I have a SAKO 375 H&H which gave no problems for the twenty years I left it sleeping in my safe.
Now that I use it extensively and HARD at my Big Bore Shoots the stock has started to split.

I understand this is common on Sako big bores, and Sako/Beretta don't seem to help much from what I've seen on these forums.

What to do???

BASA Website

All the post 1980 Sako's I have seen or used have split their stocks unless they were properly bedded.

Give yours a good glass beding job. cross bolt it through the grip and live happily.

I might mention that even the stocks on the newer rigby's etc break. If it isn't epoxy bedded it doesn't survive our dry season and some use!! (My 1950's H&H cracked as do all CZ's I've seen, most Winchesters... etc)

Ganyana,
man, when you say stuff like that you'll upset all the "haters" running around... of course a good rifle should be bedded, or it will break! now, an HH shouldn't break.. but, lets face facts, mighty few of those are sold compared to sako or ruger or cz

Facts are facts- I was watching charlie Haley at the range a couple of years ago sighting in a Brand New Rigby .450. The magazine started speinging open ofter the thirs shot and a big chunk of the stock behind the bolt handle broke off on shot 10. - Back to drawing board for the customer- CHarlie was so peeved he wrote it up with photo's and published it in African Hunter Mag.

For a working bolt action I must say I like kevlar stocks...

That's why both my .416 Rigby and .500 Jeffery sport LAMINATED stocks!! Way, way stronger than wood.

Dave

To my knowledge all Sakos in 338, 9.3x62, 375 H&H, and 416 came with two crossbolts. My remaining 375 H&H is the Fiberclass (McMillan) stock so I don't worry much. However, I have never seen one of the sako Hunter stocks crack from recoil. Perhaps I am just lucky. Lou

I've had many, and still have several Sakos, mostly L61Rs. Every one cracked, and was subsequently repaired and bedded.

The real cure is is to replace them with synthetic, but since mine are 'users' and not safe queens, they suffer the indignity of home-installed cross bolts and healthy dollops of AccraGlas. I did a L61R .338 up in an MPI synthetic about 20 years ago, and it ended up very light and I really like it. One of my friends did one up in a McMillan, and I like it even better.

My biggest beef on the L61R .375s is that the bolt knob (in the aft-raked factory configuration) whacks my index knuckle something awful. I had all my bolt handles straightened, and that was the end of that problem.

Funny thing - I do love my Mausers, and I think Paul Mauser should be sainted by the Vatican, but none of my Mausers will outshoot my old Sakos....and the Sakos just feel good, and point so darn well!

My Sako 75 375 has 2 crossbolts,and I've put over 1600 rounds thru it last 6 years. It has been on one safari. No signs of cracking of the stock. The only problem that I've had has been the springs for the detachable magazine and have found a gunsmith who makes his own springs and fixed the problem(mag coming out on recoil).I had probably had 1200 rounds thru it when the problem started.

I had a 375 Sako with the full length stock and the front part of the stock came off while shooting! It went back for a fix and looked good so I grabbed some factory ammo and went to the range. I think it was less than 15 shots and the stock came loose and almost off again. A call to the warranty dept and they said they will not fix it if I continue to shoot it so much... WOW. Also I was careless and not paying attention to the screw as it loosened, they said. I traded the gun off. Looking back now if I had the gun I would fix it myself, but back then I didn't know what to do with big guns.

I got my Sako L61R .375 at a bargain price because of an almost invisable crack back of the tang.. I will re-stock it with a never used old Herters stock in dense French walnut, cross bolt it and use steel bed.

I split the beautiful stock on my 1991 Sako A-V hunter in 416 Rem Mag. I let the bedding screws loosen over the course of firing 50 shots to practice for a trip.

I will repair it with lots of Titanium Devcon (and several threaded brass rods).

Then it will be a pattern stock. The new stocks will be a tad fatter around the magazine box.

Which rifle is it? I have a heavy fiberglass stock on a older Sako AIII, I believe it might be the original Fiberclass stock. However I'm going to take that old beast off and mount the rifle onto a good chunk of walnut. I guarantee that stock ain't gonna split, let me know if you're interested.