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i keep coming back to Sako's website and the "Sako 85 Synthetic Black 6.5x55 Swede Rifle JRS1C51"

http://www.sako.fi/rifles/sako-85/85-synthetic-black

I have 6.5 Swede RCBS loading dies sitting on the shelf...
I have over a hundred rounds of brass...
I have a ready supply of Speer 140 grain hotcors...

But I have never paid more than $630 for a rifle, and this rifle will cost near double that...

base and rings will be pricey...
i will need to acquire a new scope...
i have no idea how reliable a Sako 85 is in cold and wet weather...

but I keep coming back to this rifle...



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I wouldn't have ANY problem stepping away from a Sako.


"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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lol, thanks, but can you give me some objective/subjective criteria please... i am an info/data junky.

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OK, here are my first two reasons not to buy:
(1) it isn't a 7x57
(2) a Ruger M77 MkII will cost a third the price and is likely to be more reliable in the field in icy/wet/dusty conditions

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I've owned several Sako's but not an 85. It will be a well built accurate gun. I am no longer a fan of the mounting system and if there is a problem with the gun Beretta will blame it on you.

No need to worry about weather.

For the price of a new one ,you can also own someone's used custom.In fact I would actually rather buy a Tikka. The mounting system is better and the action is stiffer. Both shoot well but I suspect there are more one hole shooters with Tikka than with Sako. FYI they use the same barrels.

Look around and right now you can likely still find a close out T3 Tikka for under $500.

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I'm having the same debate over one in 308. I have three Sakos and have never regretted spending the money.

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I've seen an 85 that loved sling empties at the scope and knock them right back into the ejection port.

Apparently that ain't nothing new. Other than their little Vixen type rifles, I've never been impressed by them nor their accuracy.



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OK, four reasons not to buy:
(1) it isn't a 7x57

(2) a Ruger M77 MkII will cost a third the price and will be as reliable in the field in icy/wet/dusty conditions

(3) Consider a Tikka instead: better scope mounting system, stiffer action, same/better accuracy

(4) Beretta support sucks, if you have issues with ejection you will need the assistance of your favorite gunsmith

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I ordered one of the swedes an hunted it for the past two seasons. I have been very pleased with it. I liked it enough to drop it in a McMillan and have not looked back. It is a great little rifle.


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Please don't.

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I have both Tikka and Sako.....for hunting pass me the Tikka. They both do the same thing, one costs twice as much. The tikka is a noticably lighter rifle to carry in the field.



Trystan

Last edited by Trystan; 01/21/17.

Good bullets properly placed always work, but not everyone knows what good bullets are, or can reliably place them in the field
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Originally Posted by 16bore
Please don't.


You should try out for the debate team. lol

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1. Scope mounting options are extremely limited for Sakos.
2. Sako's tapered dovetail mounting scheme is a PIA.
3. The larger (above XS) action sizes have been said to have ejection issues, some have remedied this with a spring swap. I've had issues with my XS, if I operate the bolt too gingerly toward the end of the stroke.
4. COAL can be restricted by the proprietary DBM
5. There is no aftermarket bottom metal available.
6. Aftermarket stocks are very limited.
7. Their funky lug/block action to stock design is just that, funky.

On the upside, they are shooters. I just got back from the range with my Sako 85 Varmint 223, 1:8, single set trigger. It'll make a ragged hole with 77gr. SMKs at 200. Some have very nice wood, but your looking at synthetic. I'd consider SS Tikka with a McMillian stock upgrade.


****************I just wrote the above then saw this...
http://www.eurooptic.com/sako-85-synthetic-black-65x55-swede-jrs1c51.aspx

At that price, I'd strongly consider the Sako and maybe upgrade to a McMillian or maybe not.

I'm starting to see your quandary.


Originally Posted by 16penny
If you put Taco Bell sauce in your ramen noodles it tastes just like poverty
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I just clicked your link. There are several reasons to choose something else but they are mostly just personal preference. That's a great price on a very nice quality rifle. If it fits your taste in rifles it will be a good gun that will serve you well.

My taste the last few years has been toward very light weight rifles.Other than not being able to slap a set of talley lightweights on a Sako and the fact that it is a little heavier than my current favorite rifles,I like my Sako rifles better than any others I've owned.

Tikkas are great and possibly even better than a Sako if you aren't bothered by some durable plastic parts. Rem. 700's are great if you like to tinker and improve and you might get an accurate one right out of the box. Lots of other great guns. Most of them are great because the owner places more importance over one quality rather than another. The main thing is to know what qualities you like and value most, and to know which guns excel in that area.

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Originally Posted by Steelhead
I wouldn't have ANY problem stepping away from a Sako.
I agree 100% here........Hb

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Originally Posted by Dogger
OK, here are my first two reasons not to buy:
(1) it isn't a 7x57
(2) a Ruger M77 MkII will cost a third the price and is likely to be more reliable in the field in icy/wet/dusty conditions


I think Number 1 settles it.



"An archer sees how far he can be from a target and still hit it, a bowhunter sees how close he can get before he shoots." It is certainly easy to use that same line of thinking with firearms. -- Unknown
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lol on #1...

yes, the $1199 EuroOptic price is what has me in the quandary... i am not inclined to buy a rifle for that price and replace the stock.

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The Sako will be in direct competition to my 280 Rem M700 CDL, talley lightweights, Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40, which weighs as configured a tad under 8lb.

Sako website claims the synthetic 85 in 6.5X55 weighs < 6.5lb

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Ejection problems make the 85 platform unreliable. This is more than an isolated incident. When it happens to you on the hunt, your money will have been wasted.

They are overpriced.

They have a not-great scope-mounting system with little flexibility.

The stocks aren't great.

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Originally Posted by Dogger
The Sako will be in direct competition to my 280 Rem M700 CDL, talley lightweights, Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40, which weighs as configured a tad under 8lb.

Sako website claims the synthetic 85 in 6.5X55 weighs < 6.5lb


If you are happy with your Rem.,I wouldn't buy it. It's a nice rifle but it isn't offering you anything better.

How do you feel about light weight rifles? I am on a light weight kick right now but you might consider saving just a little more and trying one. I'm talking about something right at 6 lbs scoped. Something like a proven Montana, low production number Forbes 20B, or possibly the Barrett Fieldcraft.

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