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

Jon Glajchen said:

Sako Vixen A1 with a custom Lothar Walther barrel in 6x45

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Great rifle!

Jon Glajchen said:

Custom Sako Mauser 98 in 300H&H

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She's A beauty!

After my first hunt in Tanzania in oct/Nov 1989( when I was on the other side of the table) I decided I wanted a 300 win mag ..I had used my steyr ssg rifle in 308....I wanted an African type rifle so looked at what was available...I decided on a sako safari...so asked Paul to get me one...he got back to me and unfortunately they had stopped making them in 300 but had the finnbear in that cal...so I said OK get me one...( bit of a detour but my nickname for my son when he was born was finnbear...as its his name and he growled a bit )....unfortunately it didn't come with iron sights....so I asked Paul to fit them and claw mounts with a kahles 2.2-9×42 scope and a barrel band sling swivel...when it was finished I picked it up and flew back to where I am from....I took it to the range and shot it....I was like what the fk....it had the worst recoil of anything I had fired...including a 416 rigby with a droopy thin original brno stock that was evil....I put it in the gunroom and was a bit pissed off as I thought I had made a big mistake....then after a couple of weeks my brain bulb went off and said to me have it restocked the same as your rigby 416....so sent it back to Paul and he did it....totally changed it to a pussycat.....reason why people say make sure the stock fits you....its a bit worn in places..blueing gone ,and stock has a few dings...but its getting on a bit... ...finished by J Rigby &Co on floor plate.....

spike.t said:

After my first hunt in Tanzania in oct/Nov 1989( when I was on the other side of the table) I decided I wanted a 300 win mag ..I had used my steyr ssg rifle in 308....I wanted an African type rifle so looked at what was available...I decided on a sako safari...so asked Paul to get me one...he got back to me and unfortunately they had stopped making them in 300 but had the finnbear in that cal...so I said OK get me one...( bit of a detour but my nickname for my son when he was born was finnbear...as its his name and he growled a bit )....unfortunately it didn't come with iron sights....so I asked Paul to fit them and claw mounts with a kahles 2.2-9×42 scope and a barrel band sling swivel...when it was finished I picked it up and flew back to where I am from....I took it to the range and shot it....I was like what the fk....it had the worst recoil of anything I had fired...including a 416 rigby with a droopy thin original brno stock that was evil....I put it in the gunroom and was a bit pissed off as I thought I had made a big mistake....then after a couple of weeks my brain bulb went off and said to me have it restocked the same as your rigby 416....so sent it back to Paul and he did it....totally changed it to a pussycat.....reason why people say make sure the stock fits you....its a bit worn in places..blueing gone ,and stock has a few dings...but its getting on a bit... ...finished by J Rigby &Co on floor plate.....

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Tack Driver?

Beck said:

Tack Driver?

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Seems to do OK ....bonnet of cruiser moa

spike.t said:

Seems to do OK ....bonnet of cruiser moa

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I love it!

spike.t said:

After my first hunt in Tanzania in oct/Nov 1989( when I was on the other side of the table) I decided I wanted a 300 win mag ..I had used my steyr ssg rifle in 308....I wanted an African type rifle so looked at what was available...I decided on a sako safari...so asked Paul to get me one...he got back to me and unfortunately they had stopped making them in 300 but had the finnbear in that cal...so I said OK get me one...( bit of a detour but my nickname for my son when he was born was finnbear...as its his name and he growled a bit )....unfortunately it didn't come with iron sights....so I asked Paul to fit them and claw mounts with a kahles 2.2-9×42 scope and a barrel band sling swivel...when it was finished I picked it up and flew back to where I am from....I took it to the range and shot it....I was like what the fk....it had the worst recoil of anything I had fired...including a 416 rigby with a droopy thin original brno stock that was evil....I put it in the gunroom and was a bit pissed off as I thought I had made a big mistake....then after a couple of weeks my brain bulb went off and said to me have it restocked the same as your rigby 416....so sent it back to Paul and he did it....totally changed it to a pussycat.....reason why people say make sure the stock fits you....its a bit worn in places..blueing gone ,and stock has a few dings...but its getting on a bit... ...finished by J Rigby &Co on floor plate.....

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She's A true beauty! Love the patina on her.

I’ve been successively disappointed with each generation of Sako rifles since the 75… the 85 was a fine rifle, but I felt had lost some quality compared to its older brother. Rock bottom was hit with our purchase of x2 90 Adventures not long after their launch - these are our “estate” rifles and so have the camp rifle role of Africa here in Scotland.

After nearly two full seasons they look considerably worse for wear than the Tikka T3x’s they replaced that were 5 seasons old. Stock and metalwork finish just isn’t up to the professional rigours that all other Sakos have been in my career. A great shame as I’ve always been a great fan and still am of the Tikka line. I think considerable corners have been cut with the 90, and I know another 2 people who think the same despite much less use than our rifles.

I think the successor for me will likely be one of the new Steyr rifles, which I’ve been very impressed with.

realsamthompson said:

I’ve been successively disappointed with each generation of Sako rifles since the 75… the 85 was a fine rifle, but I felt had lost some quality compared to its older brother. Rock bottom was hit with our purchase of x2 90 Adventures not long after their launch - these are our “estate” rifles and so have the camp rifle role of Africa here in Scotland.

After nearly two full seasons they look considerably worse for wear than the Tikka T3x’s they replaced that were 5 seasons old. Stock and metalwork finish just isn’t up to the professional rigours that all other Sakos have been in my career. A great shame as I’ve always been a great fan and still am of the Tikka line. I think considerable corners have been cut with the 90, and I know another 2 people who think the same despite much less use than our rifles.

I think the successor for me will likely be one of the new Steyr rifles, which I’ve been very impressed with.

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I have also not heard good things about the 90's. Hopefully they'll get that cleaned up.

Sako L61R AIV Safari Grade, chambered in .338 Winchester Magnum

Bonvivant said:

Sako L61R AIV Safari Grade, chambered in .338 Winchester Magnum

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Thats a special one!

thoma018 said:

Loving these Sako's. what can one offer on aftermarket stocks for L61r action ? Other than Boyd's I'm not finding any stocks for the older "Finnbear" models. I thought Bell and Carlson had an offering but they tell me there A7 will not fit the L61r action (375 H&H). Anyone have a suggestion ?

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An L61r action and "Finnbear" are not synonymous. Nevertheless, McMillan makes stocks for the AV iteration. You can also contact Accuflite Arms. The have wood stocks and also a stock maker that makes stocks out of Kevlar and other materials that I can't recall.

spike.t said:

After my first hunt in Tanzania in oct/Nov 1989( when I was on the other side of the table) I decided I wanted a 300 win mag ..I had used my steyr ssg rifle in 308....I wanted an African type rifle so looked at what was available...I decided on a sako safari...so asked Paul to get me one...he got back to me and unfortunately they had stopped making them in 300 but had the finnbear in that cal...so I said OK get me one...( bit of a detour but my nickname for my son when he was born was finnbear...as its his name and he growled a bit )....unfortunately it didn't come with iron sights....so I asked Paul to fit them and claw mounts with a kahles 2.2-9×42 scope and a barrel band sling swivel...when it was finished I picked it up and flew back to where I am from....I took it to the range and shot it....I was like what the fk....it had the worst recoil of anything I had fired...including a 416 rigby with a droopy thin original brno stock that was evil....I put it in the gunroom and was a bit pissed off as I thought I had made a big mistake....then after a couple of weeks my brain bulb went off and said to me have it restocked the same as your rigby 416....so sent it back to Paul and he did it....totally changed it to a pussycat.....reason why people say make sure the stock fits you....its a bit worn in places..blueing gone ,and stock has a few dings...but its getting on a bit... ...finished by J Rigby &Co on floor plate.....

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Dang! That stock by Rigby, and the iron sights makes it look a LOT better than the original. And the years of use has put a beautiful patina on it.

I've always liked Sako rifles. I've thinned my working collection a bit in recent years and what's left are the current favourites:
M85M Bavarian 7x64
M85S HB/Lam/Stainless fast twist .223
AV Classic w/custom barrel .35 Whelen
AII Deluxe .308
L579 Deluxe .308
AV Finnbear .25-06
85L Kodiak .375 H&H

My Sako L61r, modified with a fiber optic front sight and white centerline “running boar” rear by NECG. Also with a period correct Weaver 1.5-4.5 in original Sako rings.
She handles nicely!

This is my Blackbear in 9.3x62 that I foolishly tried to sell on our forum last year. Thankfully, none of you responded for a couple of weeks and I took it down. Thanks fellas.

I think all my Sakos are AV actions.

375 Safari - buff and elephant
338 Win. Safari - brown bear, polar bear, moose
308 - lots of plains games and more. Many miles on this rifle for deer.

Those safaris are great rifles. Push feed but I have never had a problem.

270 lefty deer gun for my son
22ppc single shot I've never really used and should get rid of. Weird caliber.
TRG 41 338 Lapua. Never really used and should get rid of. Very heavy

I never did post the results of my Sako AV rehab.

Sako AV from the mid-80s
Bartlein Barrel 24”, 1/8 twist
McMillan Game Warden
Timney Trigger
Chambered in 300 H&H

1 in 8", VERY fast for a .308 cal.

Daryl S said:

1 in 8", VERY fast for a .308 cal.

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I was thinking about chambering with a long free bore to use Berger 215s and not bury them in the case. But ended up deciding I didn’t want to single feed. In any event the barrel is accurate. Still in load development.