Does anybody have a Sako 85 in 7RM or 300WM ???

I am considering purchasing one, but have heard a lot about ejection problems on the 30-06 based rounds.

I believe I have read that the magnums and short actions don't have the problem.

Please post your experience with a magnum Sako 85

Thanks!

Might I suggest getting some action proving dummies to try in the rifle of your choice to verify function? If trouble rears its ugly head, don't buy it or send it back.

From previous threads about this it's clear that once you own it, you're stuck, as Beretta won't lift a finger to resolve the trouble. They prefer to blame the customer.

Personally, I'd buy an old Finnbear.

Pappy still has a Sako 85 stuck up his arse.... Like a roid.

It's mostly some long actions that tend to kick up into the scope, if you put a scope with a flat turret block on it right over that spot then it could have a problem.

Odd thing is that only about 30% of long action guys have the problem, and about 2% (same % of whiny people in the world) need preparation H to fix the solution.

I have two long action Sako 85's, one of them does it if Ipull the bolt back like a 5 year old girl maybe 1 out of 15 times... My short actions don't have the issue at all.

I've never had any problems with my Sako 85 in 7mm RemMag. It's dropped two elk, deer, and other assorted critters without the need for blue tape, $1000+ optics or special bedding. Looks beautiful besides.

You could say Pappy has pre-ejection problems....

But he's to old for that.

I don't have a 85 magnum but since you mentioned the '06 based action I thought I would chime in. I just got a LH Hunter 30-06 and it feeds and extracts perfectly, much better than my old L 691 in fact. Only one 85 but it is doing really good, have medium Leupold mounts and Burris scope which came off the old gun.

I have two medium action m 85's, 6x42 Luepolds mounted as low as possible and have no issues at all.

It really depends on the scope you have mounted on it. I had a problem with my 300 WSM/VX-6 combo. I traded the scope out for a Swaro and no problems since. The VX-6 has large wide scope cap that was catching the brass on the way out.

Thanks everyone. I am feeling more comfortable.

I have Sako 85's in S, M and L action lengths. None have ejection problems.

I have never personally seen one that does.

Dink

The problem isn't ejecting, its the direction of the spent case - upwards. I've seen the windage turret cap get struck by the case which can knock it back down into the loading port. Higher mounts lessen the chances. I had a .204 that was wickedly accurate but I rotated the scope 90* counterclockwise to eject the cases.

As others have said, Sako/Beretta will ignore your complaint. Their CS says if the case ejects without the scope, it meets their quality criteria.
You've been warned. Good luck.

I have owned new/used Sakos since the mid 80's all but one were long actions and never an issue.

Thanks bigwhoop.

I guess I am going to play it safe.

I don't doubt what others are reporting. This points to some change in the ejector/extractor configuration over the years? My 85's had the ejector right in the middle of the action - which kicked the brass in an upward direction while the extractor was pulling it out. I also saw empty cases causing more of a problem than a live round. I guess the bottom line is to ask if your gun shop will allow you to experiment with live and empty cases.
I'd proceed very cautiously.

And you seem to be uncommonly interested in my "nether regions", which by the way are fully functional, thank you very much, despite my advanced vintage. By the way, it's "too old", not "to old". If you're (not your) going to be impertinent, at least get your (not you're) grammar right.

I'm a huge Sako fan. I just think that when a customer has a real problem with a product, they should respond with something more helpful than "GFY".

Whelenaway,

I have a couple of 85 in .338 and .375 without any chambering/ejection issues at all.

If you are still concerned and if you can put your hands on the rifle before purchasing it you can cycle through a few dummy rounds to verify.

Regards,

Ive also,got an 85 in 300 winmag.
With a swaro z5 in optilocks.
Never any issues. Best rifle Ive ever owned.

I have owned a pile of model 85's.... 1 chambered in 300 WSM, 3 in .308 Win, 3 30.06's and a .270 Win.....2 had the ejection problem that worries you ( the .270 and one of the 30.06's) and it's true that Beretta will hang you out to dry and will not fix the issue, however I don't think the long magnum action length's have this problem so good luck.....................Hb

I had a 75 in 300 WSM that would eject the brass upwards and hit the scope causing it to fall back into the action. I loved the rifle otherwise, and was able to find a scope/ring combination that worked acceptably. I believe that it is an unavoidable consequence of the 3 lug design in both the 75 and 85. I suspect that is why the factory optilock rings are so high. I would never buy another Sako for this reason. Other people love the Sako's, obviously, and I am sure they will tell you all about it. This is my one and only experience with the rifles. Definitely not a significant sample size.

so the 75's had this issue as well?

Both 75 and 85 had the issue. The one piece Optilock mounts put the scope low enough to cause problems sometimes. I've had issues with 270wsm, 270 win and 30-06 hitting bottom of scope on ejection. My 7mm RM has never come close to hitting. My 75 in 30-06 doesn't hit but I've read of others having clearance issues with 75s.

I personally had a 85 in 270 that had the issue. We also sold a few 270's and 30-06's that all had the issue -- every single one.

We've also sold several rifles n the 308 and 300 Win Mag family. To the best of my knowledge, they all function perfectly. I've personally never seen one with the issue in either of those action lengths.

My 300WSM has the problem. Ended up with High rings and a 50mm Leupold (due to shorter scope caps than some other brands) before I got things working. This is not how I originally wanted to set this gun up, but I tolerate it because of the guns incredible accuracy.

That's the reason I sold mine, I couldn't live with the high rings, I couldn't get a good cheek weld....Plus I'm not a fan of the Sako clamp-on style scope mounting system and the Optilok system has got to be the heaviest, bulkiest scope mounting system I know of............Hb

I have 260, 308, 300wsm and thankfully never had any problems. I guess the 3006/270 has the most issues. Again I don't have first hand knowledge but a new extractor spring from Brownells is said to cures these issues. Sako will never acknowledge the issue.