Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Sako 85 Finnbear

I'm toying with buying a new wood and blue Sako. Originally was looking at Bavarians, but have run across some of these Sako 85 Finnbears. I can't find much info on them as they aren't listed on Sako's website.

From Google I've learned Cabelas had a special run of them, but are now sold out. If they were only a Cabela's exclusive, I'm not sure how other vendors would have got them?

I cannot put my hands on one locally so I was seeking feedback from any forum members who may own one or have held one. How does it compare, fit and finish wise, to the Bavarians? Any thing about them that you don't like?

The price is right- you can find them online for as low as $1300 bucks. I did want a set trigger, which it appears they don't come with, but I can get over that. I like the idea of a 7mm with a 22" barrel vs. my other 7mm's with 24" and 26" barrels. I also think I'd prefer the stock vs. the more European style of the Bavarians too.

Gunbroker link. The listing says 24" barrel, but I called and confirmed it's 22.4".

Sako 85 FinnBear

Thank you for any feedback.

They are good rifles in general. They may be a bit on the heavy side. There are some reports of ejection problems with long action 85's. You will have to work with the Sako Dovetail mounting system which may present some unique problems with some scopes but works pretty well with most. Even without a set trigger,I can't imagine you not being able to adjust it to a hunting weight that suits you. It should easily adjust to under 2 lbs to over 5.

Looks quite nice, I would have thought 22.4" would have been a typo but that's what is listed on the box. I wouldn't be afraid of running a 7mm RM with a slightly shorter barrel and I have to say that is a nicer configuration than the Bavarian model.

Buddy of mine has one in 300 win mag. I have shot it and it's a fine rifle with no ejection problems that I could tell and pretty accurate as well.