Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Sako 85 Non-Optilock solutions

The ones that simply clamp on the dovetail? Ouch.

My Sako’s ( all my other rifle too) keep zero much better since I abandoned the Leupold mounts and switched to the Talley mounts. I don’t like the big knobs on the Sako mounts. The optilocks don’t look bad.

If you must use this style base, drop a piece of led shot in the hole before installing the set screw. The lead shot will prevent the set screw from marring the checkering.

Edit: mispoke above. Was referring to ringmounts in my post (“extra-low”), sorry. The “lows” arent neccesary until you get up over 42mm somewhere. Was distracted by a giant huckleberry icecream cone melting on a late summer evening.

I like the 1-piece optilocks, and I liked the Warne premier series a lot. I’ve used leupolds and have no real complaints (but I only used them on the little A1 so there was no recoil to deal with).

I won’t use any mount that uses a separate base on a rifle with integral bases.

Yeah those are the culprit. Sako streamlined the bases this year although no dealer has them in SS yet. The fact they don't mar a scope tube on a very expensive scope is another very nice feature.

That makes sense .

Better yet,throw the set screw away. It only prevents the tapered dovetail from tightening under recoil and doing its job.

S&K mounts is another lightweight option. There bases are tapped on with a hammer..

Have used these on several different medium lenth action sako 75/85 and never had any issues.....

I have looked at the S&K and they look nice, but I would prefer to make use of the integral mount dovetail (without a separate base) if I can.

Does anybody know the height of the low Optilock one-piece?

I found a real cheap $50 set of two piece dovetail picitinny rails for my Sako 75 Finnlight last year at SWFA sample list. I tried them out just for fit and they hammered on and off real nice with a wood block.

I really like DNZ one piece mounts on my Tikka’s. One piece makes a lot of sense.

Do you recall who made them? Were they Burris or Valdada?

I always use Leupold Sako ringmounts in low. Never had any mark the checkering as it doesn't touch it. Nor have I had any move. I just removed some Sako Optilock ringmounts on a Sako 85 I bought and installed the Leupold ringmounts. Why? Because the Leupold's are lighter and lower. I always lap the Leupold ringmounts which is one thing you don't have to do with the Optilocks.

I bought the 75 used, it had the rings attached, when they were removed the checkering was dinged. So either the previous owner did not attach them correctly which I doubt or they do somehow touch.

I don't remember them being Valdada. I do know that I had looked at some of those before but couldn't get them for some reason. What I bought on the samplelist may not even have been labeled,but they are two piece picatinny in stainless.

They are pretty low. A 40mm scope looks very nice with the 1' lows. I would expect either to accomodate a 44mm scope but not a 50mm. I know that the 1' won't work with a 50mm objective. I have also used a 42mm scope on the 30mm ringmounts and it fits very well. I have never wished for lower mounts with the one piece Optilocks. They are for sure lower than two piece Optilocks.

The Leupold Ringmounts may be slightly lower,but they don't have as good a clamping system to the rail as the Optilocks do. The Leupold base screw won't tighten just anywhere on the Sako dovetail. They will have to be over half way down the rail on either end before they will get a hold..

Thanks RH.

I plan to use a 1" tube 40mm objective scope on this rifle.

Here's some 1" lows with a Swaro 3-10x42. Part number S1701900.

I have two Sako M-85's, one in 30-06 , the other in 9.3x66.

On the 30-06 I have used Leupold ring mounts with no issue.

On the 9.3, due to 338Win Mag type recoil, I have broke the rear mount twice. Leupold reimbursed on both occasions.

On the rear the tapered dovetail puts enough stress on the cross screw to break it, the screw was torqued to manufacturers spec's.

Another issue with one should be aware of is the front dovetail is tapered but not parallel to the rear dove tail, its placed somewhat diagonally to the rear one.

This means when the ring mount on the front is not exactly in the middle position, as in placing the ring mount to fit a certain scope, it skews the scope left or right depending if the mount is forward or aft of the center point on the dovetail. This requires the scopes internal adjustment for windage to be left or right by degree in relationship to the distance from the center point on the front dovetail.

Two issues with this, the front and rear ring are not in alignment (with obvious issues), a Leupold ring mount with no stud to fit in the slot on the rear, will allow the rear ring mount to creep up thus breaking the cross screw.

The Sako system alleviates these issues.

No further issues with these rifles once the Leupold ring mounts were changed to Sako opti-loks.