Sako S20 Hunt?

[K1W1]

Thinking about picking up the S20 Hunt in .300WM with the 24" fluted barrel as a do all rifle.

Seems to be excellent for hunting and smacking steel plates on the weekends out to medium distance (4-600yd).

What's the collective opinion on this? Any input is appreciated

 

[johnl]

I fondled their 30-06 version at Cabelas a couple of weeks ago. Felt like a Tikka. Thin barrel, light gun. Fit and finish was nice. For hunting nice little rifle. I think it was $1600-ish. Well seeing there are 5k and 15k hunting rifles on the market I say go for it

 

[mikeyb]

They are hideous-looking. But I love them. I held one at Cabela's a few weeks back in .30-06, it only had a 20" tube but I adjusted the comb and it shoulders incredible. Great balance as well. Fantastic ergonomics, it feels like it was molded to my hand. Only complaint is the mag rattles a bit when not loaded. I'm not certain if the problem persists with a stack of ammo in it. I do wish they had an option for sights as well. I would consider one in .30-06 with the fluted 24" barrel as a do-all, but they aren't as light as I'd want. Helps with stability, but I'll have to save another pound or so elsewhere (or lose it myself!). I suppose it would work just fine paired with aluminum rings and a light scope.

 

[TungstenJohn]

I just bought the precision version in 300 win mag last month - it’s a nice gun and lots of neat gimmicks. It shoots almost as good as my Tikka 3V in 300 mag . Weighs a lot less than the tikka considering the tikka is the varmint version. Trigger and bolt very similar to a tikka in looks and function Not sure it’s worth almost twice as much as a tikka but it’s a Sako so you get bragging rights.

 

[K1W1]

I just bought the precision version in 300 win mag last month - it’s a nice gun and lots of neat gimmicks. It shoots almost as good as my Tikka 3V in 300 mag . Weighs a lot less than the tikka considering the tikka is the varmint version. Trigger and bolt very similar to a tikka in looks and function Not sure it’s worth almost twice as much as a tikka but it’s a Sako so you get bragging rights.

What sort of groupings are you getting at 100yd, 200yd etc? I am having trouble finding any reliable source of information online regarding accuracy. Seems to be for every two good range reports there is one where it just won't shoot.

 

[K1W1]

I fondled their 30-06 version at Cabelas a couple of weeks ago. Felt like a Tikka. Thin barrel, light gun. Fit and finish was nice. For hunting nice little rifle. I think it was $1600-ish. Well seeing there are 5k and 15k hunting rifles on the market I say go for it

Did you manage to check out the fluted and non-fluted 24"? Haven't been able to handle one and wondering if it is a huge or minor difference.

 

[mikeyb]

Did you manage to check out the fluted and non-fluted 24"? Haven't been able to handle one and wondering if it is a huge or minor difference.

I would go by the Stoeger catalog to see the models they are importing rather than the Sako website as stocking dealers will be getting theirs through Stoeger. Pretty sure they are only bringing in fluted barrels, 20" in .270/.308/.30-06 and 24" in 6.5CM/6.5PRC/7mmRM/.300WM.

 

[The ROC]

Thinking about picking up the S20 Hunt in .300WM with the 24" fluted barrel as a do all rifle.

Seems to be excellent for hunting and smacking steel plates on the weekends out to medium distance (4-600yd).

What's the collective opinion on this? Any input is appreciated

Here's my opinion on the S20 Precision I owned and sold at a lost. https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...T3X-TAC-A1?p=17967113&viewfull=1#post17967113

My advise... don't drop it or bang it against any harder then its cheap plastic shell.

 

[mikeyb]

For anyone curious, the models that aren't being imported by Stoeger (as in, not available through retailers in Canada) can still be ordered, they just can't give an ETA on the special orders.

 

[Pointdexter]

I did a LOT of research on the S20 as i was looking for an accurate 300wm hunting rifle. From the twist rate to the lugs on the receiver to the bedding job and how the whole thing is assembeled. But I couldn't get a decent look or solid information on the bedding job and the weight of the whole works as a hiking rifle were not ideal.

Based on all yhe information i had read, listened to, and watched, it seems like the S20 is trying to do everything really good. A jack of all trades but master at none. Itw works when you live in a country and you can only have one rifle.....just swap the parts and you have a target gun..


I ended up with a bowning xbolt in 300wm as a hunting gun and a tikka t3x ctr as my target gun.

 

[mikeyb]

I did a LOT of research on the S20 as i was looking for an accurate 300wm hunting rifle. From the twist rate to the lugs on the receiver to the bedding job and how the whole thing is assembeled. But I couldn't get a decent look or solid information on the bedding job and the weight of the whole works as a hiking rifle were not ideal.

Based on all yhe information i had read, listened to, and watched, it seems like the S20 is trying to do everything really good. A jack of all trades but master at none. Itw works when you live in a country and you can only have one rifle.....just swap the parts and you have a target gun..


I ended up with a bowning xbolt in 300wm as a hunting gun and a tikka t3x ctr as my target gun.

My biggest problem is that I did get a chance to hold the Hunter model and... well... it was perfect. With the comb raised to a comfortable position my line of sight was about 1" above the barrel. The stock fit like a glove, and the contours of the thumbhole felt like it had been made for my hand. So at the very least, I definitely owe it to myself to try one.

Problem #2 is which one? I held a .308 with a 20" barrel and that's the one I fell in love with, but if I'm getting a long action rifle, I should get it in a long action cartridge. That means a .30-06, but I'm not going to buy a .30-06 with a 20" barrel and the 24" .30-06 models need to be ordered individually as Stoeger isn't bringing them in. Alternately, make the jump to a .300 Win Mag, which is available in a 24" barrel, but do I really need a .300 Win Mag?

I think in the end, I may end up with a .308 since I don't have one now, they are cheap to shoot, I already have some lightweight rings for a picatinny rail, the 20" barrel had great balance, and as a package with a 1" scope it would be under 41" long and about 8.5 pounds which is kind of fine for me all around. I already have a .257 Wby for hammering deer a million yards away and a 26" .280 AI for elk at range as well, a .35 for moose in the bogs, all over 9 pounds scoped. I could use something a bit more compact for sitting in a tree stand.

 

[Ahsan Ahmed]

Thinking about picking up the S20 Hunt in .300WM with the 24" fluted barrel as a do all rifle.

Seems to be excellent for hunting and smacking steel plates on the weekends out to medium distance (4-600yd).

What's the collective opinion on this? Any input is appreciated

Belated response - just came across this thread from the past year. Nevertheless, if it helps somewhat ....

Couple weeks ago, a friend had asked me to zero his newly acquired S20 Hunter 300WM. He carried a box of Sako Super Hammerhead 180gr and Hornady Precision Hunter 200gr ELD-X. The latter brand of ammo was recommended to him by the gunshop for use in that rifle.

Despite Sako ammo accuracy performance claims in their line of Sako/Tikka rifles, the Super Hammerheads shot 3.75in group. The Hornady shot really well @ 100m. POI on far left of the group was a result of premature trigger pull with gloved finger. It was bitterly cold that day.

As far as the rifle may be concerned, Sako overall build quality is evident. Personally, I don't like the modular stock design. It was comfortable to shoot that cartridge given that it is a light rifle.

 

[stuckon308]

I was thinking of updating my Sako A7. Read a bunch of reviews. Went to a store with the intention of buying one. Held it, looked it over, and gave it back. The stock is terrible and the balance felt like junk. I'd rather spend more and get a Sako 85.

 

[DGY]

My dad just bought an S20 precision in 7mm RM for this year moose hunting trip… he has a Fierce carbon edge in 338 Lapua mag but it is too much gun(caliber) for the hunting he does… so he bought a new rifle and he settled on that s20! Dad is 80 years old and that rifle will end up in my safe at some point lol even though it is not my style of rifle I will take it and I don’t have a magnum hahaha and rather have that than a 338 lapua lol! I wonder if it would be “easy” to switch barrels on those rifles?