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Guys I Just bought a Sako 85 Bavarian in 30-06 and my first trip to the range with some Winchester Factory PP's to produce brass wasn't great, 1st round 2.5 inches high, 2nd 1.5 inches high, then remaining 3 on bull.

I did it with three groups, the barrel wasn't particularly hot, I didn't fire them straight, but also didn't wait 15 minutes between groups either.

Scope is known to be OK, rings and bases are Burris and are tight.

Barrel is free floated even after group.

Thoughts

Well, you have been around this game long enough to check everything I would (screws tight, bedding, etc.)

I would still guess it is bedding. Try to glass the action.

My 85 Hunter will do that sometimes. I've shot my best groups with that gun 3 rounds rapid fire. I've read some complaints about the recoil lug plate being loose on 85's. You might check those 2 wood screws if you haven't already.

I believe the 85's can be greatly improved with bedding. Mine will slide all over the place in the stock until the bolts get mucho torqued. The inletting is not very tight.

Thought I would update this.

Took the gun apart, there was a white material around the bedding block and on the main action screw, cleaned this all up, cleaned the barrel down to bare metal and made some handloads that have shot very well for me in a couple of different 06's. 165 gr Hornady spire points, H4350 starting at 55 grs working up to 58 with fed 210m primers.

Problem solved, the 55 grainer were decent, 56 same both were two close and the other about 1.5 inches out, at 57 groups got small, 57.5 same and at 58 the groups were under an inch.

Damn white stuff...

Bad chit...



The inletting on my plastic 85 is pretty damn snug.
The A7 was terrible.

What do you expect? The basic design quality of Sako's has been declining ever since the replacement of the L461/L579/L61R models, and the A7 is a continuation of that trend...

I don't know about that, I've had all of the various models of Sako rifle and while the A7 did nothing for me, I really liked the 75 and AI through AV series. If not for the weight, the 75 would be my favourite.

Here's the rifle I am yapping about, it's now wearing a Zeiss Conquest 3x9x40.

Didn't intend to sound like I was ragging on the A7.
It's fairly badass in that it's light and I sure ain't gonna be afraid to use it.
A quick bedding job fixed the slop.

I'm also quite happy with the 85.
Major step-up from the A7(if that's saying anything).

No its me who doesn't like the A7...not that it won't shoot, just that its a further cheapening of the Sako brand...Every model they've brought out since the L461/L579/L61R has been driven by the desire to make it cheaper..

I have the M591 and you can see that trend starting: gone are the integeral recoil lug and the excellent triggers of the L461/L579/L61R, so to has the cross bolts..The blueing and machened finnish is ok, but not as nice as the models before...The M75 and M85 continue that trend switching to an investment cast reciever instead of one forged and milled from a billet of steel.

The A7 goes even further with the loss of the dovetails on the action and I suspect "synthetic" trigger guard and magazine housing...

Its the same situation with Tikka, their older rifles are lovely pieces made the tradition way; perhaps not quite as nice as the Sako L461/L579/L61R rifles of the same era, but still light years of what they are now...

I'd be afraid to really hunt with a nice old Sako like the ones you are talking about.

The S/S 85 and A7 are simply off the shelf tools.