Sako AV Fiberclass 375 H&H

[Dav]

I’m looking to acquire a 375 rifle and was told by a few different folks to stick with a Sako. Now I don’t have much experience with any of the major rifle manufacturers when it comes to those safari rifles and I see a lot of different guns with lots of different price tags. Mostly used, as new ones are rare and also not cheap. Not sure why a Sako is better than a Winchester 70 or a Browning Medalion or a Ruger M77, etc as they are alll selling in the same price range of $1300 to $3500 depending on condition and scope/accesories.

Been looking for a few weeks and came across this one. Sako AV with fiberclass stock, Bushnell Elite 6500, muzzle brake, sling and bunch of brass and bullets. Gun has been hunted with, is probably 30 years old and no clue how many rounds shot, but bore looks good to naked eye and barrel is free floated, hopefully the action is bedded, no crack on the stock that I know so far. Trigger set at 3lbs. Pros are threaded muzzle for suppressor, synthetic stock not worried about fancy wood, lots of brass and bullets to get going, decent older scope to get started as well. Cons are no clue of history or if the bore has been shot out, stock starting to crack, etc.

On paper it looks good except I have no idea if I should stay away from an old hunting gun of which I don’t know the history (it’s in consignment). I know a stock can be repaired, action re-barreled and re-bedded, etc but I don’t want this gun to be a money pit.

A second opinion doesn’t hurt before spending money ! Serial number is the 6 digits in the picture.

 

[PerH]

Fiberclass means the Kevlar stock they used then on a series of rifles . The stocks were made by McMillan and quite sturdy rifles

Sako quality before was different and better in my mind than today . Largest as I know was .375 , I haven’t checked into if there factory chambering larger than that . But it’s possibly .

A good custom version it was also to rebarrel a Sako and get a Mcstock

Snr I don’t know about , but others will chime in .

 

[Dav]

First mention I see about the Fiberclass stock being made with Kevlar. I would have thought it was just the regular polymer stuff.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I’m looking to acquire a 375 rifle and was told by a few different folks to stick with a Sako. Now I don’t have much experience with any of the major rifle manufacturers when it comes to those safari rifles and I see a lot of different guns with lots of different price tags. Mostly used, as new ones are rare and also not cheap. Not sure why a Sako is better than a Winchester 70 or a Browning Medalion or a Ruger M77, etc as they are alll selling in the same price range of $1300 to $3500 depending on condition and scope/accesories.

Been looking for a few weeks and came across this one. Sako AV with fiberclass stock, Bushnell Elite 6500, muzzle brake, sling and bunch of brass and bullets. Gun has been hunted with, is probably 30 years old and no clue how many rounds shot, but bore looks good to naked eye and barrel is free floated, hopefully the action is bedded, no crack on the stock that I know so far. Trigger set at 3lbs. Pros are threaded muzzle for suppressor, synthetic stock not worried about fancy wood, lots of brass and bullets to get going, decent older scope to get started as well. Cons are no clue of history or if the bore has been shot out, stock starting to crack, etc.

On paper it looks good except I have no idea if I should stay away from an old hunting gun of which I don’t know the history (it’s in consignment). I know a stock can be repaired, action re-barreled and re-bedded, etc but I don’t want this gun to be a money pit.

A second opinion doesn’t hurt before spending money ! Serial number is the 6 digits in the picture.

View attachment 640808

I have a SAKO AV FINNBEAR DELUXE in 375 H&H and I like it. It is right handed.

The only reason I got another SAKO in .375 H&H is to satisfy my need to shoot left handed rifles. So, I ended up buying a new 85L in LH and it is great too.

I’ll likely sell my AV Finnbear Deluxe. Rifles like these, in this condition, generally sell for $2,800 without rings or scope. At least, that’s what I’ve discovered.

 

[Berettaco]

I bought a sako fiberclass 375HH that had the ported barrel. I took it to the smith and had the barrel cut to 21”, target crowned and then had it all powder coated. Threw a swaro Z6 on it and developed a load for a 300 grain a frame. It shoots 1/2 MOA, feeds and extracts reliably and light enough to carry all day eothiut complaint. I just took mine on my last safari - shot just about everything with it. I love it.
Is it better than a win 70 - not really. I have 2 model 70 in 375 and they are super rifles as well, just a bit heavier. To me they are equal in quality - the biggest difference is the extractor and the weight

 

[Dav]

What’s the difference in extractor between the two ? One better than the other or just works different ways ?