Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Sako 85 vs 75

My local sporting goods store has a used 85 Finnlight in .270 on the rack and im tempted to shoot em an offer on it. Read thro some posts here and there and it seems most prefer the 75 to the 85 but i didnt see alot of reasons wHy other than sako supposedly “cheapened” the 85’s. Is the 75 a better made rifle?

They changed the extractor position on the 85's and it has been reported to cause some issues in the long action 85's where ejected shells hit the scope and hang in the port.

I did read that as well but saw where you could buy a stronger extractor spring and it would fix that issue

It's possible that you may either not have the issue or that it could be fixed. You will be screwed however if you have to deal with Beretta CS.

I own 2 Sako rifles and have owned others but I would buy an older Sako before either a 75 or 85. There's just nothing special enough about the 85's for me to want one more than something different in that price range,

I would buy a Sako 75 before an 85 and certainly the older sakos. 75's are the most consistently accurate Sakos I have owned. 7mmSTW,300WSM , 30-06 and possibly a like new 300 win mag all in stainless. People that I know personally cannot say enough good about 75 accuracy. The 85 was an answer to a question that was never asked.

Have had two Sako 75's. The Finnlight in 7-08 was the single most accurate rifle I have ever owned. However, on a pig hunt, after firing a shot, I worked the bolt to chamber another round and the magazine fell out.

I took a Sako 75 in .300 Win to Zim in 2007 as my light rifle. The scope was a first generation Swaro Z6 1.7-10x42. On several occasions, while working the bolt hard, the ejected empty hit the scope and bounced back into the action. I decided to leave that rifle on the truck and simply used my .416 Rigby for everything else.

Both 75's went down the road shortly thereafter.

I now have a Sako 85 Black Bear in .308 (short action) that is accurate, handy and reliable. There are multiple posts here on the 'Fire that document complaints by owners of long action 85's regarding ejected casings bouncing off the scope and falling back into the action.

I don't know what the Sako 85 in .270 (long action) you are looking at is selling for, but you might consider a Winchester model 70 featherweight as an alternative.

killindeer, if the rifle fits you and you like it, go ahead and buy it. I've had 3 Sako 85s, and still have a Finnlight 85 in .270. All have shot and handled great and I've never experienced any ejection issues.

As stated, there have been multiple credible reports of ejection failures with the long action 85's. I have one in 9.3x62 and another in 308, and personally have had zero problems. For the folks that have had the issue, a new extractor spring has solved at least some of the problems.

As far as 75's vs. 85's, I don't think there are huge differences between them. The 75's had the integral locking lug on the action, whereas the 85's have the removable lug. The 85 has a lockout feature on the mag which makes it far less likely to inadvertently drop. The 85's seem to be little lighter across the board.

If you can get a good deal on the 85 in 270, and don't mind replacing the extractor if problems arise, they are accurate, quality firearms.

Open bolt face to allow CRF and the lockout feature on the mag that is not an issue anyway. They should have left the 75 lug in place, much better then previous and 85 versions

I don’t know all the details regarding issues some have had. All I know is that my Finnlight is by far my favorite backpacking rifle (after having gone through a few) and has been with me all over North America without a single problem. I’ll never buy another mountain rifle.

It’s an 85.

I have some "older" Sako's and they are all excellent; but my 75 Hunter Stainless .270 is the most consistency accurate

My Sako 85 in 6.5 Sweede has rather funky ejection, usually the 3rd rounds jams, not usually an issue as I rarely get 3 shots at a deer, it is a one hole rifle with Nosler 140 Accubonds. I have a 75 Grey Wolf in 270 WSM, I haven't shot it a lot, groups good and is built like a tank, it is heavy, no ejection issues.

My 85 Finnlight 300 WSM cycles perfectly with every stroke of the bolt. It is very accurate. I don’t think you can get more gun for the $$.

I have owned multiple "Socko" model 75/85 rifles, two of the long action 85's did have the notorious straight up ejection issue and Beretta CS was absolutely useless, but the dozen or so Sako rifles I owned over the years were all reasonably accurate ( some were much more accurate than others) I guess if given a choice id take a 75 over an 85 but im not a fan of the scope mounting system on these so I wont be buying another and I was never a Sako fanboy either...I actually like the A7 better than the model 75 or 85....Good luck....Hb

Europtic has had some good prices on the black finnlight in 270 and 30/06

I have enjoyed mine. No ejection issues with either SA or LA, quality rifles.

Surprised no one has mentioned the safety. On the 75 it blocks the firing pin, on the 85 it doesn't.

The triggers and safety mechanism appear to be the same.

I like the older L-61’s. Are the 75’s better?

I did own a 75 Finnlite, it was stainless and I found it to be very accurate (it was a 270 wsm) .... however I never warmed up to the synthetic stock, and sold it.
Since that time I regretted my impulse ... I should have just spent the coin for a McMillan replacement stock, but there it is.

Last summer I purchased one of the 85's in 30-06 from EuroOptic (hell of a deal at $900)
This 85 does have the ejection issue, but everything else is excellant....and it is a shooter!

The bottom of my (inexpensive) scope does have nicks from ejected brass, but otherwise the rifle is a delight.

I a 69' Corvette "better" than a 2000 Vette?