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

Any rumors that Sako stopped making great rifles in the 1980's are ill founded. Of my most accurate rifles, four of the best are all Sako or Sako based rifles.

• Sako Quad in 22lr - This is a custom rifle built by GA Precision and was one of only 49 built in a series for Euro-Optik. It has a Lija bbl and McMillain A5 stock.
• Sako S20 in 243 - A factory rifle that shoots like a custom. The best shooting centerfire in my possession.
• FF CT Edge built on a Titanium upgraded version of the Sako 85 action with carbon wrapped match bbl in 7mm/08. Super light.
• FF CT Edge also on a Titanium Saako 85 action in 7mm RM. Another tack driver.

• I have one more Sako, a Model 85 in 338wm. This one has proven to be very ammo picky but does shoot a couple of factory loads to about 1 moa which is not bad for a hunting rifle. It is the only one in my collection that is not a tack driving lights out shooter. Would likely benefit from reloading.

One comment about the Sako 85's - Much has been written about the so-called design flaws of the fixed ejector employed in the Sako 85 action design. It is not as terrible and the gun writers would have you believe. Unlike a Remington 700 push feed style action the Sako requires you to pull the bolt back with enough speed to punch the empty brass out with authority. If you just ease it back slowly, it will not always eject as it should. This requires the shooter to adapt to the design of the rifle. It is not an issue. The original 85 has the ejector blade striking from the bottom of the bolt which can toss the brass out at a more upward pointed angle. Some say this can cause the brass to impact a scope with larger windage turrets? I cannot comment other than to say, it has not been an issue in my rifle. What I have noticed is that the ejector blade is very short and requires one to yank the bolt back hard so that it kicks the brass out. If you fail to cycle the bolt all the way back to it's stop, you will also fail to eject the brass. It is that simple and not that different from any Mauser 98 style ejection.

The CT Edge rifles are clones of the Sako 85 and I do know that the ejector blades on those are angled more to the left which punches the brass out angled more to the right in effort to make it function better. It function well and also has a slightly longer blade. The edge rifles are somewhat more accurate by virtue of the hand lapped match bbls.

375 H&H

I have 2 AVs; both lefties.

Top rifle is .375H&H, bottom rifle is .35 Whelen.

I’m not sure what’s going on with the thumbnail. I see it upside down but clicking on it to view the image, it becomes right side up. But to avoid any confusion, the .375 has sights.

A few years ago I went to Cabela’s to look at a Ruger M77 RSI. Didn’t like the finish in the metal, but this Sako A III (late 1970s) in 270 Winchester was next to the Ruger.

I found an old Redfield Widefield scope with the TV screen ocular for it.


Last summer, I put in a “throw away” bid on this L61R Finnbear in 7mm Rem Mag and to my surprise won. $1,000 to my door!


I bid on a beautiful Vixen Deluxe last weekend but dropped out after a point. I love the older Sako rifles.

The 85 Grizzly siblings ...



^ in 9.3x62


^ in 8x57

MaineMan2 said:

A few years ago I went to Cabela’s to look at a Ruger M77 RSI. Didn’t like the finish in the metal, but this Sako A III (late 1970s) in 270 Winchester was next to the Ruger.
View attachment 790179
I found an old Redfield Widefield scope with the TV screen ocular for it.
View attachment 790180

Click to expand...

I have a fixed 4X Widefield (or is it Widetrack? I’d have to check to be sure) on a Remington 7600 pump in .35 Whelen. Does yours also have the post and cross wire reticle?

I just purchased another Sako from @JD Noblin. Probably my 4th rifle or so from him.
It’s an 85 Finnlight in 300 win that we are doing a little work too. Cutting the barrel to 20 inches, threading the barrel with a matching protector.

I wanted an all weather, handy rifle to box blind hunt with.

Also this is my 2000th post!