Seriously looking at a stainless/synthetic rifle chambered in .270 Winchester. Down to two contenders, a Sako 85 or Win M70. Metal and stock are obviously the same, barrel lengths are the same, twist rates the same. It seems like it's going to be the small stuff that sets them apart. I can get my hands on some form of new M70 at a local Cabelas to get a feel for it. Not so sure on the Sako.

Have a South Carolina made M70, and wish I would have bought a stainless/synthetic .270 back then. Am I right that all new M70s are being made overseas? Which country is it now? Does it even matter quality-wise?

Does anyone have a Sako 85 with the single set trigger feature? If so, what you do think about it?

Thanks for any input.

The Sako 85 has known ejection issues. Plan on putting high rings on. Lower rings will cause casing to hit the scope sometimes falling back into the chamber.

I believe the Winchester barrels and actions are still made here, but assembled and stocked in Portugal. I bet it wouldn’t be too hard to find an unfired SC model 70 like you want. Sako’s are nice, but a model 70 in 270 is as traditional American as baseball and apple pie.

Easy choice between those two.

Winchester

I have a few mod70's only one sako.
I have a 270 Winchester Mod 70 great deer rifle.
Also have one in 25/06 its a hard choice on which one to use

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The Sako 85 has known ejection issues. Plan on putting high rings on. Lower rings will cause casing to hit the scope sometimes falling back into the chamber.

I have a friend who bought a new Sako 85 in 7mm mag. He experienced this problem. He wound up selling the rifle. Do a google search on "Sako 85 ejection problems" and you'll get plenty of info. I'm a real Sako fan but I wouldn't buy a Sako 85.

I've heard of the Sako ejection issue in the past, but was hoping that maybe that had gone away.
Definitely seems like a gamble not worth making given the cost.
Anyone have a Savage 110 Storm that they love/hate?

I own a few savages non in 110 .. They aren't the prettiest girl in bunch, all of mine shoot great

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I've heard of the Sako ejection issue in the past, but was hoping that maybe that had gone away.

It won't go away until they change the design of the bolt/ejector. The three lug design uses an ejector in the six o"clock position which causes the cases to eject almost straight up. Beretta will blame the scope, mounts, etc. My friend equipped his Sako 85 with Sako ringmounts and a 1" diameter Leupold scope with standard caps over the adjustment screws. Ejected cases would hit the scope and fall back into the loading port. It's just a poor design which Beretta refuses to acknowledge.

I own an older Sako Finnbear in .270 Win. and it's a great gun that has given me years of service with no problems. Sako should have stuck with that design for their bolt action rifles.

If you're not in a hurry, keep checking Gun Broker and Guns International, search Ultimate Shadow stainless. There recently was a NIB stainless M70
US in 270 for $660 that took a long time to sell.

Not sure if you want an Ultimate Shadow M70 or not.

Have you considered a Kimber Montana? I have Montana in 308, great rifle, you would be well served by one.

Good luck in your quest.

I have a Kimber Montana in .257 Roberts, and put bluntly, it's a turd. I will never buy another Kimber and will actively suggest others steer clear of them as well. In fact, the Kimber is going to the local gun store this weekend for whatever I can get for it.

Does anyone know what the 'name' of the synth/stainless M70 from South Carolina was? Was it the 'Ultimate Shadow SS'?

I realize that the South Carolina models may not be any better than the current iteration, but there's just something appealing about a 'made in US' M70.

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Originally posted by boliep:
Easy choice between those two.

Winchester

Another vote for the Winchester. I won’t buy another Sako until the design is changed. I have a 300WSM that had to have high rings in order for brass to clear the scope. Winchester made both the Ultimate Shadow SS and Extreme Weather versions in SC. They still make the Extreme Weather. That’s what I’d get.

The S.C. model 70 SS/synthetic is called the "extreme weather" model. The new non S.C. model shares the same name.

I have a NC 30-06 stainless with a wood stock and it shoots better than me. Also the new trigger is really great.