5 at 10 oz to fit theme best, it's at 7.0 lbs on the nose with that scope, trijicon is backup plan if rtz/tracking/zero retention prove unreliable.

6. Don't know if the tikka shoots as well but by all accounts it should shoot even better than the sako it's reputation is that good and Henry is who did the chop, he would certainly not hurt it, so expecting it will be as good or better than the sako but I don't know yet because of ALL THE FIDDLE####ING AROUND it takes to get it to similar levels of handling/robustness/capability as the sako! And the tikka showed up before I went and grabbed the sako on a lunch break lol.

Again, this sort of segment of rifles appears off your list of what you think are must haves. Will I have spent more on the sako in the end with all factors of time and added bits etc. factored in? Probably but not as much as you suggest and maybe not much at all. You don't build out a new rig as fast as this sako imo. You would have similar time delays and potential issues to correct in plenty of your build options. In the end with the tikka will it resale as well? Will your project builds? nah...total cost of ownership (if resale included) may favour the sako or be wash. Not a single thing touched on the sako to have all desires met for these goals in mind for light handy general purpose 5+1 in the universal cartridge...the tikka will be worth it to me in the end but it's gonna take a minute, and plenty of other dollars, to get there.

Anyway...hope you get over this, still think you're projecting a secret love for the sako and this is just how you show it, like an abusive relationship you just can't shake.

 

[blakeyboy]

Tikka is a good rifle, yes? Any objections? Ok.

Tikka Artic is not a good deal. Same rifle with a bit extra is not worth the price upgrade.

Same logic - Sako 90 at prices and features they offer is not a good deal. I didn't care about superlative Sako quality when mine had ejection problem. Zero f given to "quality" when it didn't function. If I had A7 stock and it started to bleed chemical goo on me and there is no aftermarket to fix that I don't care about superlative Sako quality.

Sako S20 will be gone soon, discontinued to all stock options with only roughtech left for now. Sako 90 will not get a lot of sales and will go the same route in a couple of years. They already have Sako 100 to chase that "superlative quality". It is neither a value, nor quality, nor high grade timeless piece.

agree the arctic or the s20 never got my eye, the arctic sort of did but I don't understand that price or the weight at all, they've done well with the battue so why not a stainless battue with the 10 round mags and regular t3x synthetic stock, or even have those irons from the arctic...if they do a stainless synthetic arctic (same sights as arctic) for the working man I think it will sell well but ya its out to lunch on price, they want way too much for that boat anchor of a stock imo, and I think I looked at th s20 for all of 10 seconds when I first heard about it and never thought about it again...so I'm with ya on those points and too bad about other a7 stock finishes, the synthetic regular was great on the one I had, I shy'd away from the fancier stock models for other reasons, less is more sort of a mental approach but also cost would have been a factor at the time I had one, plus was shooting more hp back then so Henry usually did a brake/dust cap for me etc. so didn't want fluted

 

[Joel]

A T3x standard, but with the iron sights and can still take a standard scope mount would be the heat. I'd pay for that.

But not Arctic money, and that thing makes 0 sense to me either lol.

Could the thing not be 8 lbs? Or at least not heavier than the Lee Enfield?

 

[owlowl]

Every time I leave CGN for a while I forget how pathetic discussions usually go here. If someone has an argument which somehow is not aligned, it goes right to personal insults, irony, implications of hidden motivations all that crap.

Sako is double price of Tikka. With little extra value. Sako had for years issues with many things. Sako 90 is exactly the same route as before - a little bit of extra finish for unreasonably more money.

Compared to everything else you have available Sako 90 has very little to offer unless YOU somehow have an emotional attraction to the brand itself. But saying all this makes ME somehow personally hurt by Sako, so all this does not matter because it is MY emotional problem. Right.

 

[blakeyboy]

Every time I leave CGN for a while I forget how pathetic discussions usually go here. If someone has an argument which somehow is not aligned, it goes right to personal insults, irony, implications of hidden motivations all that crap.

Sako is double price of Tikka. With little extra value. Sako had for years issues with many things. Sako 90 is exactly the same route as before - a little bit of extra finish for unreasonably more money.

Compared to everything else you have available Sako 90 has very little to offer unless YOU somehow have an emotional attraction to the brand itself. But saying all this makes ME somehow personally hurt by Sako, so all this does not matter because it is MY emotional problem. Right.

Bull, the tikka is double the effort and fiddlefacking around over the sako, much more in hidden costs, and even when done will not equal the features and robustness of the sako. Don’t deflect and get off in the weeds. I’m building both right now and telling the whole truth! Are you? They are not in the same league. I’m gonna love both. I think you’ve got a Sako hiding under the pillow you secretly snuggle at night. And relax, you came in hot on this, so that requires thick skin, own it.

 

[owlowl]

If I don't want to fiddle and I want basic rifle in a basic wooden stock I would take CZ 600 Lux over Sako 90 anytime. Because $1150 is a better than $2265. No fiddling and a grand less.

If I don't want to fiddle and I have $3600 for Peak, would I buy Peak for this money? Because it is 2.6 kg? No, because there is Sig Cross for $2600 which also folds and has stock adjustments and 3kg is good enough. No fiddling and a $1k is saved. I'm more likely to look at Cadex Sheepdog R7 for 3.5k and have local warranty people and parts rather than overseas.

If I had 3k would I buy ADVENTURE? No I would not. I would take Bergara Cres in carbon fiber stock for 2.5k and have $500 to spare or HMR and put it into MDT stock. Well, 2 bolts need to be fiddled with for that.

 

[conor_90]

Lol have you seen a CZ 600?

Made more sense when you were buying a Tikka instead.

Tastes differ but bb clearly wants a lightweight " mountain rifle". Saying money would be better spent on a folding stock "crossover" gun is like telling someone who bought a Tacoma that a Hyundai Santa Cruz is cheaper

 

[blakeyboy]

Cz, yikes, I like them but i haven’t kept one yet. Will have to play with the new ones to see. Any stainless? Oops, no longer qualify to discuss. Everything else you mentioned stainless owly? Cadex what? Bet it will hold it’s value. You’re only hearing one tune bro, stay in that lane. Whatever it is you come with there’s an equal and opposite reaction to features and functionality so you dun stepped in it.

My builds would sheep well but it’s more that general purpose thing I’m after right now as per other threads I’ve started lately. The Ruger Hawkeye Hunter would out cz a cz any day now and is stainless, crf, accurate af, etc. And a level above a Tikka in price and worth it completely imo. It slots in the middle price wise and also the fiddlefack required or lack of a few key features. I’ll likely build the exact same thing on that too. 20” stainless 308’s set up for fast defence to 4-500 yard big game. Light handy do most. The dollars don’t matter near as much as function and robust bounce off mountain and take weather better than all types thing. Folding is over rated, I have that, I have been running that for longer than most, take down as well, niche...decent when you have the sheep fever and not much else and live with pack on back and climbing. Kifaru gun bearer is still the ultimate so that stuff is just whatever end of day.

Don’t forget hunting is still a 0-450 game for absolute majority, a moderate few can reliably kill to 600, as so very few can kill reliably past that it’s nothing really in the discussion so trying to build prs rokslide specials for a a bit of a joke if hunting is your primary. Chassis not required, ffp mil definitely not required. Being realistic to goals at hand while understanding actual laws of all this makes a bunch of it...meh at best. Stalking deer in timber with a cadex whatever build sounds like great match, same with defending on a bear middle of night in tent, 26” barrel? Lmao...no...niche builds bro, you’ll come around in time. 98% of the action happens from muzzle to mpbr. Build focused there and the tags you fill will surpass your cadex type builds lol. But but...it’s latest trend...lmao, get over it.

Build your super rigs, let’s see where you land in 20 years...my bet is on a Sako, you seem secretly obsessed lol.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

I have several 85s and love them all. I looked at the 90 and feel that the few changes are not worth the significant jump in price. I do like the change to the ejection port and the milled rail on certain models, those were good changes. The synthetic stocks have a few updates but outside of the higher end carbon models, the stocks are still junk.

 

[BlackRam]

At the end of the day, it is different strokes for different folks. We all have our own priority needs and desires.
If it works for you, then great. If not, have fun making it work for you!
Be glad we have the freedom of choice to have or make the choice to get our priority needs or desires delivered.
Be respectful and supportive of others in their choices. And it is OK if their choices align, or do not align, with yours/ours. There is just no need to tear theirs down if it doesn't.

Tikkas are good rifles, as are Sakos. The barrels are built on the same assembly line and there is no preset knowledge as to which action the barrel will be mated to upon completion. The final product does get a different accuracy guarantee, but this comes from being attached to the different actions and bedded into different stocks, and the management of the respective companies.
Only the buyer can determine which checks off the checkboxes to meet their needs and desires. Are both perfect? Yes, or No. Depends on the buyer.

I have owned Tikka rifles, but now own Sakos. But this is my choice. It wasn't that I was unhappy with my Tikkas, I just like the features that the Sakos gave better.
I will not knock those that are happy with their Tikkas (or Ruger, CZ, Winchester, Remington, Browning, etc). If they are happy, that is all that matters! (I also own rifles by these other makers that I really like and enjoy!) Isn't it great to have some many choices!

I have to say that I have not experienced the ejection issues that others have with their Model 85s. I have 3; 2 LH Hunters that are in their original configuration (6.5x55 and 93x62), and 1 Finnlight II that has been rebarreled to 338 Federal (only change). While I may not have hunted or shot these rifles as much as others may have to experience the issue, I do not know...or whether the LH version isn't plagued with the ejection issue that the RH action may be??? I am not sure. But I also do not use large or high magnification scopes on my hunting rifles that other shooters do...and is this a factor? Again, I am not sure. All I know is that the time shooting on the range and in the field hunting with these 3 rifles over the past 7 years has been ejection issue free, and I am happy about that! (And that all 3 have put meat in the freezer!)

Being a left handed shooter who likes cartridges other than the most common, life isn't as simple for me as those who are right handed and are happy with say a 30-06 , 270 Win or 300 Win Mag, so there are times where to get what I desire, I am forced to make changes or go custom. But this is my choice, and I am happy with the outcome at the end of the day. I will admit that I was very happy to get all, or almost all, of the features I desired in a factory Sako rifles for my 6.5 and 9.3. And they are tack drivers! (Both shoot better than .5 MOA with factory ammo!)

 

[Buckmastr]

Detach mags. Some people will go out of their way to find a rifle with one. I prefer a floorplate or a blind mag. The newer Sakos don’t configure this way.

 

[conor_90]

To be fair as far as detach mags go, they dont get much better

 

[Buckmastr]

Yep. Most metal detach mags are decent as far as function goes. We’ve had to get used to plastic mags unfortunately.

 

[blakeyboy]

I didn't bother taking the magazine out for range day with the sako 90, it's not quite as slick as hitting a button with one and and drawing it out with the same hand at same time, you can do it but you do have to apply upward pressure first before depressing the button to get it out...it was just so much easier sitting there with box of shells to top feed them into mag and they do pop in so nice and easy so the detach mag is essentially optional, you can run it exactly like a hinged floor plate for its life if you want, you won't accidentally drop the mag, but at least if you end up doing some coyote calling or in and out of truck repeatedly in a day work you can drop the mag out for those days. I also like to carry spares in a spare mag in pocket or pack if/when possible.

Was fondling my guns last night after back from work trip and loving both the sako and tikka, but switching to the sako is a whole different level of feel, hard to explain but it puts a little grin on face and wow in the feels. Still haven't shot the tikka yet, might be a couple weeks before I can find a day to go do it.

 

[Buckmastr]

Can you get a new sako that is actually blued? Not that black stuff. Some Tikka barrels are blued so it’s not like they forgot how to do it.

 

[blakeyboy]

Can you get a new sako that is actually blued? Not that black stuff. Some Tikka barrels are blued so it’s not like they forgot how to do it.

doesn't look like it so far, they just claim it's more durable finish so guess is nitride? (function first finish) which is apparently better protection than bare stainless, I agree they should do a true classic blue if they are putting out classic design, hopefully they bring more versions out and maybe that will be as it does appear a winner so far

I'm only 90 rounds deep and it's been the most drama free affair to date, from unboxing to optic mounting to ammo test day and then a one and done whitetail through the heart, can't say I've had a rifle for so little time and been that far down the road lol, it's interesting comparing it to the tikka, it actually has a more vertical grip which is a bit of a modern thing?, I was trying to figure out what was different in the ergo between them then read about tikka interchangeable grip to vertical if you want and that's when I put it together...and so I grabbed a tikka vertical grip and it's a little more vertical and tighter to the trigger guard than the sako but it does feel really good and better than the grip it comes with, the sako is the ideal though...for the ounce counters the vertical grip added half oz over the stock grip...so the dang sako is still impressing as I get to know it a bit better, seems more guys on the tikka who go vertical grip stay that way than not, for all shooting situations (fast sporter etc.) and I agree, it feels right even as I run the bolt and re-kill some mounts on the wall as fast as I can

 

[Octogon]

Lol Springfield over SAKO get real.

Have you ever met a gun or design you like owlowl? I notice everything sucks...

SAKO 90 wouldn't be my first choice but guns are not getting less expensive and I have no doubt they are well made.



Lol yup. If only more on this board realized this.

Any of the custom actions mentioned in an hnt 26 with a reputable barrel (whatever that us depends on your preferences I guess) will run you a couple SAKOs and will never be a carbon stocked hunting rifle.

Blakeyboy for once, is making sense.

I am getting into the custom, semi custom thing. But there is something to be said for a high quality gun that just works out of the box. Even if it is a gussied up Sauer 100 dancingbanana

No folding or rails is only a dealbreaker for an extremely small subset of the population...

First , Sauer 100 are ####, had 100 , 101, 202 , Sako S20, Tikkas over 10 of them, but if you want out of the Box with prety much everything adjustable, above guy was Right Springfield Waypoint, i went for the
Carbon barrel, adjustable cheek piece, but with the sales some of the sponsors are having right now, you can get a Stainless model for under 2000$ , and that is way Better than Sako 90.

 

[South Pender]

Can you get a new sako that is actually blued? Not that black stuff. Some Tikka barrels are blued so it’s not like they forgot how to do it.

Aren't at least some of the Sako 90s actually blued? I'm not sure what you mean by "that black stuff." Are you sure it's not just bead-blasted chrome-moly steel that is then blued? When I look at pictures of the Sako 90 Bavarian, it sure appears to be conventionally blued. I could be wrong....