Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Sako 85. Talk me into or out of.

Found a couple of Sako 85 Hunter models in a shop not too far from me. Available in 260 and 7mm-08. I'm thinking hard on the 7-08 although I'd prefer a 6.5x55 or 7x57.

For those that have them....can I get the scoop? How is yours in accuracy and function? What's is yours chambered in? I've read about the ejection issues. Some have an issue while others seem to work fine. Thoughts?

I've had several, all long actions, never an ejection problem, and all great in the accuracy department.

If the price is right, and you want it, buy it.

I have a Sako 85 9.3x62. I’ve also heard through the grapevine about ejection problems hitting the scope, but I’ve never had a problem. I have a fixed 6X42 Leupold in optilock rings. It shoots ¾” groups @ 100 yards with factory Nosler Partition Safari Ammo with 286G NPs.

If you can get one at a decent price I say go for it! You can always sell it on the fire if you dont like it..I have owned several Sako rifles over the last 35 years (591, mod 75 and 85's) and i cant remeber one that didnt shoot MOA or better but I had a bad experience with Beretta's chit CS over the ejection issue on a brand new Mod 85 Finnlight .270 Win and i never did like Sako's heavy (way too high) clamp-on Optilok scope mounting system but these rifles do have their fan base and you may love one......Good luck 👍....Hb

Have not seen anyone reporting the ejection problem on a short action.

I think I'm going to make the drive to go look at them in person.

Thanks for the input guys.

I have two 85 Finnlights currently, a 300 WSM & 308 Winchester. Both cycle perfectly, shoot accurately & carry very nicely. Both shoot one hole groups with my loads. I love the functionality of the 85’s. Nary an issue after over 500 rounds.

This. The ones I have seen guys complain about on line were medium length actions with low mounted scopes.

Go for it if the price is right.

Never owned one of the newer models, but the L-61’s are great. I’ve owned 20 or so through the years, all very accurate.

Ok I will talk you into buying one, just remember they like company, you might want to get both!😁

I had one in a 300 wsm that bounced every cade off the scope and back into the action. Even with higher rings. Luckily my friend managed the store I bought it at so I return it.

Bb

Yeah it dont matter how high you mount the scope if the spent case ejects straight up like my model 85 .270 Win did. If the shop will let you I would strongly advise that you run a few rounds through the action to check function..good luck....Hb

I've got a Sako 85 Black Bear in .30-06. Even though the ejector is at the 180 degree position, the angle of eject is not 90 degrees straight up. It looks like its somewhere between 110 and 120 degrees to the right. I've got a Trijicon Accupoint mounted in low Optilock rings and I am not getting any hits on the scope or caps. My scope, however, doesn't have any big knobs on it. If it had big target turrets, that might be a different story.

If I work the action slowly, I can manage to not eject the empty out of the action at all, with or without a scope. Working the action in a normal manner and I've not had a single ejection issue.

I have a Sako 85 in 6.5x55 and it’s probably my favorite rifle. It is 5 in 1/2” accurate and is very smooth functioning. I can make empty cases fall back into the action if I work the bolt slowly and try to catch the empties at the bench. In normal use I’ve never had a problem. I have a 2 1/2-8 VX3 mounted pretty low on it. Weight is about what I consider normal for a hunting rifle and all-day manageable for an adult male in any kind shape.

It would take me about 3 seconds to buy that .260. Probably less for the 7-08.

I couldn't talk myself into the 260 or the 7-08. But I did find a stainless hunter model in 30-06 and ordered it. Dealer expects it to arrive sometime next week. In the event that the empties bounce off the scope and land in the ejection port. Rather than deal with beretta, is it something that a good gunsmith could fix?

Whittaker's. Give them a call.

My 85 Sako 7mm rem mag will.not eject a single shell without hitting the scope. Tried different scopes too. No dice. Love the gun though

Shop told me if it does this; bring it back and they will take care of it.

Nice Sako's; but beware of the Finnlight "synthetic" stocks. They will turn"sticky" and Beretta will not do anything for you. Which sucks