Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles First hand experience with Sako 85?

Does anyone have first-hand experience with these? Are the extraction problems widespread and real? Should the 85 be avoided altogether? I got a good deal on a new Sako 85 Varmint in 223 with in an 8 twist, but after reading many extraction issue reports, I'm concerned about going forward with the purchase.

My first hand experience with an 85 is with a left hand 30-06 which is now a 270 Win. No ejection problems with medium Leupold rings and a Burris 2-7x35 FF II.

I have an 85 in .25-06 with no ejection issues. My scopes have been mounted low over the ejection port, and the Conquests that have been on it are not known for having low profile turret caps.

If I were concerned about that, I'd mount a Leupold VX-3 and experiment with ring height until I got the clearance I needed.

Sako Bavarian Carbine, 308 Win.

Sako Bavarian, 6.5 x 55





No problems here!

JAPFT,

GWB

I've owned a bunch and have only had issue with "M" length(30-06)sized actions and once in a short mag. Smaller and larger actions have a slightly lower angle and clear scope perfectly. Even the 30-06 length can work fine with all but the lowest rings.

To answer your question; no they should not be avoided all together. If you don't have ejection issues you've got a rifle better than most customs.

I have owned a dozen or so model 85's in various chamerings and I only experienced the ejection issue with the 30-06 length actions, I had maybe 5 that had the issue and all but one could be fixed by useing high rings (which I despise) one rifle however was so bad (.270) that I had to send back to Beretta for repairs, and they promply lived up to their well deserved reputation of terrible CS and sent the rifle back to Me with the same high ejection issue, they did put a piece of paper in the box that said the rifle had been "adjusted" ...Ha!!......I owned 85 models chambered in 223 and a couple of .300 WSM's and none of them had the issue.....I still love most everything about the Ssko 85 but I dont like the clamp-on scope mounting system, the Optilok system is extremely heavy and I prefer My scope bases to be screwed to the rifles reciever ......also pray you never need service as Beretta has a well earned reputation for being pitiful.......Good luck.....Hb

Thanks everyone for the posts. I'm feeling reassured.

GW, those Bavarians sure are good looking!

A friend bought one in 7 mag. Installed low Sako ringmounts and had ejection problems. He spoke to Beretta and they offered no help or solutions other than to try different rings. Seems funny that Sako rings didn't work with a Sako rifle. He sold the rifle.

K,
If'n you decide u don't want it , I think I know where one might find a home for it.

Ya'

GWB

I have a Bavarian in .270 - it has been flawless.

I have three model 85s in 260. No issues. I want a 223 varmint.

Sako 85 Varmint, 223, 1:8, walnut, set trigger inbound.

Anybody have an extra set of one-piece Optilock Low 30mm rings or IOR Valdada two-piece Sako tapered dovetail picatinny mounts, they'd like to sell?

Theres also burris 2 piece tapered dovetail picatinny mounts as well as the IOR. Looking at pictures, the burris ones look to be a slightly lower fit.

Have 4 sako 85 models,, on one of them Im looking to put the burris 2 piece picatinny mounts on with nightforce rings.

Have S&K mounts on the others....

I called IOR Valdada in TX asking where their 2-piece bases are made. I was told they are made by a shop in TX. I was also told that the adjustable 1-piece base is made in Romania along with another 2-piece base without the extend front.

I then called Burris asking where their Sako Picatinny bases (410635) are made. The kid on the phone responded, "China".

This evening I found a couple great videos covering the NEAR 1-piece Sako Picatinny rail. It's very nice. If they'll make one in matte blue, I'll be set. From what I've read, they are only made in SS... A call to them is in order.

Across the pond Recknagel and Third Eye Tactical make additional options. There is also a guy in NZ who makes a mount, but it requires drilling.

Looked closely at those Third eye tactical,, I think they go under the name of "Tier One" now??

Unbeleiveabley have them available locally to fit a sako 75/85....http://www.guncity.com/tier-one-sako-75-85-weaver-bases-316361

http://www.guncity.com/tier-one-sako-75-85-weaver-bases-316361

I guess we shouldn't be surprised that the "World's largest gun store" stocks them.

I'm really leaning toward the NEAR base, but need to figure out how to make it black. Some SS can be blued. We will see.

Had a 85 Finnlight in 25-06 and 300 WSM with Zeiss 3-9x40 Z600 on both. zero issues with ejection.

I have a Finnlight in 6.5 Sweede, I get 5 in the mag and 1 in the chamber, the first 2 or 3 eject fine after being fired, the next couple are iffy. Shoots bugholes otherwise it would be gone.

I've run the same 9.3x62 with S&B scope mounted with low 1-pc ringmounts for a number of years now, works perfectly. The original spring still holds ample tension, no need to replace. But, if it wore out or was weak, I'd simply change it out for a gre-tan, and either deepen the hole to fit the spring, or shorten the spring to fit the factory hole. The only way to push the case up through the extractor would be from either a worn or defective claw and/or too little tension from binding, burrs, seizing, or weak spring. With everything running correctly, the empty will push up high enough to clear the rail, where it mechanically runs out of free space between the ejector and extractor claw within the bolt face. At that point, unless the claw gives, the case must follow the direction of the claw, clear and out. The only way to go straight up into the scope tube is from the case being pushed through the claw.