Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Sako Finnlight 260 Rem

OK, I've decided that I want a 6.5mm for deer hunting and varminting. I'll eventually end up with a heavy varminter along with a light carry for deer. I have my heart set on teh Sako Finnlight in 260 Rem, and may eventually Improve both with the same chamber.

The issue I have is what is the difference between the Finnlight and the Finnlight ST? I called my go-to gun shop and he reports not offered in 260Rem. Sako site lists two different variants of Finnlight, the normal old JRS1Q and the JRSFL. Only the JRS1Q shows a 260 rem chambering.


From there, if I do manage to find one, I'll need some factory ammo for starters as I do not have the dies nor the conditions to work up a hand load before season. This is a last minute effort so any suggestions appreciated.

Also for glass I'll likely go the 2.5-8 VX3 route. I would assume that XS mounts all the way as I have S on my Sako Varmint with a 50mm objective?

I'm not totally up to speed on the new 85's but I think the difference is a slight change in stock design.
If they shoot anything like my 75 .270 finnlight you'll love it.

TDMax - cannot imagine anything closer to perfection.

I have the 75 Finnlight in a Rem .260 as well as a Finnlight in .25-06 and love them both. I reload, but first bought some Rem core-locks for the brass in .260 and I am sure you can look on the forums and find a little used brass. By the way, mine is set up with a Leupold VX III2-8 and Optilock rings.

I'm looking if anyone comes across one. Tempting to settle for a 6.5x55 or 7-08, but I have my heart set on the 260.

I really think that they are missing the boat with this gun by not offering in small varmint calibers like the .204 Ruger. This would be an awesome walking varminter. I'd sell my Remington LVSF .204 in a hearbeat to upgrade.

From what I have learned, the ST stands for "soft touch" and refers to the stock which now appears to be all black.

Also cannot see fluting in the barrel and no weight specs.

Looks as though they may have merged the Synthetic Stainless and the Finnlight and dropped the 260 Rem for the US market.

Beretta/Sako-Love the guns, but the company drives me nuts...

TDMax,

I've got a mixture of factory ammo for the .260, some partial boxes, along with 6.5 mm bullets that I'll be selling (sold all my .260's).
When you get your .260 send me a PM if you're interested.

elkjaeger

I would handle one before you buy. My Finnlight is very accurate and handy, but it's far from "light carry"

loder

I have a Rem LVSF at a few oz heavier and would consider this a decent carry gun. Not sure how many deer rifles weigh in at 6# or less. I have the Finn spec'd at 6-3/8#. Rem AK Ti at 6-1/4 or 6# depending on caliber.

I handled a Finnlight ST the other day. Looked just like the standard S/S 85's except it had a slightly 'monte carlo'd' stock. It also had palm swell. Nice rifle(270WSM), but $1500 and change, no thanks. Can't remember if it was fluted, thinking it was. Same grey rubber inlays.

Depending who has them they've been going for $1200-1300. Still a lot, but a quality piece.

TDMax, I'll have to weigh mine again, but if I remember correctly it's over 8lbs all up. Not a light weight by my standards, but it is a very accurate and handy(short) rifle.

loder

I'm also curious what the Sako synth stainless weighs in comparison. If you trust the specs on the sako.fi site:

Finnlight= 6-3/16#

Stainless/Synth 6-3/8#


Not sure I buy that though as the Finn has a shorter barrel and it's fluted. I did find a seller with a 260Rem in stainless synth and he says it is 6# w/o bolt and 6.5# all packaged.

TDMax,

I weighed my 75 finnlight 270 win with Leupold VXIII 4.5-14x40 in Talleys, 5 130grn loads, and Butler creek sling at 8 lbs 10oz. Not a real light rig, but short and handy. I can't argue with the sub 1/2moa accuracy

Have a good one,

loder

I purchased one of the closout .260 SS/Syn from Alex @ Eurooptik for $1150.00 Would have bought another if I didnt have other sticks in the fire. Awesome feel even without no palm swell. Quality all the way. Thats wht I would get!


Kevin

Of course, the tikka t3 in 6.5X55 will give you all you need, including light weight, for about $600- $700 less.

That's probably what my S/S in .260 will weigh. The .270 has the 22" barrel and longer action and gains just a bit of weight. I'd guess your scope pushes 1# itself?

I have the S/S on order from Alex as we speak. Just waiting on my FFL to fax the docs over. Any suggestions on factory ammo for whitetail? Some of what I need to reload is on BO and I seriously doubt that I will have time to work anything up by the 21st anyhow.

Tikkas are nice guns, but the Sakos are SWEET.

13oz on the scope. The talley steels don't help much, but they are good mounts. I believe the 75 FL bbl is shorter than the 85 FL, but I may be wrong. Mine is a hair short of 21" I believe. No barn burner for speed, but a 130 at 2950 is plenty.

Yep, the T3s are descent guns and lighter. I have 2, but they aren't even in the same league as the Sakos. Tempted to sell several of my rifles and buy a couple more, but I really would like alittle lighter weights. May just have some built on existing actions, that would run about the same $ anyway.

I really can't comment on the factory ammo, but would guess anything in the Fed premium or Win supreme line would shoot very well in your new Sako.

Have a Good One and good luck with the new rig,

loder

I'll try to get a decent weight on the gun alone. I have the original blued Optilock rings and bases from my other Sako so I can weigh those independently. I don't think my Postal scale goes that high and my UPS scale rounds to .5#

I also made a last minute decision to upgrade the scope to a Swaro Z5 in 3.5-18x44

Just couldn't resist. I've always wanted to try the Euro glass so now is my chance. This will be my highest magnification, and longest zoom range (VXIII 4.5-14 Nikon Monarch 4-16) piece and should be well suited to deer and varmint shooting.

OK I found that my US Postal scal goes to 10#

Sako Stainless synth in 260 weights:

Gun 6# 1.5oz

Bun with bolt 6# 11.1oz

Swaro Z5 3.5-18x44 1#

Optilock rings and bases 6oz

Rig complete: 8# 1.3 oz

Rig with 5 rounds in mag 8# 5.2 oz


For comparison:

Rem LVSF 204 ruger with Nikon Monarch 1-16 is 8# 2.8oz unloaded


The Sako manual has the gun listed at 6-7/8# which is accurate. The web specs have it at 6-3/8 #

Either way it is light enough for my purpose. If I ever go West I may have a good excuse to get another gun...