I am building a custom big game rifle in 6.5-284 or 6.5-06 on a Sako action. The problem is, which Sako action is the best suited for the project. The project will be laid up in a McMillan Sako stock with a #3 or #4 Pac-Nor SS super match 10 twist 26" barrel. The action I have my eye on has the bolt guide down the port side, swing out floor plate and mechanical ejector. I believe it has IV on the action. It is blued with a factory synthetic stock (it is not the model 75). Is this the best action for the project as far as Sakos go? I have a TRG-S in 7mm mag. and I need a girl friend for it. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated. I can't find any info on the various older Sako actions. Flinch

Flinch,
I don't mean to start a ruckus, but what determined your choice of a 10 twist for a big game rifle? Normally the twist is at least 9 and in some cases as fast as 7-1/2 to 8. I would think that with the heavier bullets for big game hunting that you would want at least a 9 twist.
Bill

Flinch,

I think you will be happy with any Sako action - I know I would.

Bill,

What do you mean "....I don't mean to start a ruckus"?

We are always looking for forward to some health discussions here! And a ruckus is just about the best way to start!

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saeed@ emirates.net.ae

www.accuratereloading.com

I must add my 2 cents to what Bill Tompkins said:

If you stick with the 1 in 10 twist the barrel chart shows you will only be able to stabilize very light bullets. Shilen's barrel guide shows 1 in 9" can stabilize bullets up to 130 gr. Barrel twist of 1 in 8" can stabilize bullets over 130 gr.

If you want an accurate rifle that can shoot a wide range of bullets I would look at the 1 in 8" twist.

Steve

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Every man dies, but not every man really lives!!

I have a custom 6.5-06 on a 700 action and like it a lot. It has a 9 twist Douglas on it and the heaviest that I shoot is 140's. They go clear through everything. I much prefer 120's due to the speed (I do a lot of long range varminting with it as well). I "think" the 1 in 10 twist will yield more speed than the 1 in 9 twist and since I don't plan on shooting 140's in it, that was the decision I came too. Most of the guys that shoot 1 in 10 twists do not have problems shooting up to 140's. For 155 and 160's the 1 in 8 or 1 in 7.5 is a better twist, but I have not need for that heavy of bullets. I have bigger guns for those kind of tasks. I am really hoping to shoot 120 X bullets in it at 3,300 fps. It will primarily be a deer and antelope rifle. Anyway, back to the proper action in Sako. Flinch

Flinch,

For custom rifle on Sako action usually people prefer the older ones with integral recoil lug. The newer ones from L691 (a twin lug not a tri lug 75 action) have an L shaped aluminium lug attached to a lug on the action. It is removeable.

The lug does not seem to affect shooting ability though as my .375 H&H Mag L691 shoots great regardless. In fact if you mount it in a HS Precision synthetic stock (mine is a wood stock) you remove the lug & don't use it.

I reckon the older actions are nicer than the 75's and you are making a good choice. Probably even better if they had controlled round feed on the old twin lug action. Its a very smooth action.

Regards,
JohnT

Flinch,
One of the older Sako actions that you might be able to pick up would be an L61R. These came with either the magnum boltface (.532) or the standard (.473) boltface. These receivers have the moving guide rib on them. I have used these in the past for making .375 H&H on the magnum receivers and lots of the '06 variations on the standard.

The receivers with the Roman numerals can get real confusing sometimes. I have an L579 which is the .308 length receiver and can also go by the Series II nomenclature. I measured the magazine box and it will work quite well for the 6.5 x 284 cartridge. It has 2.800" of room and you can get 3 down and one in the tube.

Let me know if you need more information.
Bill

I bought the Sako rifle that I was talking about earlier. It has the the large recoil lug machined into the receiver. The action screw bolts right into the recoil lug from the bottom in front of the floor plate. This is a nice smooth action and I am very happy with it. I still don't know how to tell all the different variations apart, but this is what I was looking for. Dang, why can't American rifle manufacturers build nice stuff like the Fins. The fit and finish on this rifle is a work of art. Not bad for $450 bucks. I feel like a ripped the guy off, but that is what he wanted for it. I don't think the rifle has been shot. Flinch

Yeah, I do think you ripped the guy off. To ease your conscience and put you at ease with the world again, I'll take it off your hands for what you paid for it. I'll even come pick it up..... Dutch.

The A III or A IV is what you are looking for. I think that's called the Finnbear action.

Cheers

Pete

The best of the old Sako actions is the L Series, L461 (222 lenth), L-579 (308 lenth) etc.

You can tell tem because they have a cocking piece just like a Mauser 98...

they came with dovetail square bridges for scope mounting and round top...

They were a wonderfull action...I built my 6x45 on an old round top L-461 and Tony Barnes and I made me a M-70 3 position Safty out of a section of the old 222 barrel that was on it when I bought it...It has a dark red full fiddle back peice of extremely hard and dense Claro that I had for 25 years in my shop...It is a lovely gun and shoots 10 shots in .560 average for 5 groups..Not to shabby for a 5 Lb. rifle including scope..

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

The older Sako's truly were works of art. Very well finished and fitted. I had a brief but torrid love affair with Sakos back about twenty years ago , owned about ten of them and bought, sold or traded off probably forty during that time. Not a one of them was innacurate and a few were nearly amazing, especially the little Vixens I had in .222 Rem, .222 Mag and .223 Rem. Most all shot under 1/2" with a little fiddling and one a .223 Heavy Barrel shot solid .25-.30 Inch all day long with good ammo.
I saved a nice .375 H&H and had a 24" Hart barrel installed had pPaul chamber it in .300 H&H, then bed it into a Mc Millan glass stock. One of my favorite rifles and cartridges. Very accurate, ALWAYS feeds and ejects and a very crisp trigger.
Sounds to me that this will be a great rifle, good luck.

FN

The rifle shoots too damn good!!! I thought I would take it out just to see if it shot well before fiddling with it and turning it into a 6.5-06. I threw together some "play" loads with some 165 grain Sierra bullets and IMR4895. Shot a .45" load right out of the gate. I think this rifle will stay in its current configuration of .30-06. Not bad for $450 and never being shot....until I got a hold of it . I guess I will just have to find another one...darn! Flinch