Sample of one: A young lady I know got her first hunting rifle, a rather lightweight, synthetic stocked SAKO in .308 Winchester. I handloaded some ammo for her, and she proceeded to shoot them into tiny groups downrange. Often three shot groups, all into one hole! She bought that rifle no more than five years ago as I recall.

It works superbly and shoots with extreme accuracy, particularly for such a light rifle. Oh, she got her deer too!

Guy

 

Seen a few in .308 during my 13.5 years of bench rest shooting. Yes they were that good.

 

I have an AII in 7mm-o8 laminated stock all factory Sako, they are superb rifles. I have owned several models over the years, and for me the AII is at the height of Sako... not for a collector mind you, but for a user. I have found Sako's priced close to rem 700 prices many times, but also seen them priced out of reason a wide range of prices. Here is a pic of my AII 7mm-08

 

Sold my Sako, a '97 model, for a Remington Ti. Should have kept the Sako. Very slick action and I got a lot of pigs with it.

 

Yep....should have kept the Sako until the Remington TI proved itself. Remington has re-introduced the "TI" model through the Remington Custom shop for the pricey amount of $5,800....who knew!!

CD

 

I've had 3 new SAKOs all bought 67-70. A 375H&H , 300Win mag, 30/06. The 375 was my favorite rifle but all three of them where
shooters right out of the box. I have owned used 222s, 243, 308 , 270 and 7mag. All where above average rifles. The newest one
was a 308 Mannlicher carbine made in 70s. It shot good but I have a brother that crys a lot and let him have it to shut him up, he
collects full stock rifles.

 

Drm50 I collect manlicher rifles and you can call me brother any time if ya send me a sako manlicher

 

As for out of the box accuracy goes the most improvement I have seen is to remove the pressure point in the forend to free float the barrel. I had a 222 rem varmint that wouldn't shoot for nothing... I worked, and worked on handloads, bought several powders, and bullets as I knew the Sako should shoot under an inch with handloads, but for the life of me I was over an inch on everything I tried. After removing the pressure it would shoot .25" at 100 yards with any bullet it would stabilize, powder primer whatever just didn't matter it would print .25" and under... I also had a 243 that had some handling marks, and wear from either hunting or sitting/rusting same deal shot between 1-2" until I remove the pressure point under the forend, I have not removed the pressure point on my 7mm-08 as of yet because even shooting just under/over an inch it will shoot 3 kinds of ammo/bullets to near the same impact without any scope changes. Just something to think about if you get a Sako.

The Sako's come with an outstanding trigger, you would need to spend $150 or more to upgrade a remington 700 trigger to get something of similar quality as to the Sako.

The stock is setup to work perfect, the cheek, as well as the palm swell is perfect.... Sako made an outstanding stock so much so that McMillan uses the pattern for the excellent stocks.. you can read about the design on the McMillan site.

 

Had one. No problems.

 

For a group that are all things sako, especially the older models, and full of info try here. http://sakocollectors.com/forum

The site also has a page with nice sako rifles, and rings for sale.... don't skimp on rings, use the Sako rings they are by far the best.... someone put burris or leupold "sako type" rings on mine, and they suck horrible. I have been meaning to pick up a set of low rings... I just keep having other things that need tending to... You can figure around $100 for a set of older factory sako rings if the rifle does not come with them... just another heads up.

 

My new Win. 70 say's made in Portugal on it. Supposedly it is just assembled there. Point is it is it is getting harder to get a high quality bolt gun made in the US. The Ruger's are pretty decent though even with aluminum bottom metal. Rem's seem okay still. You can go to a high dollor one such as a Cooper but it seems they have the cheesy painted on type matt finish instead of real bluing.- Locoman

 

Sako makes an Excellent hunting rifle. They have been making firearms for a very long time.
One of the best on the market.
Fantastic action, excellent craftsmanship.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...Y&url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAKO&usg=AFQjCNFdBWQaZ6xxY2arFkgpbvhvgfTWcQ

 

I have 1 sako 300wm & 4 tikka's (same factory)in 22-250 HB, 243, 308 HB & 9.3x62 both are now owned by Beretta. Out of the box they can't be beaten, never even heard of a quality problem this side of the pond. As for customer service never heard of a problem with the Beretta company. Just 2 cents from the old country and a cold hammer forged barrel to boot. Let us know what you decide; Gareth.

 

In 1967 I wanted a 300mg. There was a gun shop going out of business and was having a sale, starting on Mon. AM. I didn't get there
till Thurs. They had nothing left that I was interested in. I was bummed out, drove 2 hrs to get there. The only good rifles left were
cannons 458, 375, 338, ect. Guy asked me what I was looking for and I told him 300H&H. He pulled the 375 out of the rack and tried
to sell it to me. I didn't want it, I wanted a long range rifle. Then he says take this rifle to your Gun Smith and have him put a 300
barrel on it. I said that don't make sense why wouldn't I just buy a 300 and have less money in it. The tag on the 375 was $500+,
sale price $300+. Guy says take the rifle for $100, I bought it, fully intending to rebarrel to 300. Took it to my Smith, he talked me
into shooting it before rebarrel and also sold me Sako Rings, $60. I scoped rifle, shot it in and forgot about rebarrel. I hadn't bought
very many new rifles back then but I had been around range a lot when guys were sighting in new rigs. I had never seen anyone
sight in a new rifle that didn't have some trouble or complaint. It was always a back to the drawing board type thing, for trigger, load
ect. Not so with that Sako 375, less than 1/2 a box and had it tuned and that was with Rem factory FMJ ammo. I never did anything
extra to that rifle except change the sling swivels to detachables. In next couple years I bought 2 more SAKOs, 300win and 30/06
Had same experience with the 06, 300 was a little testy but was the loads not the rifle. I have had only two other rifles that were
bought new give this kind of performance, a Win M70FW 308 pre64 and a Ruger 77, 270- 1st year production.

 

Get it!

I have never owned a proper Sako...but have my eye on a beautiful one at the LGS.

But I do have a Tikka (Sako's daughter company, these days), and a FrankenSako in .308. The Tikka T3 is the most accurate rifle I own. The FrankenSako is a Hodgepodge of parts assembled and branded as an H&R. The receiver is a Sako 579 (IIRC), mated to a Douglas barrel, set into a Fagen Mannlicher stock. In all honesty, it's been a safe queen, so I can't attest to it's performance.

But I wouldn't think twice about Sako's quality. They build great rifles.

 

I would also buy that sucker if it's in decent shape, it will be a lifetime gun that needs nothing other than ammo... once you scope it

 

Looking at "Used Guns" sales over the last twelve months we seem to have roughly 35% Model 85 (taken Laminate and Synthetic stock items from the tally), 25% model 75, 25% 579, 10% model AII and 5% 591. So I guess in Australia your choices are the Model 85, Model 75 or Model 591 and to find one of the others you have to be in the right spot at the right time.

 

There is a 579 on used guns now.

 

I owned a few Delux models in the seventies. They were really nice and shot well. Here in the States, Garcia became the importer, IIRC, in 1968. The standard models were not as nicely polished as previously,,no difference in the Delux. I never shot a Sako that was not accurate. As far as I can see, the AII has a better bolt shroud than the previous L579. The .308 size actions make for some light, acccurate rifles. I wanted a Sako .223, but the CZ was almost $1500 US cheaper, so I went that way.

Best wnishes,

 

Thanks for the open chat and private message opinions on this. Current thoughts are to look for a sako grizzly in 308W. Not a common item here however second hand ones (and the odd new one) come up on used guns from time to time. From the feedback there are fans of each model - plenty of sako fans at "Marlin Owners". Based on the shooting I do the grizzly ticks all the boxes. Thanks for your comments.

 

There is one on the SSAA site.

 

I had a Sako rebranded for Sears. This rifle was in 308. This was a very nice rifle and a fantastic shooter. A friend talked me out of it in the 90's. I currently own a AIII 7MM Mag, and a Tikka Hunter in 243 and a Tikka T3 Light in 300 Win Mag. All great rifles.

 

I have never owned a Sako, but have several Tikka's. None will be for sale or trade in my lifetime. Mine are all older and I cannot speak for a new one, but would probably take a chance.

 

They are sought after here, especially in .308W and from my personal hunting experience (46 years & still going strong) you really can't get any better.
I have experience with Finnbear, Finnwolf, Forester, Hunter and many others in all grades.
I will trust a Sako with my life on any day and especially a Forester in .308W..........................Can't go wrong ~ if you can afford one, they are quite pricy over here!
Don't shun there half brothers Tikka ~ consider them too if costs are a problem.
Good hunting!
:elefant: