Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Tell me about the Sako Finnlight

I want a lightweight rifle. The Finnlight, the Forbes 20b, and Kimber are all within a few hundred dollars and a few ounces of each other. The Forbes 20b would involve a long wait. The Kimber seems to have as many detractors as fans. So what about the Finnlight? Who has one? How do you like it?

Should I get one, or should I just get a Tikka T3 lite for a third of the costs and about 6 or 8 ounces heavier?

I have one in 30-06 chambering. Quite accurate, pleasant to shoot and carry. If you can handle the price they are a great gun in my opinion.

Jim

I had a 75 Finnlight in 300WSM. Should have never sold it....

The Tikka would work for you also, but its not near the rifle of the Finnlight.

I have a one in a 25-06, wife has a 7-08 and my dad a .243...I think they are great quality rifles and they fit us perfectly. The newer rubber coated stock is nice as well with the off centre palm swell and raised cheek piece...no need to replace the stock anymore with a McMillan.

How do they differ in terms of performance?


P

I have an 85 in 300 wsm. Smoothest feeding rifle ever. Good ergos. good fit and finish. Extremely accurate. Hard to beat

Don't they have a one inch accuracy guarantee? That is nice.

The stock is just injection molded no? Is it nice?

Sako 85 Finnlight 300 WSM

Accurate, weighs 7 lbs scoped, has had two custom stocks, looks stylish. They come with an injection molded stock which is tolerable. It won't need to be replaced unless you simply feel like it. Mine shoots the same no matter which stock it is wearing.

It would be my next choice again if I am tempted to buy another rifle. But, I have no reason to do so.

I'm thinking of selling nearly everything I have. I'll just rebore my FN 98 30-06 to 9.3x62, and sell off everything but my AR, AK, SKS, Garand, and some .22s and shotguns. Then, I'll buy a Finnlight or something like that in .308 or 7mm-08 and call it good.

It is just flat stupid having all these deer hunting caliber rifles that never even get taken out of the safe. Tweaking loads and the like just doesn't interest me anymore. I want something that shoots and shoots very well, is easy to carry, and will hold its value.

Sounds like you need a Finnlight!

Thats what I did, sold off the extras to get it and down to one big game rifle.

Well you mentioned 3 rifles, two of which are less expensive than the third and the first two come with great stocks. While I like the Finnlight, $1500 with a plastic injection molded stock is not Nirvana to me. Slip it into a nice McMillan edge and it would be perfect, of course that makes it a $2100 rifle. So a Montana or a Forbes for less than $1300 that doesnt require any modifying is a much more viable option to me. Though all 3 are fine rifles!

You can also look into the Tikka Superlight and the Cooper Excaliber, which will be about the same weight as the Sako in short action calibers. I've owned two 75's, still have a 75 and an L579. All are good guns with various pluses and minuses. I suggest handling and looking closely at all of them before making a decision.

The Finnlight is not lighter than the Tikka, they weigh the same and the sako costs twice as much. Both come with plastic stocks, so I am not sure where they figure the cost.

I don't like the closed top receiver on the Tikka. Yeah, it is a minor thing, but the natural way for me to carry a short light rifle is for my hand to go right around the receiver and for my thumb to go right under the scope. I can't do that with a Tikka. Is that worth a $1000? I don't know, but I'm not sure I would be completely happy.

I have a 75 finnlight in 270 wsm, 85 Grey Wolf in 300 win mag, and Tikka T3 Light in 22-250.
The Tikka is a great rifle and I love mine, but nowhere near the quality craftsmanship and feel of the Sakos.
Don't get me wrong, Tikkas are great, but you can tell they are on a different level of quality.

I have a good collection of Sako's and like them a lot. Two years ago I decided I wanted a short action,7mm-08 "lightweight " rifle for stand hunting and walking. There was no doubt it would be a Finnlight. In my search for one, I came across something in a pawn shop I had not seen at that point; a Weatherby MK V, 6 lug, Stainless Carbine, 20" barrel and bought it. If you see one, buy it; though they are rare. Lighter than the guns listed above and mine shoots. I put it in a Mcmillan Sako Classic stock and it is 7lb 1oz w/ scope and S&K rings. Don't overlook the 6 lug action Weatherbys; even with longer barrels than are lighter than most people realize and can be found at almost Tikka prices.

I have two finnlights, the 300WSM M75 for bear, and the 7mm08 M85 for deer. 7mm08 is under 7 pounds with a 1-5X Leupold. I just got a plastic hunter model in 260 for silhouette. I may get a 260 M85 Finnlight and sell the 7mm08 to have less brass. A M85 varmint in 223 would also be cool. It would be great to have only 6 or so calibers. Great triggers that are easy to adjust to two pounds, I also like the idea of one type of safety, and I like the Sako magazines.

Have a Black Bear, which is nothing more than a glorified black Finnlight with Recknagel sights. Ugly utilitarian gun, but it is pure perfection to carry and use afield. If the Finnlight fits you, they are outstanding. I for one am a fan of the factory soft touch stock. They handle great, are light, are strong, and the gun is insanely accurate. Had a nice M70 with a McMillan Edge technology stock, and as nice a stock the Edge, it would save little to no weight, would be no stronger, and would be no more accurate. For me, choosing the Sako boils down to fit.

Like boots and backpacks, you'll know if you like the fit or not when you mount the gun.

Best

Man I handled the BB at the last the EuroOptic booth and it will be one of my next guns. It felt great in the hands. I think that and .222 would accent my First year V action 300 WSM nicely and round out my collection. It feels amazing in the hands.

I just couldn't warm up to the soft touch two-tone finnlight stock and didn't want to wait on a Forbes 20B, so I bought two tikka Superlites. Both shoot and handle great...7lb scoped and very satisfied. The finnlight would most certainly hold it's resale value better than the Tikka's I predict. I see a 20B in my future one of these days, but I would not trade/sell my tikka(s) to get it.