Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Sako 85 (or other suggestions)

My model 85 Finnlight in 30-06 is my most accurate rifle. Outshoots my40X Rem. bull barrel. Previously had a model 75 that got sent down the road. I found it to be too heavy and accuracy not sufficient. This might have been related to a rebarreling job by the former owner.

I never regreted spending the money on the m85. Course you might get one that doesn't perform at the same level and be unhappy. Seems to be a case of spending your money and taking your chances.

Jim

You should be able to find a quality AIII/AIV/AV between $600-$800, and nobody can argue with teh quality/value for money in those LR61 descendants. I picked up a 338 AIII for $700 and have NO complaints whhatsoever.

Hi Swampman,

Yes they are worth the price. When you have the chance to visit the manufacturing plant you understand the price better.

Exemple: bolt is made from a forged steel block, handle included and no it's not microfusion but forget steel. Receiver is made from a block of high qualitu steel, 5 sizes of it are available to match the cartridges.

Barrels are made from the highest quality of steel available, hammer forged they are thermicaly stress relieved, chamber is then cut. Every barrel (every one) is controlled by air gauge and human eyes buy real masters at that game.

Note that, when the barrel steel bars arrive at factory, some samples are taken, deep drilled and tested to managed destruction, to control the quality of steel. Mass spectrometers and electronics microscopes are used too. If one sample is not good enough the whole batch is send back to producer.

Once the rifle is assembled all (all) are pressure tested (euro mandatory) shooting three cartridges with more than 30% over pressure. Then each of the rifle is shot for accuracy.

Number of shot depend on the magazine capacity and goes from 3 to 6 depending of the caliber.

Accuracy must be equal or less than moa, 29mm circle diameter at 100m. These are made by man, no machine here, imagine the shooters at the end of the day!

If accuracy is no good (very very rare) the rifle goes back to the master gunsmith.
Ammunition are Sako cartridges of the caliber.

When the proofing is done rifle is cleaned, serial number is put on and the product is ready for delivery.

On the Bavarian stutzen model, stock is made by a german master craftman. Other are inletted in Beretta owned stock making factory in Italy with better quality wood, oiling and polishing takes a lot of hand job.

Just to gve you an idea: Sako produce between 55000 and 70000 rifles a year Tikka included. 2012 will be a very good year production planned to break that number a bit. Not Remington by the numbers but far above from quality point of view. Don't bash Remington i own some! Just to say...

So if you want one don't hesitate, buy it.

Dom

I like Sako,own a couple and will probably own more at some point.Having said that,the guys doing the barrel sampling and destruction testing and the guys testing at 30% over pressure must have been out sick when Sako let all thoes stainless barrels go out,that had to be recalled.

They are good rifles but they can produce dogs just like anyone else.

Your not selling the golf cart are you ?

I wish I had one.

I found a Model 700 Classic in the classifieds here at a great price so I guess I'll just stick with what I know for now.

BTTT

Cabela's has a sweet 85 Finn Bear exclusive, but it's pretty pricey at $1900.

Careful that dink buck could fall outta the back!!

That's the one I'd buy but they are illegal to use where we hunt.

On the Finn lite, don't the recent models have a new, better stock?

Swampy,
Writing Frog and several others brought up some very salient points about Sako's, particulary the action and bolt sizing being based around the cartridge dims, instead of a two sizes, (either a long or short action) fits all approach. IMHO, the hardest part of becoming a Sako owner is getting past the price point of some of the more desirable models.
YMMV,
BD

There's no question my Sako's would be the last rifles I'd ever part with. They exude quality.

Sako's are hard to find unless you want a Finnlight or Bavarian. Been looking for an 85 hunter, not too many out there. Where are you looking Swampy?

Why not get a mint Forester or Finnbear? Save some coin and marvel at the quality.

Swampy,
PM sent on a M75, Finnlight, 30-06.

I owned a Cooper 52 Custom Classic in .30/06 that was built to my specs with all the bells and whistles. I waited 19 months for delivery. I later sold it for more than I paid for it.

The reasons I sold it were:

1. It was quite heavy for a .30/06.
2. The safety does NOT lock the bolt. If the bolt gets bumped by a branch during a stalk, it can open and eject the chambered cartridge.
3. To load it, you must remove the magazine. You cannot top load it through the ejection port.
4. Accuracy with factory ammunition is, of course, variable. Mine was load picky. The one hole factory test target was shot with handloads @ 50 yards. They do not give you the recipe for their test load.

I have found the new Winchester Model 70 Featherweight by FN to be an extremely smooth, well made, accurate hunting rifle, perfectly proportioned for the .30/06 cartridge. One of those with a Swarovski Z3 scope is all you need in an '06. Highly recommended! I would pick that combo over a Cooper any day.

When the 85 Finnlight was first introduced it had a different stock. At some point, they switched over to the ST (soft touch) which is much nicer than the original stock, IMHO. The original stock is functional, but I find the surface to be too slippery and the way the cheek-piece attached to be chintzy. I replaced mine with a McMillan. If anybody is interested in the original stock (short action), I'd make them a deal on it.

It it were me. I would buy a Sako 85 with pride! I would not buy a Kimber ......Once bitten twice shy I guess