Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Tikkas V Sako V Montana

Mulling a rifle purchase for Uncle Dan (me)for the Yuletide.

Can get barely used Sako 85 Finnlight 7mm08 for a great price, or NIB Tikka T3 SS Lite .308 or T3 Forester .260 for about several hundred less. Or a NIB Montana in .308 for bout same as Finnlight.

All but the Forester are SS and I'd like a more foul-weather capable rig, but kinda gay for a .260 that would likely be quite accurate.

What say the Turdlike and Rifle-Enlightened?

This will be good before it's over...

I can tell you I have a T3 Lite and I am very happy. I did order a McMillan for it (which may be in someday) and will probably add the hardened recoil lug.

But, I have a desire for a full fledged SAKO. Probably wouldn't have to spend any extra on aesthetics, just get glass and go.

If it were me�I'd get the 260 Forester and use the extra $$ to buy glass and reloading stuff ( if you don't have it).

Any choice won't be wrong.

Just my .02

Montana's are a crap shoot. I'd go Tikka or Sako.

I'd go Tikka and spend the rest on glass. Just my opinion though.

Reno

I already have a tikka t3 and for sure after handling the rifle and shooting it am 100% sold on the tikka.....however......I'd probably have to get the sako or the Montana. It'd probably be the sako only because it's in 7/08. If the Montana was in 7/08 I'd get the Montana. No matter what your choice is with picks like those you can't go wrong.

Shod

My pick would be the Sako, I just picked up that very same rifle for my wife and its very nice!

Sako finnlight. The rest are second best.

Dink

I've studiously avoided the 7mm-08 for more than three decades, but Hell, even Petzal likes it! No good reason, just didn't want one for the same reason many poor mouth the 6.8mm O'Connor on these hallowed pages.

That Finnlight is so handy it bout makes me swoon. Would it be sacrilege to thread that pretty little barrel?

Gonna have the Tikka place make sure they ain't got a SS Lite in 7-08 in a corner.

'Course being a cheap bastid I'm tempted to just get the .308 Lite...or a .243 (& Mackay Sagebrush it) and save enough dough to grap up a Ruger American SS Compact when they come out in a couple months.

All these good choices are giving me the Yule Drools.

In my opinion (remember it's worth what you paid for it) one good Sako takes the place of dozens of Rugers, tikka's, etc. Once you find a load for it you will leave all other factory center fires in the safe.

Dink

I have considered a Finnlite many times (actually owned one once for a few days) but I just can't get by a couple big (to me) problems:

For what it costs, the Finnlite should come with a quality stock.

I really dislike the scope mount options. It's just too limiting, and the Optilock system is massive and heavy.

The barrel lengths often seem not real good to me (22" in 25-06, or 20" in 260)

Sako if the funds are there. Tikka next and I'd never have a Kimber. It's 50/50 with those Montana's.

Sako would be so far down my list it'd be off the page for reasons Whelan explained.

Sako!

I own all three, here's how I see it.

My Tikka Lite in 308 is a dream to shoot, superb trigger, very accurate with any load usually in the .3-.5 range, BUT I changed the stock and recoil pad so that brings the cost up.

The Sako finnlight in 260 is so pointable and fits great, it is accurate but more finicky with loads than the TIkka, and it was the most expensive.

The Montana in 260 is my favorite light rifle, the fit of the stock, overall weight and trigger are perfect for me. Accuracy is very good for a light hunting rifle averaging around .75 -1.0 moa with bullets in the 100-140 class.

If I had to do it over again and was presented with a choice I would not buy the Sako and buy another Tikka and great glass for it.

I'm not familiar with the Sako, but I am with the Tikka & Montana. In my hands the Montana feels sweet. I also like the ADL style stock. Tikka.......I've knocked these rifles for years. Now it's time to eat crow! pass the salt please. The rifle fits me good and truth of the matter is it would be a consideration if I was shopping for a new rifle...especially if I saw one in 260 or 6.5x55.

"I really dislike the scope mount options. It's just too limiting, and the Optilock system is massive and heavy."

Don't quite understand this comment; Sako OptiLock(ringmounts or 2 piece), Conetrol, Warne, Leupold ringmounts, Talley, S&K; seems like plenty of options to me. Have Leupold ringmounts on one M75; never moved in 10 years. My mount of choice for Sako and others is S&K; light and simple. Have Sako vintage mounts on others.

I have a fee Sakos, a couple Tikkas but no Kimbers. Tikkas and Sakos shoot great. The Finnlights have a great feel as far as point ability and handiness

My 7mm-08 Finnlight is a little finicky but 140 Partitions shot well.

Would like Finnlight in 6.5 Swede !!!!!

My Tikkas all shoot well. I have a laminate and a couple wood stocks. But the Sakos are handier.

The Tikka comes with a Sako barrel...and it isn't lopped off at 20" like a lot of the Finnlights.

Just shot this with my T3 yesterday. This is quite common with this rifle.

Is that your personal experience?

A Montana is hundreds less than a Sako Finlite which has an ugly stock and in some Calibers only has 20 inch barrels.
As for at Tika, I detest rifles that only has one action length for all calibers. Pretty ugly too. I think I'd buy a Savage before I bought a Tika ( I'd buy a Tika from 30 years ago).

Love the Montanas.

Personal experience with the Kimbers?