I am looking hard for pre-Garcia Sako rifles. I have been helped by many folks, thanks.

Where is there a list of serial numbers that can be used to confirm if a Sako was made prior to 1972? I know about the inscriptions on the barrels as an indicator, but have found a couple of rifles that are advertised as "pre-Garcia" but have a high serial number.

Can you steer me somewhere?

Send me a PM with your e-mail address and I'll try to forward the info to you. I have it saved in PDf format...

PM sent, thanks

PM sent...Thank you

dogcat,

I sent you a PM...

Steve

Sako L61R Lg Action Finnbear
SN up to Approx 65,000...anything with third locking lug in front of bolt handle considered Pre '72
Sako L579 Med Action Forester
SN up to Approx 110,000
Sako L461 Small Action Vixen
SN up to Approx 110,000
Should say under bbl. Firearms International, Washington DC.
If it says Garcia under bbl. see about 3rd bolt lug.
If it says nothing...most likely bought in a Rod and Gun club by a service man and brought home.

quote:

Originally posted by Harry:

If it says nothing...most likely bought in a Rod and Gun club by a service man and brought home.

Yeah, I've heard that one from more than one source. However, several of my pre-Garcias have no under-barrel marking and were purchased N.I.B. from typical American retail stores, so this seems to be another S.A.L. (Sako Urban Legend) like Phillips versus slotted-head screws in the grip caps.

If you're looking for an unusual Sako, Accuflite Arms has a factory original unfired older Sako heavy barrel in 270 for sale. I was told only 5 were made. They also have a developmental prototype in 458 of the Safari model.

LJS,
I called those guys and they are absolute specialists on Sako rifles. I was overwhelmed by what they shared with me.

I am not looking for anything unusual, just one that shoots very straight in a .270, .280 or .300 win mag.

Thanks for the tip. These guys are impressive.

quote:

Originally posted by Harry:
Sako L61R Lg Action Finnbear
SN up to Approx 65,000...anything with third locking lug in front of bolt handle considered Pre '72
Sako L579 Med Action Forester
SN up to Approx 110,000
Sako L461 Small Action Vixen
SN up to Approx 110,000
Should say under bbl. Firearms International, Washington DC.
If it says Garcia under bbl. see about 3rd bolt lug.
If it says nothing...most likely bought in a Rod and Gun club by a service man and brought home.

THanks for the help Mims.

Those that know (still) shoot Sako

quote:

308Sako:
Those that know (still) shoot Sako

Do you mean "Those that know enough to check for the serial numbers that are safe to shoot?"

Jaywalker

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
They also have a developmental prototype in 458 of the Safari model.

If any of you guys should get your hands on one of those, DON'T SHOOT with it. The reason they were never taken into production was that the stocks (which were made in Germany I believe) would normally split at first five shots or so. I heard this from Erkki Kauppi of Sako. The stock on the one I've seen was a bit different from the .338 and .375 Safari models, having a Monte-Carlo style stock and that was a no-good one. There have been made maybe two .458:s with the same stock than the production models, and they worked OK, I've been told. Why was the .458 never taken into production with the same stock as the other Safari models, I have no idea.

I contacted Sako about what is the differenct between the AV and 75 - they said - not much but the 75 should be the better gun as it feeds better (?) not sure about that.

They also said they are coming out with a controlled round feed model in 2006 called the "86" . It is supposed to compete with the model 70 in terms of the type of action.

Not sure why they are doing this.

Any comments from savvy Sako owners?


Still looking for a good shooter in pre-Garcia - .270, .223 or .375 H&H

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
I contacted Sako about what is the differenct between the AV and 75 - they said - not much but the 75 should be the better gun as it feeds better (?) not sure about that.

They also said they are coming out with a controlled round feed model in 2006 called the "86" . It is supposed to compete with the model 70 in terms of the type of action.

Not sure why they are doing this.

Any comments from savvy Sako owners?


Still looking for a good shooter in pre-Garcia - .270, .223 or .375 H&H

Sure:

Sako (now owed and maganged by Beretta) has no interest in advocating the strong points of an action that it is no longer producing as opposed to an action that it is currently producing, so all comments by the Management will be positive toward the current production. As for there being "not much" difference in the AV and the M75, well, the it is true that the M75 only has one more locking lug, the bolt turns only 30 degrees less, it only has a different trigger, and it is available with a detachable magazine, so I guess that's "not much" difference. The comment that the M75 "feeds better" is made from whole cloth, as there has never been any feeding difficulty with any Sako and the M75 feeding system is the same as the last 50 years of production (the one area in which there really is "not much" difference in the M75).

Any manufacturer's new product introduction is intended to increase sales or gain market shares. Since it is currenty fasionable to extoll the virtues of "controlled round feeding", Sako is among the manufacturers that wants to ride that wave. Find me a Sako owner who has had any trouble with the half-century old Sako "push feed" system, and I'll show you a man that can't pour piss out of a boot with the instructions written on the heel.

Hang in there and you'll find a good "pre" .270. The .223's and especially the .375's will be harder to come by.

Stone,
Thanks, you have been a wealth of info. I was over and under-whelmed by the Sako guy I talked to. More likely he was talking over my head a bit as I am still on the learning curve.

Perhaps you can get some info here: SakoCollectorsClub@groups.msn.com

Fritz

Stonecreek:

quote:

Find me a Sako owner who has had any trouble with the half-century old Sako "push feed" system, and I'll show you a man that can't pour piss out of a boot with the instructions written on the heel.

Ah, but don't forget, Sako 75 owners must contend with triggers that don't need adjustment, barrels that are free-floated, and actions that, according to Charlie Sisk, come pretty straight out of the box. Where's the fun in customizing a model that doesn't much need it? Of course, for suspense, you can always wonder which of the next rounds will factory KB in your face... (Note: my effort at keeping the price down until I get mine...)

Jaywalker