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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,570
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,570 |
Are the Sako's as good as the reviews say they are? I am considering a LH Bavarian or an 85 Hunter as my next rifle.
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,915 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,915 Likes: 1 |
I've always had my eye on the 85's, but no actual experience with them. What caliber are you interested in? If Sako is anything like the Tikka's, I'd expect good things from them.
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Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 17
New Member
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New Member
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 17 |
I've shot a friend's right handed 85 hunter which made me want one. Excellent rifle with great fit & finish. Good luck finding one. If you do, grab it or pm me!
Last edited by VOLhunter; 05/06/21.
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,570
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,570 |
I've always had my eye on the 85's, but no actual experience with them. What caliber are you interested in? If Sako is anything like the Tikka's, I'd expect good things from them. I would prefer one in 308 but would seriously consider a 30/06. There are a few available in Canada right now so I dont think getting one will be to much trouble. I see some have open sights and some dont. I would only be interested in the model with open sights.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 158
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 158 |
I have a LH Bavarian in 270. Nice rifle in all respects, no issues. Rec’d many compliments on it.
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 15,895
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 15,895 |
I've always had my eye on the 85's, but no actual experience with them. What caliber are you interested in? If Sako is anything like the Tikka's, I'd expect good things from them. They are 2-3x higher than the Tikka (made in the same factory) but can't say they are 2-3x better. The fit, finish and metal work might be nicer. I looked hard at one last month but couldn't do it as I already have a Tikka in that caliber.
There are 2 rules to success:
1. Never tell everything that you know.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 495
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 495 |
The GOOD(Mostly Subjective):
- Incredible fit and finish - The Bolt, love 3 lugs with Sako style extractors:) - Accuracy, My 85H in 270win digests almost everything well. - Mag system is very intuitive.
The BAD:
- IMHO anything that uses the word or phrase "PROPRIETARY" almost, always means more expensive. Sometimes in means somewhat better. I could do without the Optilock system all together. I do find that it works well.
Not many bads.... I have my 85 hunter topped with a Swaro Z3 3-10 and feel like this combo is classic, balanced, and entirely effective to any range I have any right to take an ethical shot on large game.
YMMV
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,361
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,361 |
I received an email from europtic last week promoting sako with several LH models listed....... Pretty pricey stuff.... .
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,361
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,361 |
I checked again... No LH models in stock.....
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 15,895
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 15,895 |
Michael Murphy & Son out of Augusta, KS has a bunch of LH Sako's listed on www.gunsinternational.com
There are 2 rules to success:
1. Never tell everything that you know.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 495
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 495 |
Is that the same Outfit with all the Finnlight 2's on GB? If I could swallow the price on one of those Finnlights..... I might try one in a LH 308. I justified the expense on my 85 Hunter do to the exceptional piece of wood somebody at the factory screwed it to. As a side note I think they sent me the wrong stock because it has to be two full grades higher then advertised.
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,662
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,662 |
Murphy's is pretty much MSRP pricing.
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 15,895
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 15,895 |
Yes, that's the same outfit. I looked at one of the Finnlight's at the Tulsa Gun Show but just couldn't pull the trigger on it. If I didn't already own a Tikka 260 Rem I would likely have bought the Finnlight I looked at in that same caliber.
Last edited by OSU_Sig; 05/10/21.
There are 2 rules to success:
1. Never tell everything that you know.
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 49
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 49 |
Tikkas don't have the same quality, fit and finish as Sako’s. The bolts aren't as nice, stocks aren't close. Will a Tikka do everything a Sako will, absolutely. For me, Sako 85 LH rifle will be a gun I will never sell. I've bought and sold several Tikkas already.
Last edited by Bri_guy; 07/08/21.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,652 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,652 Likes: 2 |
Sako 85's are perhaps the nicest off the shelf rifle you can buy. Fit and finish is awesome and the quality of the wood is always a step up from any other brand. Have owned a few Sakos and a bunch of Coopers. The current Sako 85 is a better buy than a Cooper Custom Classic and Sako has much better wood quality over the base wood Cooper uses.
Full disclosure, I am selling a LH 85 in 270 Winchester.
My biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my guns for what I told her they cost.
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 15,895
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 15,895 |
Tikkas don't have the same quality, fit and finish as Sako’s. The bolts aren't as nice, stocks aren't close. Will a Tikka do everything a Sako will, absolutely. For me, Sako 85 LH rifle will be a gun I will never sell. I've bought and sold several Tikkas already. I'll not argue cosmetics but a T3x is approximately ⅓ the price of a Sako 85.
There are 2 rules to success:
1. Never tell everything that you know.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,652 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,652 Likes: 2 |
A economy car can take you anywhere a Mercedes or Lexus can. Just depends on what you want to hunt with. A hunter could easily spend 10's of thousands of dollars on a custom hunting rifle and doubt if the custom would out shoot a Savage.
My biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my guns for what I told her they cost.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 495
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 495 |
I run my 85 in the Field as it FITS ME better then most and for ME that is a huge deal! I am getting picky in my old age.... as stock fitment is as important as stock fit and finish. Luckily for my body type & LOP needs the 85 works about perfect. Oh Yeah and the stock has a great fit and finish too. IMHO it was worth the increace in price.
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Joined: Jan 2021
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 1,961 |
If the 85 is available in an short action and 308 win I'd love to have one someday.
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