Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Picked up a Sako A7

I picked up a Sako A7 in 308 at Cabelas. It has a stainless 24 inch fluted barrel and what looks like a Bell & Carlson stock. I picked up a pair of Talley fixed rings and steel bases and mounted up a Vx3 3.5-10x40 CDS. I didnt have the patience to load up anything specific but had some 308 loads with 150gr TTSXs and H4895.

The rifle comes with stock spacers that came in handy since the stock was a bit short for me. I fired two 3-shot groups at each sticker at 100 and got groups around 1 1/2 inches for all six shots. I moved out to 200 and groups didnt open up a whole lot. Groups were under 2 1/2 inches.

Its a really comfortable rifle to shoot. Ive never shot much with a stock that had a palm swell. Im thinking that if I load up some ammo specific to the rifle that it might be a real shooter.

Anyone else have one of these?

That sounds like the sako rough tech

From looking online, thats what it looks like.

How Do you like the stock? Someone complained about the geometry and club like feeling of it.

I have the plain black stock blued rifle in.243 from Cabelas shoots great killed a couple very nice whitetail bucks a bunch of does and 1/2 dozen antelope .85 grn partition RL15 or 17 . is what I use

I have the similar Sako/Cabela's A7 Varmint: 24" fluted cm barrel, B&C aluminum bedding block stock, dbm, easily-adjustable trigger; a bit "plastic-y", but overall a nice walking varminter, coyote, or deer rifle package. Unfortunately, the jury is still out. Shot ok with factory ammo at first, when I started handloads later it wouldn't group after first two shots. Recently tightened down scope rings - which helped some - and now can get three shots that might touch, BUT I have to wait at least 30 minutes between each shot (hot day) or they spread dramatically.
I'm now wondering if barrel material quality was compromised by Sako for these specials to cut costs, or the barrel fluting process screwed up integrity (temper?) in some way. The warranty runs out next week, which might bring up another issue: who handles warranty work on these rifles, Cabela's or Sako? I may be about to find out; sure hope someone does!

Sako be the warranty have you checked torque specs on stock

What load are you using?

Tried loosening and tightening action screws; tighter helped some. Thought barrel might be touching after heating up, but can still slip a doubled-over dollar bill between warm barrel and stock.
Have tried varmint bullets: 65 & 87 gr. V-Max, 70 Nosler BT; Varget, RL 15, Benchmark. Plus factory Win. 58 gr.plastic tip, Hunting Shack 75 V-Max, FP 70 NBT (best so far, including handloads?!) Think a slower-burning powder would help, or make things worse for warm-barrel accuracy? Rifle's job description is knocking down coyotes and longer-range groundhogs, so flat trajectory and accuracy are important, and don't really want/need more bullet.
Thanks for any tips.

So far, I really like the way the rifle feels. I normally prefer a more open grip but this rifle feels great. Ill have to get some pics up.

Incidently, another guy at the range had one in 25-06 that wasnt grouping well. After we messed with it he decided to switch out the factory bases and the rifle began to group very well.

Mine didnt start out great but I've had rifles not shoot great at first with a clean barrel. As it fouled, it began to group quite a bit better.

Are the rings that came with it like the ones on the tikka t3 I always switched mine out to Talley rings

No, it come drilled and tapped with aluminum weaver bases. I switched out the bases with Talley steel bases and fixed rings. The A7 can use the same bases as an A-Bolt.

I have this rifle (cabelas big game sako a7, stainless 24" fluted barrel, etc) chambered in .270 win. I'm getting 0.6" three shot groups @ 100 yds with 130 grain fusions. I really lIke this rifle, but it's not super light. I removed the weaver bases that came with it and installed talley lightweights - mounted a conquest 3-9x40. Seems to be a great set-up for stand hunting whitetails here in TX. I happen to like the stock w palm swell despite some complaints from others that it's not real trim.

That's sweet. Nicer stock than the original version.


I bought an A7 300WSM when they first came out(still have it).

Love the trigger, action and barrel, cycles cartridges ultra smooth.

That they are.

My only complaint is that as big as the rifle is,the magazine only holds 3 rounds and still doesnt fit flush.

But single stack mags feed sooooooo nice 😊

I have the same rifle, but in the 3006 .... The only problem that i have with it, is that it puts the bullets in the same hole.... and I haven't even loaded for it yet.
I also got rid of the aluminum bases and put Leupold bases and rings. I don't find it to be a club and i don't have big hands. It's well balanced and pulls up nicely. I don't mind the 3 shot mag .... I feel if you can't hit in three out of a bolt gun .... you probably are not going to hit it.... 3 strikes... your out.
Been thinking about loading up some 125's and some 130's on top of re15....

My hands are pretty big, and the stock feels great to me.

The forearm feels great, and I really like the palm-swell.