I picked up a Sako 85 Grey Wolf in 270 WSM the other day and made it to the range today with it. Even though the shooting conditions weren't great the rifle shows some real promise.
The first group I shot after sight-in was 3/4" or so, two shots were a bughole and the third may have been more wind change than rifle. Groups at 200yds were at 1" or so mostly horizontal in the wind, one group had 2 in one hole.
I've loaded up more rounds of my favorite 270 WSM load at this rifles seating depth and hope to shoot it more. I think that it's going to be a drill.
The trigger is the best I've ever tried on a hunting rifle. I don't know what is different from the 75's but as good as the 75's trigger was this one is dead crisp, no creep and almost no overtravel.
The recoil lug system on the 85 is a little strange. It's a pretty small rectangle that seats into a metal plate fastened to the stock. I'd prefer a larger one but it obviously seems to work well enough.
I like the shape of the new wood and laminated stocks a lot.
Other than the goofy new synthetic stocks I think the 85's are a solid improvement over what was one of my favorite hunting rifles, I already want another one, maybe I can sell a couple Winchesters at the Wannamacher show..........................DJ

I've got a sako deluxe 75 that I've used a few times and can't conclude that it is better than the Winchesters in any way.

DJ, glad to hear your range report. Would you mind sharing your load for that rig. I have a couple of favorites obviously, but just curious what you went with.

I will say that all the 85's I have just flat shoot. I'm not technically knowledgeable enough about the impact of different recoil management systems on performance, but JB at Accuflite really likes the new 85 system. I am thinking about ordering a McMillan stock to replace my Synthetic stock, they are a little 'techy' for me.....plus I like the color options on a Mc.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
I've got a sako deluxe 75 that I've used a few times and can't conclude that it is better than the Winchesters in any way.

I have quite a few Winchester as well as a number of Sako's and yea the Sako 85's aren't better than the Winchesters in any way...........other than Far superior manufacturing quality, better accuracy, crisper trigger, better stock, smoother feeding from factory, shorter bolt-lift etc. etc..

As a factory built rifle the Sako's are pretty much better in most ways. Where the Winchesters come into thier own is in a well tuned custom rifle. A Winchester can be turned into the finest custom rifles made but out of the box they are nowhere near the quality of Sako's. Maybe the upcoming versions from SC will help close the gap.........................DJ

quote:

Originally posted by Fish30114:
DJ, glad to hear your range report. Would you mind sharing your load for that rig. I have a couple of favorites obviously, but just curious what you went with.

I will say that all the 85's I have just flat shoot. I'm not technically knowledgeable enough about the impact of different recoil management systems on performance, but JB at Accuflite really likes the new 85 system. I am thinking about ordering a McMillan stock to replace my Synthetic stock, they are a little 'techy' for me.....plus I like the color options on a Mc.

Fish, the 270 WSM load I was using was the same one that shot so well in my Kimbers, WW brass, GM215M primers, 66.0grs of RL-22 behind a 140gr Accubond. This load has shot 3/4 MOA or better in the 4 270 WSM's I've shot it in. I didn't clock them out of the Sako but out of the others it's in at around 3200fps.
I'd like to see how yours fit's into a Micky. That recoil block assembly might be a bit different to get bedded I would be interested to see how your gunsmith goes about it. In the parts list I noticed that the "Recoil Block" and the "Connecting Block for Synthetic Stock" are listed with their part numbers. I would be calling Berretta Service to see if I could order me up these to install in a new stock. If you find out anything I'd like to know. Oh yea, I noticed that the cheekpeice is listed as a separate part but they didn't list any separate styles hmmmmm.
Time will tell is the recoil block style turns out to be a PITA to bed or not. It might be a couple years before I finish the projects I've got lined up know before I can restock one.

I'm pretty exited about the 85's. Like you said the lock time seems snappier than the 75's and I don't know about your's but my 85 trigger is the best I've ever had on a hunting rifle. I'm already wanting a couple more, I hope they come in with more calibers relatively quickly......................DJ

DJ,what tests were used to arrive at YOUR conclusion besides YOUR experience.

DJ, thanks. I'm gonna try and tweak up some loads like that. I actually pulled the trigger on getting an 85 restocked by McMillan. I've got JB rebarreling one into a Dakota cartridge, probably 375, and he will be sending the action to McMillan to let them inlet. I'm still deciding whether or not to go with an Edge or a regular stock, I think I'm leaning to the regular since I don't think something in a 375 needs to be a lightweight......JB said he'd pillar and glass bed the rig when it came back from Micky, so we'll see how it goes---the kicker is waiting on a Mag action 85, JB said he can't get the bolt face opened up enough on an '06 bolt to accomodate the Dakota, I'm really partial to the Dakota cartridges since you turned me onto them.......

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
DJ,what tests were used to arrive at YOUR conclusion besides YOUR experience.

Shootaway, I own a dozen or so Sako's and have owned or worked on several dozen M-70's including building a few custom rifles based on M-70 action's including Pre-64's. A couple buddies of mine are pretty serious Winchester Experts and collectors, they've shown me more high end Winchester customs than I can count. I feel that I have a pretty fair basis for comparision.
I've still got a lot to learn but maybe that's a concept you could embrace for yourself also..............................DJ

Fish, did you ever get a 330 Dakota built? If so what did you end up with and how did you like it?........................DJ

DJ, I did. It's being tweaked by Jim Dubell just now. It is a 26" fluted barrel, 330 Dakota, based on the Long Action 300 WSM I had. Jim is finishing the mags right now, it's been rebarreled for a while, and he is getting the final touches on it, he has had some health issues.








My best hunting buddy got a 76 in 300 and 330 Dakota after I commisioned this one and they are really great performers. My Empire rifle has actually evolved into a Sako action based 300 Dakota project--long story--

My next one is the 85 in a 375 Dakota I think.

Cool! Let me know how it shoots. Looks like if nothing else you are having fun with them and thats what it's all about...............DJ

DJ,owning a truck load of rifles is not a measure of ones knowledge on how they perform.I think a good way of comparing is to spend much time shooting with the different kinds.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
I think a good way of comparing is to spend much time shooting with the different kinds.

Shootaway, trust me, DJ shoots all his (and some other folk's as well) a lot.

And quite well too.

Shootaway

You originally talked about the quality. It is simple fact that the build quality/materials of a Sako are far superior to that of a Win M70 not to mention the quality control.

Jon2,do we have a milled action with the Sako? How is the Sako safety compared to that of Winchester? Is the stock shape of the Sako preffered over the Winchesters? Is the weight of the Sako balanced? Does the Sako shoulder and point as easily as a Winchester? Has the Sako been subjected to the number of years of field testing the Winchesters have? These are things to think about.

Sharpshooter

My M70 points better and I would say is better balanced than my Sako 75's but the safety and trigger bolt release are all better in my opinion in terms of quality which is the point I was addressing. I am very happy with my M70 but it just hasn't got the same quality feel about it as the Sako's. It is small things that make the difference such as the trigger on the M70 will move from side to side and the bolt release is similar and doesn't have the same quality feel about it. The Sako's are just a better quality rifle full stop this doesn't mean they nessecarily shoot better. My M70 shoots sub .5 groups consistently and so do my 75's.

I'm sure the early win bolts were wonderful. The last ones they were making were pretty sad.