I have a Sako AIII 30-06 I just picked up and was toying with the idea of making a custom from the action. I don't see many guys using Sako actions though so is there any drawback to them, weight..?

Thx, Bill

Lots of customs done on Sako's............very good quality & functional but a bit heavy compared to Rem but comparable to a Win M-70.

They don't have the aesthetics of a M-70 or a Mauser for a custom but make a very solid & functional rifle.

Action Weights

MM

The cost of making a Remington action compared to a Sako action shoot is about half the difference. Go with the Sako action.

I did one and have no regrets at all. This is in my live varmint rifle. It really works out well.

Only drawback (if it really is one) is that they are heavy. From the steel flooplate to the trigger; the whole ball of wax. Lotsa stuff guys add to other actions so they are all steel.

Not bad things....

If I had an AIII right now, I'd not toy!

Two of my favorite customs in the safe are on old small Sako actions.

I would like a Sako based custom a lot more than the ubiquous Rem model 700 action 10 to 1. Better extractor, smoother function, all steel. The 'different' factor is a plus to my thinking as well.

I say go for it.

I've done several on Sako- 75.. Yep they are heavy that's the only drawback I see.

ML

I recently built my 338-06 Ackley Improved off a Sako m75 Greywolf (IV Action). I love my Sako rifles and this just adds to the collection.

Plan to do another off a Sako 75 action next year.

I'm not too big on -06's and this gun has a few more dings than I like so something's going to happen to it. A 35 Whelen or 9.3x62 might be an option where the weight wouldn't matter much.

I built a custom on the 591M action. It will hold down 5 .308 cartridges in the magazine, and feeds very smoothly.

For a full blown custom I would suggest a CFR Mauser or Win M-70 if you intend to sell it...I like the old L series sako actions real well but reserve them for varmint calibers..

My 6x45 is a L-461 series Sako, and one of my most cherished rifles. It has killed its share of African Plainsgame, Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Coues Deer and Texas Whitetail along with a ton of varmints from Rockchucks to Coyotes.

I built my 257 Ack Imp on a LH Sako action and stocked it in a Fajen Laminate Stock.

Sako are "the" factory action. No Remington compares.

As is mine. It's a rework, with a Hart barrel in .222 and a Lone Wolf Stocks Summit stock. Makes for a truly wonderful light rifle.
If my house ever burns, that's the thing I'll grab when I run outside. Family and pets are on their own...

Elder or all Sako L 61 R actions make excellent custom rifles.

A 35 Whelen would be a nice upgrade. As would any 300 mag.

I've had a 75-III tricked by a UK smith in 7-08. It started out in life as a Finnlite and this is how it ended up.

It has a Lothar Walter 22" x 1-9" twist 1400 profile barrel (magnum sporter), Accuflite bolt shroud to get rid of the 'key concept' thing, bolt fluted, Tactical bolt knob, McM Sako Varmint stock pillar bedded, NEAR rail and Rechnagel rings.

I worked up to this load using 46.5 Gn H414 which gave 2850fps with 140 Gn Accubonds/ Fed GM210M primers, Norma 7-08 brass at 25 thou off the lands.







I am now using 40.5 Gns RL15 at 35 thou off the lands and it groups better than this but about 100 fps slower, which is not a disadvantage to me, as I prefer accuracy to velocity for my hunting in southern England.

T260

Tikka260,

Very nice indeed..Can I ask you who the British 'smith is?

PM his name if you prefer...

Regards,

Peter

PM sent

Ya'll still got rifles in the UK? I had heard that such was pretty difficult. What do you hunt for there?

Very nice shooting, BTW.

Yes, we have rifles, and with some considerable attention to the absurd regulations and whims of local police forces, it is possible to own rifles, shoot and hunt. Handguns are a different story and it would need book to describe that particular piece of idiocy.

Personally I 'hunt' , manage both Roe Deer and Fallow Deer, and I am able to do so within the Law for 12 months per year. There are also available in season Red Deer, Muntjac Deer, Chinese Water Deer and some Wild Boar in various localities.

I am pleased with the 7-08, it is a great calibre for the uses that I put it to, sweet to shoot, and as accurate as the Mutt behind the Butt can be.

The Sako action is smoother now, and IMHO a good basis for a semi custom build.

The reason you dont see many guy's making custom's with a Sako AIII is because they quit making the A series about 20 years ago and the L series at least a decade before that, but in my mind were some of the best factory action's ever. they are a bit heavier than some but only by an oz. or two.
The only thing's that makes a Rem 700 more popular for a custom build are that they are much more accessible (still in current production). The 700 is round making it much easier to true in a lathe (they also need more truing). the biggest reason is the trigger design, every aftermarket trigger company makes a 700 trigger, every benchrest trigger is based on this design.
If you want to build a custom rifle you have perhaps one of the best factory action's ever, McMillan makes several stocks and a competent smith can make the trigger very good along with the rest of the project.
If people dont like a custom Sako it is only for two reasons Ignorance or jealousy.
B

Funny, most Sako owners are happy 'out the box' and never fool with barrel swaps or stock changes. If Remington's were THAT good and consistent, why do so many get modified?

I'd rather roll my dice on a Sako, and shoot as is, that's just me. BTW, I have owned dozens of 700s and a few 7s, not to mention 600s. Rem was a 50/50 proposition IME but Sako, EVERTIME shot great, w/o mods. That convinced me.

The only thing I might do to a Sako '06, is re-bore it to a 338/06, a round I have used and really like, much more interesting to me than the boring (no pun) '06.

As to using for a project, a Rem might be easy to true due to round design, but FWIW I have been told, many/most Sako's don't need truing. They are very good out the door, and don't often clean up much.

Tikka260
Did you do anything to the receiver? It looks like there are some lighting(?sp) cuts in it. Do you have any close up pictures? What was the weight savings? Thanks

The ovals have been cut in the action to remove some disfigurement, with no intention of weight saving. Here are a couple of close ups .

Thanks. That is a sweet setup.

Here is my custom .300 Win Mag on a Sako 75 V action - it was built by Patriot Arms.

Another Pic:

Remingtons are great because it is so easy to replace all the parts with good ones.

Bruce

Bruce, what you say is true, unfortunetly for the Sako, good parts are not available to replace the bad ones.
Butch

As much as I'd like to do it I can't pull the trigger on the custom. I like the older Sako's in original form more than a custom I think is what it comes down to. I have an older L61R 338 Mag that I'll be using and have put the AIII up for sale as the 35 Whelen or 338-06 only come close to the mag anyway.

I'd really like to build a 6.5x55 on an L579 action someday but that's another story.

Thx, Bill

Yes. With the early Sako factory inside-the-bow magazine release and a Model 70 style 3 way safety.