Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Tried out the new Sako

Finally got a good day to go to the range with the Sako 85 in 6.5X55. This is my first CF Sako, the only other one I have is the Quad rimfire I got a couple of years ago. Wish I'd tried a Sako long ago. Looking for a load I tried five shot groups with 130 grain accubonds in Lapua brass with four different loads of H-4350 in half grain increments. My worst group was 1.130 with a called flier. Next worst was under .900. Next to the best was .460 and the best group was .317, chrono'd average speed was 2701. I think I'll keep this rifle.

Good to hear. I've had a three 6.5x55 rifles and they all shot well or better. I haven't had one in Sako, but that's just something to look forward to.

Jaywalker

CRA,
I just bought a Sako 85 in 30.06, the Finnlight model. I scoped it with a Leupold 3.5x10x40 in some Leupold Q.R. rings n bases, and took it out to the gravel pit where I hunt. No boresighting done, was hitting the bullseye by the 6th shot, never left the 1" circle for the rest of the shoot. Recoil was almost non-exisistant, by far the best shooting rig I've ever come across. I've owned Weatherby, Dakota, Ed Brown, NULA, and most of the standard fare, they're all gone now, but this Sako will be here for the long haul. Absoultely outstanding.

Tag, can you give us an accurate weight of your new sako?

Handwerk,
Haven't got a scale around since the wife had our second child,
but I used a H-S Precision PHL in .270WSM last season, and it feels very close to that rifle, but better balanced. Felt like a wand in my hand, and just shot wherever it was pointed. And smooth as ice cold beer. I've had the Model 75 SS before, and while it was accurate enough, it was a brute to carry all day. This rifle is light but well balanced, finished better that a Rifles Inc. Strata I paid twice as much for, and all ready a good friend. If it knew how to cook stroganoff, my marriage would be in trouble!

Handwerk, I've got a Sako 85 Finnlight in 300 WSM. Weighed on a set of postage scales @ 6# 6.6 oz. That's bare rifle with bolt & clip. I've got a Sako 75 Finnlight in 270 WSM & it weighs 6# 14.0 oz. Both great rifles - very accurate.

According the the Sako.fi website the standard and magnum action models are 6lbs 13oz, about a pound lighter then the 75. Glad to hear the 85 shoots as well as the 75's did.

I wonder where the weight was lost...

Looks like in the stock and barrel, the barrel contour on the 75 was just about Varmint weight.

Yeah, the 75 was pretty heavy. Just tell me they didn't make the 85 into a cylindrical receiver, or use the odd Tikka recoil lug.

I just picked up a S/S model 85 in 300 win mag. and topped it with a Swarovski A-line with optilocks. Shot it for the first time today, and I have to agree it is by far the finest rifle I have ever tried. Best group was around 0.5" with off the shelf ammo. It's light, well balanced, and the action is as smooth as you would expect from Sako. I can't wait to get it back out to the range and try some better loads.

I found a pic on AR of the underside of the 85 action, and it looks like that's where the weight loss occurred. The 85 doesn't have a recoil lug extending from the receiver - it's more like a recess in the receiver that bears against an extrusion in the stock.

Jaywalker

Brief update, bloodied the Sako yesterday. Nothing spectacular, just a freezer deer (large doe) but the shot was 343 long paces across a hayfield. One shot, DRT. Who would believe you could kill a deer, much less at that distance, with a bullet that is only starting out at 2700 fps? Gotta love that B&C reticle, this is the third Leupie I've got it in and IMO it's a slick system.

Alas, no mention of a left-hand. It's just as well, I think I'm covered.........

docdb, hard to exercise the full extent of rifle looniness when you shoot from the wrong side of the gun. good friend of mine has the same problem.