The A series and the L series are two different guns form different time periods, the L series being before the A series..The L series model is 95% Mauser in that it does not have the control feature..but I prefer the L series Sako to all others, IMO it was the last of the good Sakos, the A series with the ugly shroud is a great rifle, but shroud turned me Off, and the Sakos went downhill in a hurry as the bean counters added their two bits, the went to school and ate the covers off their books, when it comes to gun design..