Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Sako 85 Kodiak in 375 H&H?

Wondering if anyone actually owns one and can discuss his experience?

I am considering buying one because of the stainless + laminated combo. I am a bit worried that the short barrel might create a monstrous muzzle blast, and that it will drastically decrease the muzzle velocity, given the amount of powder that needs to burn through in that case. Also - the rifle is a touch light for the 375 H&H, how is the recoil?

Care to share your experience? Many thanks in advance -

i have a M70 Classic in .375 AI with 21" barrel and it weighs 9#8 oz all up. i suppose it would be 8#ish without scope/mounts (Leupold MK4 1.5-5X in steel Burris DD Signature rings).

the barrel length is perfect for me and the weight could be more like 8.5# all up and still not be brutal to shoot.

you will loose around 20-40 fps per inch of barrel

but the Sako looks like a nice package IMO.

I'd love to have one of the 85 Kodiaks. I've fondled it in the store but haven't pulled out the wallet just yet. The Kimber Talkeetna also is calling me.

I have a M-75 Sako in 375 H&H and it has been far more accurate than most other 375 H&H's I've had. Inchish groups at 200yds with 300gr TSX's are common. I'm sure the Kodiak will shoot just as well.

If I were headed to Alaska for bigger stuff the Kodiak or Talkeetna would be my first pre-trip purchase..............................DJ

..........I wouldn`t worry too much about any MONSTROUS blast. From my 20" barreled 375 Ruger Alaskan (which casing holds more powder than the H&H), there is no noticeable blast nor unburned powder.

Secondly, there will be no drastic reduction in velocity going down to the Kodiak`s 21.5" barrel length. A loss of 20 to 35 fps "per inch" won`t mean anything in terms of downing big game.

So that you can see similar recoil to the 375 H&H, as I owned one for years, you can go to,,,,shootingtimes.com,,,,click onto "view all" in the video section,,,,,then click onto "cartridges" towards the upper right and then find the video called,,,,,,"Big Caliber Hornady Cartridges."

Craig Boddington is bench shooting a 375 Ruger.

I have a customized Sako (older 2 lug model) in .375 H&H which (empty, no sling) weighs 7 lb 7 oz with a Leupold 3x scope.

Thanks to the nice straight McMillan stock, recoil is not bad although the rifle is not much fun to shoot prone...

I would not worry about the recoil.

John

Thanks guys - I appreciate the help. I am familiar with the recoil of a 10lb+ Ruger Magnum in 375 H&H, but I was not too sure abt a lighter, shorter rifle. I have a 45-70 guide gun with an 18.5" barrel, and it has quite a bit of muzzle blast (in part because it is ported).

Oh I can help a bit more with comparative info now!

My 7 lb 7 oz .375 H&H with McMillan stock is FAR more pleasant to shoot that one of those .45-70 Guide guns! Less blast, and less (felt) recoil.

Go for it!

John

Have you considered the 9.3's? I have a 370 sako weighs under #8 ready to go and recoil is about the same as my old 375HH in a 10+ pound rifle.

Great info, guys.

JPB - very useful comp, thanks very much! I am surprised, was expecting the opposite, this is a happy surprise.

Furprick - I really like the 9.3s, but they are quite a bit harder to find: Cost Effective Medium Bore Cartridges. I like their combination of effectiveness and low recoil. In my neck of the woods, they are all but impossible to find...

WestofPecos,

I think a great deal was because of the stock fit (for me, anyway). Those Marlin lever gun stocks really belt me in the chops!

John