SAKO Sporting Rifles - Any good…?

[sevenmil]

Hi guys,
I recently bought a new 223 Rem Sako 85 Varmint with a Walnut stock and SS barrel. Been running it in and tested it recently at 100m - I was using 25gn 2206H and 55gn B/T projectiles. After a few fouler shots it was grouping 0.3-0.4 MOA which I thought was pretty good for a sporter.

Just wanted to check what the consensus what out there about Sako rifles in general. I haven't read much about accuracy attained with larger calibre Sakos so I wanted to check what experiences people have had. Based on how my new 223 is shooting, I am thinking of updating the armoury with more Sakos, but before I do, I wanted to hear from people who have Sakos in 243, 270, 308 etc…

Any thoughts ?

[ShaneG]

Sako and their more affordable brand Tikka are the most dependable commercial brands for accuracy.
We believe that the barrels are the same quality in both brands.
Fed good ammo they are capable of .5 moa accuracy reliably.
We have sold quite a number of 1/8 twist 223 in both brands as well as numerous 308 T3 as starter F class rifles.
Dave Mac had a T3 308 which shot unbelievable groups at 300 yards!
And a few years back he won our Cairns OPM F/TR competing out to 800M with the same rifle!
Shane

[Barossa_222]

You've bought a good bit of kit that should last you a life time. I have an 85 varmint I had rebarrelled to 6 dasher and I have a L461 varmint in 20 vartarg. Both shoot exceptionally well. The 85 magazine shits me to use, 75 was much better. I wouldn't rush out to buy another 85, much prefer the 75 and older stuff. I bought my 85 new chambered in 243 and it was the roughest factory barrel I had purchased to date. Was a bastard to run in and get the copper out and couldn't get better than 2 inches at 100 with good factory loads, so I rebarrelled it after 30 odd rounds. My Savage LRPV looked rougher, but cleaned up and shot better. I'd rather rebuild and old girl than get a new one, but that's just my 2 cents worth.

[Razer]

I bleed Sako.
Started out in 1958 with a .243W which I still have.
Bought a Sako M591 in .243W in 1995 which has only fired less than a thousand rounds. Extremely accurate at ranges out to my self imposed hunting limit of 400 yds.
Bought a Sako 75 SS Varminter in 2002 and occasionally took it to the range where it could hold its own with hand loads against any of mine our any others dedicated Fclass rifles.
Also have a P94s in .22 calibre rimfire which I use for target shooting at the SSAA rimfire range as well as hunting.
All great rifles and extremely well stocked and finished.
The Sako 75 should never have been superseded by the 85 which in my opinion is not as good as the 75.
Best value rifle on the market, but sadly my hunting days are coming to the end so I will have to, sooner or later, part with a couple and my gunsafe will never be the same.

[Tim N]

What's the trigger like on the 461?
I've been entertaining the same idea you have gone with in 20 VT.
I have a 85 - 204 which shoots great but as you say the mag is a backwards step being shorter than the 75...
Or I might re barrel the 204 to a VT or 20 practical.

[Barossa_222]

The standard one was hard, but crisp. I could shooot well enough with it using a 8x Kahles to make nice round 1/2" groups at 100 metres. I just purchased a Maddco unit for it on advice from a guy in the know. Was searching in vain for a Canjar, but found it easier locating unicorn shit. It wasn't cheap, but it is adjustable from 2oz up to 2.5lbs or something like that.

I'm a bit in 2 minds about the vartarg at this stage. I'm using 32gr blitzkings and it just doesn't kill very well. My mate has pretty much the same rig in a 17 MKIV and that lays critters down without a blink. It must be bullet selection or I'm not punching them out hard enough. I have a 26" barrel on it, might dock it to 24" and see if my velocity increases.

[johnk]

I was lucky back in the seventies that the late George Lee Sye decided to use my L461 as a test mule for Robinson's Sports Store.

I got the first Acraglas bed job in Brisbane & a neat trigger job that had the standard trigger breaking at a crisp 1 pound minus.

[sevenmil]

Good stuff guys - any other experiences out there, particularly with the new Sako 85 in 308 Win ? I have read a few reviews where accuracy was only just under 1MOA with hand loads and other reviews, where they shot clover leaf holes. I guess there are a lot of variables (shooter's ability, load, wind etc), however it would be good to hear from other Sako lover's with larger calibres (308win, 270 etc…)

[Razer]

My Sako Varmint 75 in 308W had a set trigger(as does my P94s) so if you entered it in FO which has no limit trigger pull as long as it is safe??, theoretically you would legally be able to use the set trigger which at a guess is about 2 ounces!!
These triggers come standard with the Varmint but even my hunting M591 is a nice crisp trigger and every bit as good as my Barnards. Might just be an exception but I do not think so.
Also my Sako 75 would shoot hand-loaded Remington 150 and 180gr Core-Lokt hunting ammo at half moa and, naturally hand loads, with target projectiles, even better.
Even the action on the 85's is only half as good as the 75's and if I were to need another Sako, it would be a second hand 75, never an 85.
Reviews about accuracy of just under 1 moa with hand loads may be right for the 85, and if that is all they can get, then it is only shooting as good as a Ruger, etc. Clover leaf holes are what I would expect as a norm from Sako.

[Send-it]

my father has had several sako's over the years, as have I.
from cartridges ranging from 17rem, up to 308's, and many in between.
not one of them has shot groups over 1/2 moa @ 100yds (the typical distance sporters are judged against), and have been faultless performers.

[sevenmil]

Thanks guys - appreciate the feedback

[L461]

I have a couple of sako`s and all shoot way better than I can

baroosa 222 can I suggest you try 32 gr zmax in your 20 VT.I am using them exclusively in my 20VT no problem dropping Cats foxes grasshoppers and my young bloke has even dropped a couple of goats and pigs with one shot kills.

[BenW]

Don't discount Tikka's either, they use the same barrels. I have three 223 lite with a 8 twist which actually beat Jeff Eppleston and Geoff Willis the other week at 300. It shoot's better than I can. just my two cent's worth

[Longranger]

Second that on the Tikka. I have 3 Super Varmints and the 223 is my favourite. They sometimes make an expensive custom rifle look, well, ordinary at times.

[sevenmil]

Just thought I'd up date you on the performance of the new Sako. Did some rabbit busting aound Xmas and the new little gun shot well - I must say, those Nolser BTs are amazingly effective. Not much body mass left after chest shots, think I'll have to just head shoot rabbits from here on in if I want to eat them.

Anyway thumbs up for Sako rifles, love the 223 round, a beauty !