Sako Bavarian Carbine - any thoughts

The Kurgan said:
Do you think Sako would have rectified the problem by now if there is/was a problem? Ya think?
You had a bad experience, leave it at that. Perpetuating nonsense isn't fair to the OP.
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First of all I'm QUITE sure that beretta which owns sako thinks in "acceptable percentage of failures", otherwise there won't be SO MANY people upset by it and they would change in 2007. The whole issue is pure cost cutting as they wanted to have same ejector position for left and righthand bolts, so they put the blade at 6 o'clock. Absolutely same action with ejector blade at 8 (as mauser had 100 years ago) would be flawless. It would require 10 cents of difference in price. And 2 nomenclatures instead of one. Beretta CHOSE to put it in 6.

Second, I said many times that Sako 85 is a fine rifle, let me repeat again - SAKO is one of the finest production rifles on the market, fit finish accuracy quality features - TOP NOTCH. However they messed up the ejection by design and the issue with ejection is not a phantom, its real, no matter how do you like it or not. Its like BMW is a fine car, you might enjoy it, but saying "it never breaks" is just childish. In fact I didn't even bring it up, someone else did, so don't make it like my personal agenda.

Huge amount of people are blessed to enjoy this fine rifle without any trouble. But there is sizable amount of people who fall into "acceptable percentage of failures". But I for one, would RECOMMEND getting bavarian carbine even with my experience. There nothing else like it and its worth to try or at worst have aftermarket springs installed to fix the ejection IF it won't work. You just need to be real and reasonable about things.
 
Sako rifles to me are some of the best quality rifles of the last 50 years. I think Sako dropped the ball with the 85. I would look for an older full stock if it was me. The ejection issues are fairly common. Also, the recoil lug setup is the cheapest, mass production piece of junk I know of on a fairly expensive rifle!! It might not cause any problems but I would not buy a heavy caliber in a wood stocked 85!! The cost cutting measures are very evident even between the 75 and 85. Look at the recoil lug setup and they are obvious!!
 
Bowie said:
I believe that the ejection issues on the 85 are limited to just the IV action size. Can anyone confirm this?
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Incorrect.

My Sako's (both presently and formerly owned) with cartridge 'ejection issues':

  • A2 in .243
  • A7 in 7mm-08
  • 85 in .270
Does this stop me from buying more Sakos? .. No.

At 1st it ticked me off. Then I got I used to it.
Now I cycle the bolt at the right speed, while tilting the rifle slightly at the right time.

I suspect that Sako did not change anything since back when most owners used iron sights..
.. and, of course for that, the cartridge ejection angle was fine.
But now most of us use scopes, and most owners in N.America prefer a low-mounted scope to get a tight cheek weld,
so, if they want to cater to this market, then perhaps Sako needs to make a few changes.

Why, after so many years, have they still not make those changes?
Maybe, because the rest of the rifle is so exquisitely made, we buy them anyway. lol.
 
Do I own a Sako Bavarian Carbine .... no, not yet anyway.
However I agree with the earlier posts .. the Bavarian carbine is the prettiest rifle.

I'm not put off with rifle prices .. so why (as a Sako collector) have I not bought one yet?
Because my taste runs to light weight (I'm old and have a number of sports injuries, including a bad shoulder)..
so, for example ...

  • I am just now awaiting for the delivery of a new lightweight Sako 85 Finnlight in .308, and
  • I am considering selling my beloved but considerably heavier Sako AV in .30-06

So, if you are a young man with the strength to carry a full-length stocked rifle all day, say over mountainous terrain (like here in BC)
then YES, buy the Bavarian Carbine. It's gorgeous, you will love it forever, and it will fill your freezer with venison.
And when you get to be an old geezer like me, pass it on to your son or daughter. It deserves to be a family heirloom.
 
owlowl said:
... The whole issue is pure cost cutting as they wanted to have same ejector position for left and righthand bolts, so they put the blade at 6 o'clock. Absolutely same action with ejector blade at 8 (as mauser had 100 years ago) would be flawless. It would require 10 cents of difference in price. And 2 nomenclatures instead of one. Beretta CHOSE to put it in 6... however they messed up the ejection by design... but there is sizable amount of people who fall into "acceptable percentage of failures".
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Now that is the most sense you've made all day !... that combined with low (non-Sako low) rings and/or certain scope designs (turrets vs. standard hunting adjusters), coupled with position of the scope, can certainly pose some problems for some people. I agree this can be an irritant for some people. I suppose I got "lucky" with my scope (44mm Objective Zeiss) and rings/mount (Sako "low" QD mount), as I have never had a single problem. It's funny though, as I get a tight cheek weld... go figure!
 
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