Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Sako concerns and scope thoughts

I have been sticking a few bucks away for a 30-06 Sako Finnlight. About 2 weeks ago my wife and kids surprised me for my 50th birthday with enough money for the gun. The next day I went to the sporting goods store and ordered one. I also picked up a 1.5X6 Nikon Monarch Gold. I was planning to get a Leopold LPS but its is only available in 2.5X8 and the Nikon was as good with regards to light and clear glass. Note: We hunt in very heavy cover in northern Minnesota for the past 35 years and I have yet to shoot anything over 100 yrds. You just can't see any further than that. So the 1.5 is more important than the 8.
Now that you know the back ground I really just have 2 questions.
1) Did I make the right choice with the scope? I need the lower power but did not expect to walk out with the Nikon. It does have a lifetime warranty and that is how long I expect to keep it.
2) The most important question is will this Sako ordered December 19th fall into the group of Sako's that have blown up? If maybe, how do I find out for sure?
Thank you all in advance.

That's a bummer to have to worry about the Sako. If my wife ever bought a Sako Finnlight for me, I definitely would make her shoot it first. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

personally im a leupold man but from what ive seen of nikon optics the scope should do what you want to do but as far as the finnlight goes i have just been in the same situation my hunting mate and i just bought finnlights in 270wsm,apparently any suspect guns have been recalled and if your gun is a while away you should be save (no gaurantees though)

The ones blowing the barrel (there have been several all over the world) seem to be the ones with the stainless barrel.
There is no recall, Sako is stonewalling it.
Full info is on AccurateReloading.
Good Luck!

I can't speak for the Nikon but I have a new Finnlite in 308 that I bought early in 2004. The suspect rifles were few in number and they were stainless and made between dates early in 2004 and mid summer. I would hardly believe they are still shipping rifles from the bad barrel batch to the public... Somebody who would think they will ship you a recalled gun to shoot isn't thinking very clearly...certainly not clearly enough to be carrying a gun.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Apparently they had some problem with the stainless steel in the barrel. Sako or Baretta was great to deal with...I called them and they returned my call the same day. My local gun store had a bad one in stock and they fed ex next day a replacement to him. Everybody has a problem now and then....even you know who.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> As for the Sako, I wish I had more of them....it is absolutely the finest shooting rifle I have ever laid my hands on and box stock. The rifle is light to carry and I love detachable magazines. If they made the Finnlite in 223 or 22-250 I'd be buying one of them for coyotes but the other stainless models they have are to heavy for my liking. Good Luck with your new Sako....I believe you will never look back once you shoot that beauty..... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

What ever you do do not shoot it before you have the sn checked. There has been no general alert by Sako, or the NRA. When it goes, so do your left hand fingers.
Good luck!

Oh really!
You better read up on the situation. One fellow called Tikka with a rifle he KNEW was on the recall list, and the first person he talked to at Tikka told him it was OK TO SHOOT. Realizing he had a knucklehead on the line, he hung up and called back and was told that his gun was on the recall list and to NOT SHOOT IT! If he'd have taken the first idiots advise, I hate to think what might have happened.

I also read of a fellow sending his Sako in, that was on the recall list, and Sako replaced it, WITH ANOTHER RIFLE ON THE RECALL LIST! He finally got it straightened out.

I seriously doubt that Beretta/Sako/Tikka are ACTIVELY shipping defective rifles, but I don't doubt they're being run by a bunch of knuckleheads, which is why they got in this mess in the first place.

I'd be VERY careful with a new one.
I have no way of knowing if the posts above are true or not. I have no reason to doubt them, so I'd just be careful.

I was happy when They told me my 300WSM Finnlight wasn't on the list. I was sure it was, it shot way too well not to be a fluke. Hopefully I will be chasing Elk with it in 2005. I still need to find a better recoil pad for it.

SPAD

I had my 30-06 Finnlight recalled. They sent me a brand new gun in a couple days. They also let me keep the original clip and scope mounts, so I now have spares. Last week I received a Beretta folding field knife in the mail with a letter stating it was gift for my inconvenience. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

My original gun was a MOA shooter with Remingto 180gr. Ultra Core Lokts, and slightly better with Federal premium 165gr. boattails. The new gun is at least as good, if not better.

I have a lot of guns in my safe, and the Finnlight is my current favorite. I have a Leupold VXIII 1.75-6e with Conetrol mounts on it. It's great in the woods of Northern New York, and also perfect out to 300 or so yards, which is my personal range limit. Your Nikon should be just as good.

By the way, I took a Moose at 228yds, and a Caribou at 78yds, in Newfoundland with the gun before it was recalled and replaced. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I recently purchased a stainless synthetic 7mm stw. I called and received confirmation it was not on the recall list. I also sent an email and received an email confirmation it was not on the recall list. The second load I tried in this gun put 3 into 1/2". It has smoothest bore I've ever seen from a new gun including some high end stuff. Suffice to say, I am very happy with this rifle. Frankly, being the inherently selfish person that I am, I was hoping the problems Sako has had would result in a glut of these fine rifle being on the marke and dropping in price! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />Unfortunately, it hasn't happended yet. I'm still searching for a synthetic stocked 300RUM (they are no longer making the big magnum calibers). I believe you will find the rifle to shoot as well as any you've owned. As for the scope, my experience is these are indeed "gold." My only criticism is they seem to be a touch heavier than the leupolds/av swarovski I like so much.

OH REALLY!!!! and where does all this info such as "this guy said" and "I heard this guy" and "I read of a guy" come from...THE INTERNET...certainly a source for the whole truth and nothing but the truth. AND SOME GUY KNEW HIS RIFLE WAS ON THE LIST... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" /> You even say you have no way of knowing if the posts are true... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> I can only tell you that my gun shot very tight groups...tighter than I thought I could shoot anymore. I found it hard to believe there was a problem...and I was told it was ok on 2 separate occasions. That is a fact cause I did it myself. Knowing a little of the law, I can tell you that the liability that Baretta would come under for shipping a known defective rifle would be astronomical....actually...if you were to survive the kaboom...you could be close to having your own rifle company. That being said...it would be hard to prove that someone verbally gave you the wrong information and so that would cause me to double check for a so called "knuckle head." A written email advising you to shoot would be as solid as a gun shipped after the recall. I wouldn't worry about a new rifle shipped now anymore than I would worry about a lightning bolt striking me in a snowstorm... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> What I would be careful about is what you read... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> That venting over....I DO LOVE MY SAKO....AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Lucky for you!!! You can't believe how hard it is to find a spare magazine and how expensive if you find one. I was kind of hoping mine would have went back and I would have been able to keep the magazine and get a new rifle. I think the new ones now have gotten rid of the optilock system.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Such was my luck with the 308 though....a perfect specimen... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Glock 29,

I know what you mean. That's why I asked about keeping the clip and the rings. Often, if you try hard enough, you can find something good in an unpleasant situation. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I'm glad you like your gun. I love mine. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I have 2 Finnlites, a 300 WSM and a 270 Winchester. I called to check the serial number on all of my Sako 75's and none were in the recall. I've shot several hundred rounds through both of them. Here's a sample of how they shoot....


Here is my 270 Winchester Finnlite at 300yds with 130 grain Triple shocks....



In decent wind this rifle usually shoots bugholes at 100yds.

My 300 WSM at 200 yds with 180gr Failsafes - a bullet not known for match accuracy....



This rifle has shot several similar groups at 200.

I'll bet that your 30-06 will shoot just as well. If you choose to use the opti-lock rings you will be able to get by with the low rings even with a 50mm objective. I really like to Opti-lock rings for the M-75's. They are a little heavy, high for 40mm scopes and expensive, but they don't scratch your scope, return to zero when taken off and don't slip even with heavy scopes.
There have been a few problems that are being handled. I think that about 3/4ths of the bad stuff that you hear on the internet are from people who don't know all the facts, never have owned a Sako and/or have a grudge for some reason against Berretta. Double check to make sure that your Finnlite isn't one of the ones recalled, and then enjoy one of the finest lightweight rifles you'll ever shoot......DJ

First, I would contact Sako and find out for certain if your rifle falls in the recall catagory.
Second, I understand your reasoning for the 1.5x when shooting in the north woods of North MN. I would not second guess your choice of scopes as the Monarch is a fine scope. Now, go out and get profecient with your new set-up. That is after you get clarification that your gun didnt fall in the recall.

Yup, sure is a hoax! These pics were posted on AR. They're doing maintenance on their forums right now so you can't go there to read the thread these pics were on.

Anybody can get a bad lot of steel. What's shocking is Beretta is trying to keep this quiet, no public announcement of a recall. Only way to find out about this "problem" is through the internet. How many more have to be hurt because Beretta wants to play secret squirrel?

TT, I've seen those pictures and pics of a couple others. There's no denying that a few rifles had Catastrophic failures but I think that they know the cause and have been tracking down the affected guns. Berretta is basically handling it like the car manufacturers to which is to contact dealers and individual owners. I agree that it would be better if they took out adds in all the major magazines.
Hopefully these problems will soon be left behind them and no one else will be hurt. Sako has had a top-notch reputation of quality and workmanship I hope that 1 problem won't overshadow decades of quality work. I own several M-75's and all are well made and shoot extremely well I think other people if they try them will think the same............DJ

Glock29; Read these posts before you shoot your fingers off
( and not just your mouth)
Good Luck!

DJ, even though I posted those pictures, I would still think hard about a Sako as a choice for a new rifle. I know that Sako's are fine rifles, as are the Tikka.

The internet has a way of blowing things all out of proportion, I account for that whenever I read things like that.

However I still don't think they handled it properly.

irv...I wasn't disputing the fact that there was a bad batch, i've seen the pictures, ive checked my rifle, ive read all the posts i've seen.....not quite understanding your point.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Good Luck to you also....