does anyone have a link to general Sako info - a web site or maybe a forum? I'd like to know the models as they changed and the advantages/disadvantages of each.

I have a hankering for an older one...

Jaywalker

Who is general Sako?

Sorry I couldn't resist.

Geronimo

The Man to ask is our one and only "Harry," he singlehandedly founded the Sako Collectors Association years ago.

The company website is WWW.Sako.fi , I'm sure there are others, I'll post them if I find some better ones..............DJ

The "Sako Collectors Association" sounds like what I'm looking for - in a sense of "General Discovery," of course...

Any links to the SCA?

Jaywalker

Go on Msn and apply for Sako collectors group!
They know everything about Sakos!

Regards

I found it, thanks.

Jaywalker

Okay,
Here is a very short and incomplete course in Sakos. Prior to the model 75 they are very desirable. The receivers are generally very straight. The factory trigges have always been decent. On their target models the triggers are exceptional. The "Hunter" style stock (the model 75 has a modified hunter style stock) is one of the most ergonomically perfect stocks ever. Comfortable with both irons or scopes. The "wundhammer" swell on the pistol grip feels very good and helps control the rifle. I own twelve, soon to be fourteen Sakos. Don't start buying and using them. You will be spoiled, and it will cost you lots of money .

lawndart

I got to the point of needing a twelve-step program for my Sako addiction. At one point I had almost 100 Sakos. Now I am down to just a few. What a ride. I still firmly believe that they are one of the finest production rifles (pre 75). I have also used them as platforms for many custom rifles.

i have a AV and a 75. I see nothing wrong with the 75

PATRIOT76:

quote:

i have a AV and a 75. I see nothing wrong with the 75

I don't, either, but I want to learn about the various generations of them.

Jaywalker

Yea, What are the gripes about the 75?

Never owned one, but I've shouldered a few in the gun store. They seem to fit me well, smooth action, nice trigger, good balance and I love that palm swell on the deluxe. But like I said, I've never owned one.

Terry

I have had a AV in 7mm Rem Mag for about 16 years and it has been a great rifle,never movers from zero,isn't finnicky about loads,seems to shoot all of them real well. Mine was imported by Stoger.

quote:

Originally posted by Jaywalker:
I want to learn about the various generations of them.

Jaywalker

Thumbnail sketch:

Early post-war, Sako began producing a small, front-locking turnbolt with a detachable magazine called the L-46. It was chambered in .22 Hornet and a proprietary cartridge, 7x33 Sako. Soon after the L-46 came out, fortune smiled and Remington introduced the .222, which couldn't have been more tailor-made for the L-46. Later, the L-46 was also chambered for .222 Magnum, and a longer (medium) action, the L-57 (with a box magazine) came into production chambered for the relatively new .308, its offspring, the .243, and a few in .244 Remington. During this period Sako also built long-action rifles on the FN Mauser action in calibers like .300 H&H.

In the early '60's, Sako modernized the L-46 and L-57 into the L-461 and L-579. The newer actions both had box magazines with hinged floorplates, and had the safeties moved from the striker housing to the trigger. About the same time, a true long action (3.6" magazine) called the L-61R was introduced. The L-61R was produced in both "standard" and "magnum" bolt face and was basicly an upsized L-579, except that it also had a rear ("third" or "safety") locking lug similar to a Mauser.

There were various importers during this period, most prominently Firearms International of Washington D.C. Many of the barrels on rifles up through about 1972 were stamped "Bofors Steel", and are regarded as premium barrels (although I've never had any lesser performance from a non-Bofors Sako barrel).

About 1972, Garcia took over the imporation of Sakos. During this era, Garcia had Sako beef up the barrels and make the stocks heavier to give them a more "Americanized" feel. The standard grade Sakos also lost some of the luster in their bluing. Therefore, "pre-Garcia" rifles are held in somewhat higher esteem. Garcias seem to shoot just fine, and in the Deluxe grades lost no quality of finish. Most of the Garcia L-61R's had no third safety lug.

Eventually, Garcia sold out its firearms division and Stoeger became the Sako importer. Soon afterward, there was a revision in the numbering of actions and they were re-numbered A-1, A-II, and A-III for short, medium, and long. The cocking piece grew a shroud, and the shape of the magazine latch varied some, but they were essentially the same action. The A-III was short-lived, soon being replaced by the A-V (there was never an A-IV to my knowledge). The difference in the two seems to have been limited to the length of the tang.

Between the A-series and current Model 75 came the S-series. It used a recoil lug that was not an integral part of the action. The diameter of the slick little 46/461/A-1 action was fattened. Not all that many of the S-series was built compared to the L-'s and A-'s.

A much different action based on the Sako TRG sniper rifle was built for a while beginning in the late 90's. The synthetic-stocked TRG-s or Model 995 used a detachable magazine and had a 60 degree three-lug bolt.

Ultimately, the two-lug actions were dropped entirely in favor of the current three-lug Model 75. The 75 is made in several different action designations, but still the same basid three lengths. Its avaialable with either a fixed or detachable magazine, and is, of course, now imported by Beretta, USA. Many say that the trigger is not as good as the old one, and others decry the non-traditional three lug bolt, as well as the fadish (and foolish) key locking feature that prevents the gun from shooting (similar to the Remington J-lock). Most 75's I've seen have been well-finished and attractive. I have a friend who owns two and he is pleased.

Sakos came in a maddening variety of calibers and configurations: Mannlicher, heavy barrel varmint, sporter, standard, Deluxe, anniversary, safari, euro, battue, ad infinitum. Most Deluxe models carried no sights at all, while most standard models carried only a front sight. A brief run designated the Model 72 (not to be confused with the P72 rimfire) had both rear open sights and front sight. Sometimes the grip cap used a Phillips screw and sometimes it used a slotted screw -- and "experts" will argue 'til they're blue in the face about what that means (all it means is that's what Sako's supplier had available on that day!). Sometimes, there was no grip cap (most Garcias) and sometimes there was a contrasting wood grip cap (Deluxe). Earlier actions used a lever inside the trigger guard as the floorplate release, while a little later the release was an angled plunger. Checkering was usually very good, but a few of the otherwise "superior" pre-Garcia models had atrocious checkering, while all of the Garcias seemed to have very nicely executed checkering (all were done by hand.) The only certain rule about Sakos is that there is no certain rule.

Dickson-Howa Golden Bear: This Japanese rifle, made by the same company that now makes Weatherby Vanguards, was a direct and undisguised copy of the Sako Finnbear (L-61R). Reportedly, there was an international patent suit and Howa relented and dropped the Golden Bear. I've seen just a couple of examples, usually in .30-06. Never had the chance to examine one closely or shoot one, and I would assume that their quality was several notches below a Sako. But I'd love to have one, just for the novelty of it.

I'll guarantee you that everything above can't be totally accurate, so don't anybody jump down my throat, because this is all off the top of my head. Hope there's enough here to help get you oriented as to Sakos.

Thank you Stonecreek,
you filled in some (very) large gaps in my small body of knowledge on the subject.
I like your "maddening variety" description.
I should encourage everyone to buy a 75. Nothing the matter with them, I just like the "A" series better.

lawndart

Yes, Stonecreek, thank you for that lucid and concise explanation/description. It goes into the "keeper" file.

Jaywalker