Yesterday, I stopped by a gunstore to look at the Sako 85 in person. It felt great etc. but this particular gun had a stuck magazine. I couldn't get the release lever to move, and the salesman couldn't either. He said he would have to send it to the gunsmith.
I know that shelfwear at a store is tough on any brand, but am just wondering if Sako owners have experienced any problems with their purchase, any tips you could give us to look for?

Stray Dog, if I am understanding you correctly that is the function of the new magazine latch. You have to push up on the magazine and then push the release. My 85 in 25/06 shoots great and functions fine. I did have a feeding problem and Beretta got a newly designed magazine for me and it will feed empties now.

You do realize with the 85's you have to push up the mag. at the same time you hit the release, in case you didn't know.

Same thing happened to me until I learned how to do it and it works.

Thanks guys,
No, I didn't know and when the salesman didn't know either it made for an unimpressive gun experience.
Also, it looks like the cheek piece has a joint, is it adjustable?
Are there anymore tricks I need to know before I look at another 85?

I'd forget about the factory mounts and rings and use Warne one piece. Warne 75 pieces fit the 85.

I disagree, I think the optiloks are excellent mounts and rings, the screws are apparently alittle soft but I did not have an issue putting mine on. I have never had a problem with my 85...and it does take some getting use to when removing the magazine.

I too much prefer the Optilocks and use them on my Sako's..................DJ

+1 on the Optilocks and I also have several sets of the Leupolds and they are good but I try to keep my Sakos all Sako if possible.

Having to push up on the magazine while engaging the release is an engineering design to prevent accientally dropping your mag. This is one of the improvments over the 75.

Note: I have a 75 and have never had an accidental release of the mag. I can see how the new and improved release is a good idea though.

+1, I've never had an accidental mag release on a 75 either but it worried me enough that on one hunt I duct taped the mag just to be sure. Probably not needed but the 85's method gives just a little more peace of mind. It's a more secure Guns-Salesman resistant magazine drop..............................DJ

Love mine, Finn light in 300wsm. Don't care much for that "joint" in the cheek piece, though. I believe the purpose is to isolate your cheek from recoil. I have also heard that it is so the same stock can be converted from right to left hand.

+1 I have taken scopes in and out of optilock rings multiple times with no problems. I tossed that allen wrench sako provides and went to Lowes HOme imporvement and bout a carbon steel allen metric wrench and have zip problems.

How do you guys feel about the Fin-Soft recoil pad, does it absorb a lot of shock? Any desires to change them out for a Decelerator or LimbSaver?

earlier this year i too was looking at an 85 and the same thing happen. i casually tried to remove the mag, but couldn't. a sales guy tried and couldn't. he passed the rifle on to another sales guy, who couldn't. said they were going to send the rifle back for repair. my guess would be the salesmen didn't know what they were doing.

Ditto Optilocks! Really like the new magazine design! No problems with my 85 .308 Finnlight! Not crazy about the stock, so McMillan is dropping mine in an Edge. I have culled a lot of rifles, but the Finnlight is where I stopped. The Sako 85 will be my primary 'do-all' for around here. 130gr TTSXs will rule the roost here in Sweet Home.

I bought a spare mag for my 75 when I got that rifle...........pricey!

Wow, if I had a nickel for each rifle in my safe purchsed under the exact same logic. "I swear honey, this is the 'one perfect rifle' that'll do-it-all. I really need to build it so I can simplify the safe."

I did just that...all I have to use for hunting is my Sako 85 30-06.

The greywolf laminated is nice and the factory pad could easily be replaced with an aftermarket pad.

However, I really like the looks of the contoured recoil pads on the stainless synthetic. Do these contoured pads do a good job?

The pads on the sythetic ones work, but they are alittle hard for my liking. I have been talking with Limbsaver to see if they are going to make a pad to fit the sythetic stock since they are so different.