If you were given the choice of what Sako actions were manufactured, I am curious, would you keep the 75, the 85, or perhaps bring back the old 'Pre-Garcia' era actions in stainless?

Integral recoil lug vs 3 locking lugs etc etc.....Sako owners will know what I mean.

I will save my opinion/comments until after others chime in.

I've had a L579, 75 & have played with a few 85's.

85 gets my vote! You just cannot beat CNC machining(Sako's new CNC machines are state of the art) for precise fit n finish. New 85 features are a big plus IMO.


340

I own some of all, and I have to agree with 340, I really like the 85 action and every one I have (several) shoot incredibly well. I MUCH prefer the stock geometry of the M-75 over any other though--and thankfully it is available from McMillan, and of course can be duplicated by many talented craftsmen in Walnut!

I've got a Sako 85 in 270 win with a Serengeti custom stock in the 75 geometry coming--Awesome!

I have 4 model 75's and love them. Although I don't care for the materials of the factory synthetic stock, so two sit in a mcmillan edge and another is getting a custom wood stock. The 85 sounds like a nice rig and the weight savings would be nice but I don't see selling a 75 to get a 85. I've never had a problem with the 75's mag. coming out unwanted. Although the older models are well made I love the lower bolt lift and detachable mags of the new rifles. They are quality rifles that just plain shoot.

The smoothest Sako action I have worked with - bar none - is an L461. The most accurate Sako rifles I have shot are A1s with the externally adjustable target trigger - mostly chambered in 6mm PPC or .222 Rem.

- mike

I have a few L61Rs that I won't be parting with until it's 'estate settling time', and I really can't think of any way to improve on them. They work flawlessly and shoot better than I can. I dearly love my many Mausers, but when I go hunting I always seem to fetch a Sako out of the cabinet.

I don't see stainless as being an improvement on CrMo, as long as I have a can of Johnsons Paste Wax. I haven't rusted one yet, and I sure don't baby them.

I own the Sako 75 in 375 H&H and that rifle is accurate to no end. I shoot at a target 3/4" and all rounds go inside of it at 150 yds. I don't know why they came out with the Sako 85.

The L Series and early models were fantastic rifles..My favorite fun gun and deer rifle is a Sako L-461 with a M-70 3 pos. safty made from a piece of bull barrel by the late Tony Barnes..

The later sakos suck!

I think that true Sako fans have some amount of disdain for the current production models, particularly when it comes to the smallest actions. The L461 (and virtually identical A-I) action was incomparable: Smooth, and delightfully miniaturized like no other action in its class.

Were I to "bring back" a Sako action, it would certainly be the L-series. I understand why they went to the 75/85 in order to use automated machining -- and the current actions are good platforms -- but the classic L-series is still the more desirable between them. No need for stainless with all of its inherent machining and galling problems.

The short-lived TRG-s was amazingly smooth, and all I ever worked with provided gilt-edged accuracy. It wasn't the classiest action ever made, but it could be built very economically. I'm not sure why Sako dropped it, other than light sales figures.

I kept two of my sako's out of my collection. I didn't have many 4 all together. I kepted a 6.5 x 55 Hunter limited I bought in 1994 and a 75 SS in 338 WM. I have really grown to like the 75, I had it since it was introduced. About 10 years now. I understand that the 85 is more just some refinements than anything else. I gave one a good look over, an 85 in 270 and I could not fine anything not to like. I was a grey laminate Stocked rifle and SS looked good and felt good in the shop, and like anything sako makes it will shoot almost anything very well. I would buy an 85 if I was in the market for a rifle, but I am not at this time.

I have 3 Sako model 75 in the SS models. Love them. Superior shooters. I personally prefer the stock design and fit of the m75 over the m85. If I wanted a stock that looked like the Tikka T3, I would buy a few more as I have 2 T3's in the LS model. I will buy a Sako m75 over the m85 (new if one can find it or used).

I never had any problems with my clip release, and accidential fall out.

I have 4 Sakos. L57 and L579, both in.243 and wood stocked/blued 75 and 85... both .270's;

The L579 action is superb, the stock fits me well and is a pleasure shoot, but I dislike the glossy stock finish.

I prefer the look and feel of the 75 stock as well as it's fit and finish... but the 85 is lighter, slightly more accurate, and seems to recoil less..probably due to it's classic stock design.

Good Shooting...Rob

My favorite is the AII & AIII.

My favorite is the A series from about 1980 to 1992 with the Hunter or classic stock - Fiberclass and Walnut. At one time I had about 90, now I am down to 8 after entering a 12 step program. I was out of control. Lou

Dr. Lou,

And I thought I was a Sako nut at a dozen. I can't imagine having to part with any. How were you able to winnow your way down to eight.
GWB

quote:

At one time I had about 90, now I am down to 8 after entering a 12 step program. I was out of control.

Wow, Lou, you're tough! If I had to cut back to only eight Sakos, I'd be having the delerium tremens! Fortunately, God has granted my wife the serentity to accept the things she cannot change.

I have a Sako story......about 30 years ago, I had a (wealthy) friend who I introduced to shooting. He enjoyed it so much he wanted to 'buy some guns'....and asked what I thought were 'good ones'.

I said that Sakos were fine, in my opinion. About a week later, he showed up at the farm with the trunk of his car full of Sako boxes. He had gone out and bought one of every available caliber! He honestly thought guns were like golf clubs, and he needed to buy a set.

I'll bet the sales guy at Wholesale Sports had a great weekend!

In hindsight, he wasn't so stupid. I wish I'd have bought a set and just stashed them away.

quote:

Originally posted by Fish30114:
I own some of all, and I have to agree with 340, I really like the 85 action and every one I have (several) shoot incredibly well. I MUCH prefer the stock geometry of the M-75 over any other though--and thankfully it is available from McMillan, and of course can be duplicated by many talented craftsmen in Walnut!

Do you have a weight yet of your 85 with the McMillan stock?

I MUCH prefer the Classic style stock on the 85's but I do miss the Wundhammer Swell just a bit. It controls recoil much better.
I can certainly understand though that the older Monte-Carlo style might fit some shooters better and it's perfectly logical for others to MUCH prefer it. Fish is probably just thinner than me .

For me the jury is out on the recoil lug system of the 85. It appears to work quite well as the guns shoot like gangbusters but as a stockmaker I can see how it's going to be a PITA to restock the separate lug widget.
I MUCH prefer the magazine release on the 85's, I haven't dropped a 75 mag in the field but have always been paranoid about it. I also prefer the slimmed down bolt shroud on the 85 without the goofy lock some 75's have.
I have a couple older Sako's, a 6PPC and a 223, neither is as smooth as the 75/85's.
I just can't love the synthetic stock on the new 85's. Too much Guigaro. It's outline is good but the little moulded in circles in the checkering pattern and a couple other details are just too much for me.

I guess the nicest thing about Sako's is that they are all good. There may be some preferences one way or another but you really can't go too far wrong with any of them.........................DJ

Recently I was lucky enuf to score a mint 75 Finlite in 300WSM. The stock is a near perfect fit for me and I am totally comfortable with detach mags.
Mine does not have the goofey lock setup. A couple years ago I was about to buy a 75 in 375 H&H till at the last minute I discovered it was one of those lock set-ups. So I passed on it.

I have 6 Sakos and they all shoot extremely well, from the .22 thru to the 375

Tasso

quote:

Originally posted by WestCoaster:
Recently I was lucky enuf to score a mint 75 Finlite in 300WSM. The stock is a near perfect fit for me and I am totally comfortable with detach mags.
Mine does not have the goofey lock setup. A couple years ago I was about to buy a 75 in 375 H&H till at the last minute I discovered it was one of those lock set-ups. So I passed on it.

I wouldn't pass a decent deal on a M-75 just because of the lock. I have them on a few of my M-75's and I've never touched it once. If you ignore it they won't bother you except for a tiny extra bit of weight, which on a 375 ain't no big deal. Just never turn the lock on and you won't notice it was there................................DJ

I know it was tough but I ran out of room in my safes and they were just sitting corners and other unsecure locations. Most of them were duplicates of calibers that don't matter to me, e.g., 308, 30-06, 7mm, 300 WM,270 etc., many of them were bought by folks who wanted to pay me much more than I paid so it wasn't so painful. My focus is on the rare and metric calibers. Lou

Sako are very good rifles.
I have had them in 7mm-08 308 and 375.
The only Sako I have just now is a Finnfire 22lr, On most days I shoot some vermin or ground game. Over the years I've tried most 22lr ammo but nothing I've tried shoots as well as the Sako with CCI Quick Shock.
I have taken Turkey with this combination, they were one shot kills.

Very fine rifles, have two old rifles and one 75, would be hard pressed to choose. They seem to shoot almost everything very well.

I've only owned one Sako,a L61r in 30-06
very accurate and i like the Monte Carlo
stock but i very seldom hunt with it,I
don't like the safety,I bump it off while
carrying at times and it a bit heavy
compared to my Rugers and Remingtons.

I own two three lug L61Rs in '06 and 338. Had an Alll in 270, it's gone. I never warmed up to the 75s I shot, would like to try an 85. Love my Pre-Garcia's but have no problem with improvements if they are more than just to the company bottom line.

I have an early '60s L579 Deluxe in .308, a '70 L579 .243, 2 mid eighties A1 & A2 hunters in 6ppc and 7mm08 and a finnfire. All are shooters. I prefer the mid eighties hunters due to the stock design that was carried through the 75 series. IMO it was a mistake to change the stock design for the 85.

Pre Garcia Sako's are a thing of beauty. The fit, finish and accuracy are second to non. I've never owned a 75 but have about 10 or so pre 72's. Couldn't get past the detachable mag and finish. It was like buying a Savage after owning a pre 64 Winnie. They both shoot excellent but the difference was night and day.

can't swing a 85,but thats fine my stw 75 ss/syn is joy to shoot n carry.

oh by the way no scary clip dreams here, took it elk hunting and walked for miles with it in my hands and slinged on my back.
regards

I have a Forester in HB 308 thats a beaut to shoot at the range. I have a Vixen in 223 , very nice shooting rifle, I have a 75 in a 25-06 HB that I find the most comfortable to shoot as the monte carlo fits me well. I have a 75 in a 22-250 sporter that is super accurate, and I have a Garcia in a deluxe in 25-06 still unfired. Its just so darn pretttty I can't bring my self to shoot it, yet.
I find that they all function almost identical, personal preference is the nice cheek piece on walnut 75's