Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Sako 85 in 300WSM Ejection problems?

I have two 85’s. The other is a 308 that also functions flawlessly.

I had a Sako 85 Finnlight in 270WSM. Ejected shells would hit scope and often falling back into the action causing it to jamb. Rifle was sent back to Beretta and money refunded. The engineers need a kick up the $&@ for putting the ejector in that position.

How long ago was this? And I assume you purchased the rifle new?

My 2 Sako 75's have been sold one in 30-06 and the other 7mm Rem mag. Does anyone that owns a 75 experience these problems because I sure did not?

I have a couple of 75s and have had a couple others, and I have a couple of 85s. Never a problem of any kind with any of them. However, mine were and are all short actions.

I have been told this was not an issue on the 75's.

I have three Sako 85 rifles. A .308 HB target model, a 7x64 Bavarian and a .375 H&H Kodiak. The .308 is perfect in all respects. The other two both ejected cases at a higher arc than I liked. Cases would hit the right hand turret of the scope. I use duplex scope reticles so a very easy and obvious fix was to turn the scope 90° counterclockwise and the problem was solved. Actually made me wonder why all scopes are not designed to be mounted with turrets on top and on the left side, leaving the ejection port more accessible. So that's one solution.

But I like to tinker and analyze rifles. The design of the M85 extractor is a bigger problem than the position of the ejector on these rifles. They have a few thousandths of an inch too much clearance between extractor claw and the face of the bolt. This allows a bit of upward momentum to build when the loosely held case is ejected. I tried a fix promoted by others by replacing the extractor spring with a stronger one. That $5 fix worked OK and for a short time improved ejection angle on the 7x64, but I think all it was doing was grabbing the case with a little more friction on the outside of the rim. As the extractor got polished up with use, the friction decreased and ejection angle was back to " too high". Not good.

I had a skilled machinist build me new extractors with only 0.005" clearance for the cartridge rim. Three new extractor claws only cost me $50. I kept one for a spare and installed two of them in the 7x64 and the .375. Both rifles work perfectly now. Ejection is positive, smooth and at a proper low angle with plenty of scope clearance. I would now have no hesitation using my .375 for hunting dangerous game with a low mounted scope attached.

Wow, that’s pretty tight.

Just go buy a Weatherby Mark V and dispense with the irritants. Happy Trails

So Gramps2 was around back in 2007 ish when all this started... I remember both of us on some threads...

So is this really a question ?

I also remember when gramps initially had the problems. It was never a question. I think it was more of a concern and a gripe way back then. A lot of guys kind of shunned him, but why? The sako in question has issues. Hell, i bought an A7 6.5 creedmoor and it even has issues. I had to switch scopes because it ejected the spent cartridges right into the turret and fell back down into the loading port. This particular sako is slightly re-designed and has a spring loaded plunger to keep pressure on the cartridge, similar to the rem 700. But the ejector is still in a piss poor position. I dont know what the engineers were thinking when they thought it was good idea for the weird position of the ejector. Just looking at it makes you think, "boy that is fu cking stupid"....

My 85 8x57 sometimes leaves a case in the magazine box if I work the bolt back slowly. If I work the bolt hard the case just dribbles out of the action and falls at my feet. I'll have to get it looked at. But Sako definitely stuffed up the 85 model compared to the 75 model. And they don't seem really concerned or care about fixing it.

Around 3-4 years ago. And yes purchased the rifle new. I’d still have video of the ejected shell jamming the action somewhere on a hard drive.

Interesting explanation. My Sako 85 30-06 will lay brass in the mag well with slow bolt action, but will fling them clear with a regular bolt racking. All my other Sakos are similar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc2NGbq30lE&app=desktop

Hunted with a Finnlight 85 in both 25-06 and 300 WSM never had either jam, currently hunting with a 85 Finnlight in 30-06 no issues. Bought a used 85 Finnlight in 7mm-08, only had it to the range once but seemed fine. Next trip I will try and shoot and cycle it both fast and slow BUT first 3 were fine would be surprised if this one fails.

See vahillbilly response. I'd get something else.