Anyone who went to the Safari Club or Dallas Safari Club shows see the new Sako 85?

I would like to know more about it, and the website hasn't been updated yet.

If you´re expecting something spectacular don´t hold your breath -remember Sako is owned by Beretta nowadays.

There's tons of specs and pics on the net reference the 85. There was a lengthy thread on one of the AR forums in the last week or so.

In a nutshell, the 85 is a modified/improved(CRF/PF)75. It first came out as an 80th anniversary model 75 375H&H in limited production years back. Now it is the 85th anniversary model and is called the 85 as a standard production model in certain calibers. It can also be had in a deluxe custom 75 model in 416Remington.

If and when I can get my hands on one to inspect, if it looks good I will get the 416Rem version.

Gary

D99 check out the BerettaUSA website. They have a little info on them.............DJ

I saw one at the shot show. Looks just like the pictures show of the 80th anniversary model, except they didn't increase the size of the extractor. Ed Brown had a nifty looking CRPF as well. Model 704 Damara. Similar style to Win 70 CRPF, except a neat looking extractor and super ED Brown quality. Silky smooth.
Ed Brown M-704

I handled the SAko M85 at the SOT Show that was in the Beretta booth at the media range day. The factory guy confirmed that the M85 was using the 80th anniv. design used for their .375 H&H. The rifle I examined had a wider extractor that M75s I have seen.

The rifle appeared slimmer than the M75 in the action. The magazine has a tricky catch that takes two operations to open so it should not pop loose.

It wasn't a .416 Rem.

jim

One other piece of info on the 85, a gunsmith friend of mine inspected it, and was highly positive overall, but there is one design issue he did not like at all, and although I am otherwise really sold on the 85, I would agree with him.

It has to do with the recoil lug--or lack thereof I should say. The recoil is borne by a square peg that seats into a pocket, which is ALUMINUM! Certainly this will work for a while, but even the SAKO guys could not assure my friend that the Al would not wear and 'wallow' out, and shortly at that. He actually requested them to offer an option, and they stated that perhaps the pocket could at least be made out of steel, but we all know how uncommon it is for a major manufacturer to change a design after it has been launched--maybe it's not way to late for them in this case--then again maybe a lot of other folks won't give a rip.

I am such a fan otherwise, that I have asked my gunsmith friend to buy one and see what we could come up with as an alternative. He also stated that the action was 'round' like a Remington, so maybe the action could be modified to accept a large good quality rem style recoil lug. We are currently looking at machining a recess into the front of the action where a lug of this sort would 'nest'

Regards--Don

quote:

Originally posted by cewe:
If you´re expecting something spectacular don´t hold your breath -remember Sako is owned by Beretta nowadays.

That's not fair. FORD owns Volvo, but my XC70 is the best Volvo we've owned. They know how to make things in Scandinavia.

First, keylocks, did away I believe with that, and the cheezy recoil lug on the 691, etc. series, now to hear they are 'cutting corners' it seems? I hope the 'Chinese steel-for barrels' has been corrected to eliminate blow-ups they were having.

I like Sako, but when you pay THAT much, you expect nothing but the best.

They DO have a reputation for accuracy.

Now old pre-garcia.......nothing to complain about.

I heard that Ford isn´t doing so well nowadays?

We used to make quality stuff but as we are now mostly foreign owned quality has come down -way down.

I just bought a vintage Sako P54 and it´s a beauty! My .416 is built on a L61R action from the 70´s and it functions very nicely thank you.

But I had a 75 in 30-06 and it was the worst rifle I´ve ever owned -came apart all by itself after a day in the field.

I think the Sako 85 should be pretty nice. With a couple mods I bet it could be a very nice rifle. I am pretty excited to see one.

quote:

Originally posted by cewe:
I heard that Ford isn´t doing so well nowadays?

We used to make quality stuff but as we are now mostly foreign owned quality has come down -way down.

I just bought a vintage Sako P54 and it´s a beauty! My .416 is built on a L61R action from the 70´s and it functions very nicely thank you.

But I had a 75 in 30-06 and it was the worst rifle I´ve ever owned -came apart all by itself after a day in the field.

Thats odd. I have one thats been bounced around in a gun rest on top of a rough riding hunting vehicle over a cumulative probably 2000 miles, been dropped twice, and has over 700 rounds through it and still looks and functions as if it were brand new. Your's fell apart after one day and all by itself? Man I'd be pissed.

quote:

....But I had a 75 in 30-06 and it was the worst rifle I´ve ever owned -came apart all by itself after a day in the field.

I own a Tikka M695 cal 300WM manufactured after that the evil Beretta Group bought Sako; I can say that it's an excellent rifle that didn't come apart after several dozens of days in the field. A friend of mine bought the very same rifle (thanks to my advice) and he's still very satisfied. I'm pretty sure that my next rifle will be a Tikka.

It didn´t come apart just once it always came apart! I ran it by my gunsmith, who is licensed to do work on Sakos, and we just had to accept the fact that it was a lemon.

I didn't get to examine the bedding system on the M85, but please note that Sako/Tikka have used some innovative methods in earlier rifles. I had a Tikka M585 IIRC (a friend needed it more than I did) that shot very well indeed with its bedding --- not at all like a "standard" washer around the barrel like the Remington.

You know Sako actually tests their new products! <---humor

jim