Home Forums Hunting & Shooting The Lefty Forum Sako Bavarian LH

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.

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'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!

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.

I have a LH Bavarian in 270. Nice rifle in all respects, no issues. Rec’d many compliments on it.

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.

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

I received an email from europtic last week promoting sako with several LH models listed.......
Pretty pricey stuff....
.

I checked again...
No LH models in stock.....

Michael Murphy & Son out of Augusta, KS has a bunch of LH Sako's listed on www.gunsinternational.com

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.

Murphy's is pretty much MSRP pricing.

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.

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.

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.

I'll not argue cosmetics but a T3x is approximately ⅓ the price of a Sako 85.

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.

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.

If the 85 is available in an short action and 308 win I'd love to have one someday.