Any Sako rifle fans on AH? Let's see them

I've owned the pictured Mannlicher style 30-06 for 40+ years. I've made many memories and taken countless whitetail deer with it.

I just picked up the pictured Classic style 30-06 in the last few months and deer/bear hunted with it over the last month. I was not fortunate enough to get a chance at a whitetail or bear with it (yet).

I have to say, I've owned several Sakos' and never owned one that doesn't shoot right out of the box.

One point to note is that I have not bought any that were manufactured after the 1980's either.

LET'S see and hear from you on your Sakos'!

ftrovato said:

I've owned the pictured Mannlicher style 30-06 for 40+ years. I've made many memories and taken countless whitetail deer with it.

I just picked up the pictured Classic style 30-06 in the last few months and deer/bear hunted with it over the last month. I was not fortunate enough to get a chance at a whitetail or bear with it (yet).

I have to say, I've owned several Sakos' and never owned one that doesn't shoot right out of the box.

One point to note is that I have not bought any that were manufactured after the 1980's either.

LET'S see and hear from you on your Sakos'!

View attachment 733864

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What happened after the 80s?

farmer_john said:

What happened after the 80s?

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I dont know if anything happened. But I've not shot one and cant speak to quality of fit, finish or accuracy.

My 375 h&h is an old sako av that was my grandfather's and it shoulders like a dream

CO_mtnman said:

My 375 h&h is an old sako av that was my grandfather's and it shoulders like a dreamView attachment 733869

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Nice setup! Leupold 2x7 Compact?

L461 Vixxon in .222 mag

Sako Black Bear

ftrovato said:

Nice setup! Leupold 2x7 Compact?

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Thats exactly what it is

SAKO AV .338 WM

Sako 85, Grey Wolf, .30-06 in my Avatar!

I have 4 Sako 85's. My favorite hunting rifles!

I like my Sako's

The rifle in my pic is a Sako .375H&H. Sweet

Own a few. One thing to note, My 375 H&H locked up solid (not hunting - sighting in) turns out its a fairly common problem with the spring inside the ebolt guide. Got mine upgraded just glad it didn't happen on a hunt. You can Google it. A guy in AK has a bunch of springs so he sent me one.

farmer_john said:

What happened after the 80s?

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Grunge.

@greyfox, I have not heard of this 'lock up"...tell me more....what Sako model ? Is the designe different or has been changed in other modes ? What is an "ebolt guide" ? What constitutes an upgrade..a new spring/a stronger spring/ different coil number ? I have a Sako L61r in 375 that I am refinishing/working through...would like to address any potential problems before they occur.
Thanks

CO_mtnman said:

Thats exactly what it is

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My favorite scope. Wish I bought several of them back in the day!

At the ranch, so cant take any pics, but i love my Sako’s. All pre 80’s, .222, (2) .243’s, .270 Deluxe, .270 Mannlicher, 308 Finnwolf lever, .300 Win Mag, maybe a couple more, all are incredible shooters

eyedok said:

At the ranch, so cant take any pics, but i love my Sako’s. All pre 80’s, .222, (2) .243’s, .270 Deluxe, .270 Mannlicher, 308 Finnwolf lever, .300 Win Mag, maybe a couple more, all are incredible shooters

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Like to see them. Take pics when home and your schedule allows.

I can speak a bit regarding the new school. I’ve been nothing but pleased with my 20” Barrel Sako 90 Adventure in 30-06.

The fiberglass stock and cerakoted stainless steel is as weatherproof as expected. I was hunting in poor weather this fall with alternating snow and rain in the high country of Idaho. My Sako got soaked on an evening hunt, as pictured. I dried it as best as I could in my tent, and the next morning connected with the pictured mulie at 260 yards. He was aware something was up, and was trotting away. I tracked him in the scope, adjusted my lead, and dropped him with a single shot. It was a remote and difficult open unit, and I love venison, so the mission was any legal buck. Mission accomplished.

This rifle shoots many different loads to nearly the same point of impact, and accuracy is outstanding. Load development was super simple. My rifle likes the 175 Gr Barnes LRX, which it gets to 2712 FPS with 54.5 grains of H4350. Not bad for a 20” barrel, although I do shoot it suppressed.

The action is smooth. The trigger adjustment mechanism is awesome. The integrated rail made scope mounting easy and rock solid and allows the scope to be mounted nice and low. The adjustable cheek piece helps with perfect cheek weld and eye alignment with the scope. The mag is detachable but can be top fed while attached. It’s a super rifle from top to bottom IF you are ok with giving up controlled or semi - controlled feeding with prior Sako actions. It’s a true push feed that so far feeds and ejects 100% perfectly. It’s also more of a tool than a beauty queen, that’s for sure.

It did come from the factory with action screws that were quite loose after a few shots. They have held tight since then. The fit of the tang to the stock is not perfectly flush. Those are my only complaints.

I have just bought a second hand Sako Vixen in .222 trying to relive my youth when the same make and model was the only rifle I owned.
I shot close to 100 Sika and Red deer in NZ in the late 70's and early 80's.
No wonder my knees are now titanium bolt on replacements, all the deer were carried out of the ranges to the road end.
The stupid scope has been replaced by a sensible VX11 2-7 Leupold.