I have a Sako 75 finnlight in 270 that i am thinking about rechambering. The reason is it is a basically brand new rifle and i never shoot it. The only deer i ever shot that got away was shot with a 270. It is mental i know but if i am not confident with it it is a loseing battle. I own 30-06, .308's and 300 win mags so I don't think i will miss the 270. If it were yours would you rechamber it or trade it off and get something else? The Sako action is pretty much bulletproof and a great rechamber candidate is my thinking. Any tips on what to do with my stainless finnlight? The factory choices for the IV action are 25-06 REM, 6.5x55 SE, 270 WIN, and 30-06. The 6.5x55 does interest me.

The 6,5*55 is a fine cartridge but you can still shoot a bad shot. I have shot moose,fallow and roe with mine and it works fine. But it is close to .270w in performance.

I understand and admittedly the shot wasn't perfect, but i saw where the bullet hit behind the shoulder a little low but i didn't have blood to trail nothin almost as if the bullet didn't expand at all. After all we don't make bad shot's as hunters do we? As i said it is a mental thing for me. There are alot of guys that will swear bye the 270 for almost anything. the main difference in the 6.5x55 and 270, the barrel isn't stamped 270, lol

What bullet did you use?

Winchester elite xp3 150 grain. I have read alot of reviews of this ammo that either would not group closer than 5 inches or lost animals but i just have a bad taste for 270, just a personal thing i suppose. I'm sure there are alot of shooters out there that have that one cartridge they just don't care for, this is mine.

Before you spend a bunch of $$ to gain very little in performance, try some Hornady 130 Gr. Interlocks in that rifle over a dose of H=4831. I've shot alot of whitetails with this load and never lost any. Alot of bang flops.

Now if you are determined to change things, why don't you rebarrel/rebore to a 338/06 or a 35 Whelan. Both are based on the 30/06 case and should fit in your action.

quote:

Originally posted by icemanls2:
...The only deer i ever shot that got away was shot with a 270...
...The 6.5x55 does interest me.

quote:

Originally posted by icemanls2:
...but i didn't have blood to trail

Ah, that makes "sense": You have problems with the .270 producing a good blood trail for you (that happens, and when it does, it sure is frustrating). But to alleviate the problem, you think about going to a SMALLER caliber bullet!!

If you don't think the .270 produces good blood trails, you should go to a LARGER bullet, not a smaller one! When you drop down in calibers, blood trails will become progressively smaller, although almost imperceptively as you walk down the caliber ladder. (For the moment, I'll ignore the issue of whether your one .277 kill had a problem with a particular bullet)

Since you already own a bunch of .308 cal rifles (which normally produce good blood trails) how about a good 8mm or a .338?? Calibers such as the 8mm-06, 8x64S or the .338-06 spring to mind. In fact, you probably don't need another rifle on top of your .308 cals, but I'll let you sort that issue out.

- mike

Sell the Sako to me (I've been looking for a Finnlight 270) and buy a 338 Federal from Euro Optics for about $800. You will definitely get a deer's attention with the 338 Federal and 210 Partitions!

270 Ackley or if you are just absolutely against any 270 why not a 338/06?

I had one built for my wife when we last went to Africa and she killed 11 animals, 9 with one shot and out to 311 yards!

I used her left handed rifle as my light rifle in Tanzania cuz I had a 416 Rigby and 500 double and it worked PERFECTLY.

So well in fact I had one built for me this winter and will be taking it to the range this weekend.

It will shoot with a 30/06 with a much larger frontal diameter bullet that kills like a 338. You load very close to the 338 W.M. with much less recoil and muzzle blast. Loaded ammunition, with Nosler bullets, is available from Weatherby.

Give it a try-you'll love it, I'm sure.

I used a new Sako m75 Greywolf 25-06 and replaced the barrel with a new 338-06 Ackley Improved.

338-06 or maybe a 30-06 AI.

Isn`t XP3 a very hard bullet known little expantion?

quote:

Originally posted by Nordic2:
Isn`t XP3 a very hard bullet known little expantion?

It is now! It wasn't when i used it. I just said the 6.5x55 interested me because it would easily fit, but i already have one. the 338-06 is where i'm leaning but still looking.

quote:

Originally posted by Mighty Peace:
I used a new Sako m75 Greywolf 25-06 and replaced the barrel with a new 338-06 Ackley Improved.

338-06 or maybe a 30-06 AI.

Did you buy the barrel chambered or did your smith do it? Are you the one that has the gunmetal grey with matching gunmetal grey Leupold?

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
Sell the Sako to me (I've been looking for a Finnlight 270) and buy a 338 Federal from Euro Optics for about $800. You will definitely get a deer's attention with the 338 Federal and 210 Partitions!

338 Federal for 800.00? Maybe in an A7 which they had Tikka's to fill that bill. Cheap low grade Sako just doesn't roll off the tongue IMO.

I bought a model 85 Grey Wolf. Sako apparently badly over ran the 338 Feds and sold them in lots of 500 to some dealers at about 50 cents on a dollar. Alex had Hunter models, Synthetics, and Grey Wolfs ranging from about $750 to $800. I love mine!

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
I bought a model 85 Grey Wolf. Sako apparently badly over ran the 338 Feds and sold them in lots of 500 to some dealers at about 50 cents on a dollar. Alex had Hunter models, Synthetics, and Grey Wolfs ranging from about $750 to $800. I love mine!

Really, wow thats a good price for an 85. Where did you buy yours? I have a 85 finnlight in .308 and really like it. I went to Euro optics website and they only list the TRG's and A7 rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by mho:

quote:

Originally posted by icemanls2:
...The only deer i ever shot that got away was shot with a 270...
...The 6.5x55 does interest me.

quote:

Originally posted by icemanls2:
...but i didn't have blood to trail

Ah, that makes "sense": You have problems with the .270 producing a good blood trail for you (that happens, and when it does, it sure is frustrating). But to alleviate the problem, you think about going to a SMALLER caliber bullet!!

If you don't think the .270 produces good blood trails, you should go to a LARGER bullet, not a smaller one! When you drop down in calibers, blood trails will become progressively smaller, although almost imperceptively as you walk down the caliber ladder. (For the moment, I'll ignore the issue of whether your one .277 kill had a problem with a particular bullet)

Since you already own a bunch of .308 cal rifles (which normally produce good blood trails) how about a good 8mm or a .338?? Calibers such as the 8mm-06, 8x64S or the .338-06 spring to mind. In fact, you probably don't need another rifle on top of your .308 cals, but I'll let you sort that issue out.

- mike

The 6.5x55 has more killing power than it gets credit for, and as i said i already have one, that was one of the choices offered in factory chamberings. And don't we all want more rifles regardless of need or application???

I would invest a phone call to Alex Roy at Euro Optics. I bought mine about two months ago so it is possible he sold out. He still had a lot when I bought mine and he started with 500. I looked at Gun Broker and Guns America and both places where he advertised them before are no longer listed.
A friend and I have both been using 6.5x55 rifles with 140 grain Partitions on big ranch whitetails with superb results. We both have Finnlights and they are a dream to shoot and really hammer the bucks. One of the Cabela locations just listed a nice older 6.5x55 in a Mannlicher style. If I did not have two 6.5s, I would jump on that.
If you are set on re barreling consider a 6.5x284. Factory brass and ammo are now available and it is a smoking cartridge!

quote:

Originally posted by icemanls2:
...it is a basically brand new rifle and i never shoot it. If it were yours would you rechamber it or trade it off and get something else?

If there is nothing wrong with the rifle, and it's just like new, I think you would be better off selling it or trading it off. Then you could buy what you want. I'd be surprised if you couldn't sell the rifle for about as much as you would need to buy the exact same type chambered for a cartridge you like.

quote:

Originally posted by icemanls2:
The 6.5x55 has more killing power than it gets credit for,

So true, but so does the .270 Win.

quote:

And don't we all want more rifles regardless of need or application???

Absolutely. Nothing wrong with letting emotions rule once in a while

- mike

quote:

Originally posted by Grenadier:

quote:

Originally posted by icemanls2:
...it is a basically brand new rifle and i never shoot it. If it were yours would you rechamber it or trade it off and get something else?

If there is nothing wrong with the rifle, and it's just like new, I think you would be better off selling it or trading it off. Then you could buy what you want. I'd be surprised if you couldn't sell the rifle for about as much as you would need to buy the exact same type chambered for a cartridge you like.

My uncle bought the rifle and fired 2 rounds through it at the range and never shot it again. I bought it from him and have shot less than 1 box (10 rounds to be exact) cleaned it and it hasn't been out again. This isn't the 270 i lost the animal to, that was a remington 700. The 338-06 really interests me alot and i'd have to buy another Sako and rebarrel it or rechamber to get it so i'm not sure i'd be any further ahead by selling it. LJS voiced interest, i'm just not sure what to do.

I rebarreled a 270 Sako 75 to a 280AI. Sent if off to Hart for a 26" stainless Sako contour with a .313" neck




My favorite gun and it will shoot a 160 gr Accubond at 3000 fps which will do a fine job on Whitetail



but a 338-06AI is intriguing!

I realize my advise is not unbiased since I would like to buy your rifle but that said I would start looking for a 300 WSM if you really wanted a more potent cartridge. They are very versatile and are fairly easy to find since quite a few were produced by Sako.
Factory ammo and brass is available as opposed to needing to reload and make cases when factory cases are scarce.

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
I realize my advise is not unbiased since I would like to buy your rifle but that said I would start looking for a 300 WSM if you really wanted a more potent cartridge. They are very versatile and are fairly easy to find since quite a few were produced by Sako.
Factory ammo and brass is available as opposed to needing to reload and make cases when factory cases are scarce.

LJS, i'll keep ya in the back of my mind while i'm tossing it around. WOODS, thats a mighty fine looking rig ya got there. Nice buck too. If i may what did it run ya for the rebarrel?

About $700.00 for the complete project. Sent them the rifle, got it back with new barrel, chambered and installed.

Most barrels will be ~$250.00, gunsmithing ~$250.00 and refinishing a CM barrel ~$150.00. I also have a Douglas, Brux and a Pac-Nor and all shoot well. The main thing is to get good gunsmithing. There is a gunsmith that posts here as Westpac and I can highly recommend him.

Thanks for the tips Woods. The biggest thing driving this right now is i have both Sako 85's and 75's and i happen to like the 75's better and i'm not sold on the 338 Federal yet that i could get in a Sako offering. I am still leaning twards 338-06. Reloading isn't a big deal as i reload for every rifle i have and would do the same for any new rifle i got and as of yet i don't travel real far to hunt where that would be a concern and if it was i'll grab the .300WM

Blood trail? 9.3x62!

I've been doing alot of homework and i believe 338-06 in a new barrel is the way i'm going to go. Does anyone know the main differences between 338-06 and 338-06AI ? Is there more than tapered case walls? I can't seem to find alot on this other than most of the dies and such i can find are 338-06AI.

quote:

Originally posted by icemanls2:

quote:

Originally posted by Mighty Peace:
I used a new Sako m75 Greywolf 25-06 and replaced the barrel with a new 338-06 Ackley Improved.

338-06 or maybe a 30-06 AI.

Did you buy the barrel chambered or did your smith do it? Are you the one that has the gunmetal grey with matching gunmetal grey Leupold?

My gunsmith did the work off a blank. Yes I am the ONE (lol) with the powdercoated barrel matching the Leupold scope.

quote:

Originally posted by icemanls2:
I've been doing alot of homework and i believe 338-06 in a new barrel is the way i'm going to go. Does anyone know the main differences between 338-06 and 338-06AI ? Is there more than tapered case walls? I can't seem to find alot on this other than most of the dies and such i can find are 338-06AI.

The 338-06AI has a 40 degree shoulder angle. A little bit more room for powder. Should be easier on brass life. I used new Norma/Weatherby brass headstamped 338-06 A-Square and used medium-hot loads to fireform the brass for the Ackley Improved shoulder.

One of the main reasons I went with the Ackley Improved version of the 338-06 was "TO BE DIFFERENT"

As for dies, my gunsmith got me Redding 338-06AI. RCBS makes a 338-06 FL die set. Maybe they can do special order dies in the Ackley.

Another version is the 338-06 Scovill - almost the same as the Ackley.

Another caliber I have been looking at since I got my 338-06AI (from browsing in my Reloading Books) is the 330 Dakota...I dont know if the Sako m75 "IV" action is the right one or the "V" is....need to find some more time to research it. If so, I'm tempted to buy a used Sako m75ss 270 and go with a Macmillan stock and new barrel.

The newer Barnes Reloading Manual has both the 338-06 Scovill and the 330 Dakota listed for info.

Do a search on this forum site for more info on the 338-06AI and Google it also...lots of info comes up.

Later....Good luck on your build!!

quote:

Originally posted by Labman:
Before you spend a bunch of $$ to gain very little in performance, try some Hornady 130 Gr. Interlocks in that rifle over a dose of H=4831. I've shot alot of whitetails with this load and never lost any. Alot of bang flops.

This seems like great advice to me. I've taken around 7-8 elk with the 270 and the 130g combo along with H4831 that was loaded a little warm. It was impressive in it's performance out to around 280-300 yards. Beyond that the 300 WM with 180g again with H4831 has been the ticket in our home with 3 shooters using this caliber for long range elk and longer range mule deer.

quote:

This seems like great advice to me.

It is great advice if i didn't really want to go the semi-custom route. I need a doner rifle for the 338-06 AI and i'd have to purchase another rifle to get that so the least favorite rifle in my vault seems to be a good candidate. If i get another 270 someday i will take the reply's of good advice and apply them. I'm quite sure this isn't the most off the wall conversion someone has done on here. The 270 is by all rights a great cartridge. It's not so much i hate the 270, It's more that i'm taking baby steps into the custom realm of rifles and this seems to be an applicable 1st step.

The 6,5x55 is a superb choice in a light rifle (but not the "swedish", use full power loads)

If you want larger blood-trails, why not a 8x57IS?

Go with the 338-06. With any good 210 grain bullet or a Barnes 210 TSX. If you want a little more velocity try the 185 grain TSX. You won't have any trouble following the blood trail left by the 338. I love mine and I have been a 270 guy since my grandpa introduced me to the cartridge 47 years ago. DW

Thanks for all the replys. I'm pretty sold on the 338-06 AI. I've been doing a ton of homework on this and i'm just trying to pick a good barrel to go with. I'm looking at some of the custom fluting for a touch of MINE to the rifle. Woods turned me onto Hart barrels and they have some pretty cool fluting options as well. I'm gonna put some new glass on the rifle as well so i still have to pick the glass for it. Looking at the SWARO Z6 3-18x50 but it's a little pricey for a hunting rig, looked at the Leupold VX7 also. I've some good and bad about Nightforce but have no experience with them. Any thoughts on good affordable glass for reaching out and touching someone?

Iceman,

If you want to go the semi-custom route, more power to you.

You've commented that the thing with the .270 is "in your head." You're right about that; but what about the next time something unfortunate happens?

Shooting well (hunting or otherwise) is all about confidence - again, you're absoutely right - but changing calibers isn't going to make you more confident, it's just going to introduce a new set of variables to (potentially) over-analyze.

The problem with the deer you shot is just as you said: a little too far back/low & with an Elite xp3 150 gr.

The only thing I would point out is that this bullet is very new - at most 2 or 3 years old - and has had only one rendition to my knowledge.

That rendition is very hard - so much so in fact, that when American Hunter did a big write-up with a dozen or so gun writers on an African Hunt with something like 100+ animals shot, all the writers agreed that expansion was significantly less than anticipated and also erratic.

In short, you shot a deer with a moose bullet!

Again, if you want to do something fun & semi-custom, go for it. Just don't 2nd guess yourself because of that one experience. Had you hit that deer with a ballistic tip or some other soft bullet, you may have had a bang-flop!

Good luck & good shooting with whatever you decide to do!

friar

Hi all, Funnily enough I used to use 6.5x55 Swedish and changed over to the Win270 years ago and have never looked back. I’m on my third barrel now. Funny how we all get hung up over little things, for me it was because I wanted to be able to push a 140grn to a minimum of 3000fps and the Swede couldn’t do it…so out it went.

FWIW I seem to remember the 6.5 Swede had a larger case head size than the 30-06 family of cartridges’. Is there enough fat on a Sako bolt to open the face out?

quote:

Originally posted by icemanls2:
Thanks for all the replys. I'm pretty sold on the 338-06 AI. I've been doing a ton of homework on this and i'm just trying to pick a good barrel to go with. I'm looking at some of the custom fluting for a touch of MINE to the rifle. Woods turned me onto Hart barrels and they have some pretty cool fluting options as well. I'm gonna put some new glass on the rifle as well so i still have to pick the glass for it. Looking at the SWARO Z6 3-18x50 but it's a little pricey for a hunting rig, looked at the Leupold VX7 also. I've some good and bad about Nightforce but have no experience with them. Any thoughts on good affordable glass for reaching out and touching someone?

Good Choice on caliber. On my rifle I have a Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40 BC reticle. I would say Leupold VX3 or the VX2 4-12x40AO with LR duplex would be another good choice. Maybe a Zeiss Conquest withthe Rapid "Z" reticle as another option.

For fluting there are soe pretty cool styles. I like the REPEATED - similar style to an AR barrel. Helical would be different. Or go tradional straight flutes. Either way your newrifle will be a sweet one for sure - now I guess there will be 2 Sako m75 rifles in 338-06AI - my Greywolf and yours.

Later

Probably be more cost-efficient to just sell the rifle and buy another in a caliber to your liking. Finnlights are pretty popular and command good resale prices. If you mess with the chamber or re-barrel/re-bore, you're putting too much $$$ into the rifle, and actually hurting it's value.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Probably be more cost-efficient to just sell the rifle and buy another in a caliber to your liking. Finnlights are pretty popular and command good resale prices. If you mess with the chamber or re-barrel/re-bore, you're putting too much $$$ into the rifle, and actually hurting it's value.

I am looking at rebarreling to 338-06 AI. If i ever wanted to put it back i'll still have the 270 barrel if i chose to do so. Thats the thing, the caliber i want isn't available in a factory new rifle so why buy a used rifle to rebarrel it when i have a mighty fine one to start with?