Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Refinish Pre-Garcia Sako at Hill Country Rifles or not?

I'm really leaning towards red...

What he said^^^

Because mcwoody's are an abomination! ....I'd rather have a beat to hell walnut stock.

Red would be good! But--Brownells lists the red only in the D752, Medium, 1". You'll need to measure your butt to see which size will fit. Remember, the Pachmayrs have a steel insert that can suddenly appear while you are grinding away if you haven't calculated accurately. NEGC might be your only other alternative. Closest to the original look would be a .80 Brown, but of course without the godawful slots. A black pad, except for maybe .50, is too modern looking to my eye for the Finnbear

Beretta made a limited run of Sako 'classic' pads a few years ago while they were already tooled up to make the 50th Anniversary Cabelas's rifles that also used the original style pad. You might be able to find one on the Sako Collectors forum. If I had a pre-Garcia Sako, I might change out a crushed pad out but that's it. Go much further and you risk ruining what you have. No need to tinker with vintage Sako's that just have some character marks.

I had a similar issue with a pre64 300 huh. I had it put into better than new condition and then discovered I didn't want to use it..just to pretty. Then came a sako I had used a great deal and it was pretty worn and scratched up. But this time I steamed out the dents, gave it and the barrel a good cleaning and covered in Renaissance wax. Looks like a hunters best friend now

Got one of those Finnbears. 270 and it has taken many deer. Bought it new in 1962 from Al Beisen. Bill Vowels, his metal work man jeweled the bolt and mounted a 2 1/2 x 7 Redfield in lo rings. It will put 5 of its' favorites under a dime at 100 yards if I don't mess up. Load, 150 gr spire point at 3.326 OAL. 51.8 grains IMR 4350 and a CCI magnum primer. WW brass. (I use the magnum primers cause I hunt in some cold condx. -15F one successful day)
The only thing I would do to it is replace the butt pad one day.

Nothing wrong with your idea at all. I love the looks of the Cabelas Special run of Sako Finnbears. It's pretty much what you described.