Given that you have to pay around £300 more for a sako than most other hunting rifles, is the extra money worth it?

I believe that the Sako is worth the money. Excellent quality rifle. I love mine.
Best, Starcharvski

One more thing. Welcome to the forums. Good shooting!!

quote:

Are Sako rifles overated

I think the answer to that is no and yes. The pre 75 series Sakos were very fine rifles. I have a M591, two L691s and an AV and like them very much. Fit and finish are excellent and were notably better than many other rifles I used to compare them to. There are other good makes on the market, but Sako made a very good product in their day.

However the rifle selling game needs gimmicks to keep people buying rifles, so Sako introduced the 75 series which is a major step back in my opinion. Fit and finish is still good, but I believe the action design is flawed. Plus of course there have been a few rifle failures with the 75. Unfortunately I will never buy another Sako while the 75 is their flagship offering.

Just my opinion.

Fergus

Thats a good question, but are rifles not like cars? they all do the same thing but its how they do it and how much you want to pay for the "doing". i go custom FWIW
D

VV,

Tough but fair question.

300 pounds more than what other rifles though? A Steyr-Mannlicher or Blaser? Or a perhaps a Savage or a Biakal?

Yes, I agree they tend to be pricey.

I've never owned a Sako but have friends that do.

I entertained purchasing a Sako once but a Remington got in the way and won (definate price/value relation).

I guess to sum it up, I think their price is based alot on reputation - one that used to be there, IMO, not today and no their appearance is similar to other rifles manufactured today and I've never experienced a Sako being so much more accurate than any other rifle, either.

On top of being a pricey rifle you get a pricey proprietary mounting system, too!

I've never experienced anything in a Sako, material, finish, style, accuracy or other quality that would convince me they are so much better than everything else as to demand a premium.

No, They are just a bit over priced.
The blow ups where due to bad barrel steel.
I like the 75 stainless actions. and the TRG's. the older actions make a nice custom rifle base.
Pete

quote:

Originally posted by Gerry:
I entertained purchasing a Sako once but a Remington got in the way and won (definate price/value relation).

Gerry, but that is just because you are a tight fisted old bugger, isn't it...

quote:

Originally posted by Gerry:
On top of being a pricey rifle you get a pricey proprietary mounting system, too!

Gerry is naturally right about the proprietary mount system, but every man and his dog (Leupold, Weaver, Warne etc) make rings/mounts for those integral bases these days. So although the Sako Optilocks may still be close to the best option, and although they are kind of pricey, there are lots of less expensive mount options.

quote:

Originally posted by Gerry:
I've never experienced anything in a Sako, material, finish, style, accuracy or other quality that would convince me they are so much better than everything else as to demand a premium.

But that is only because you have yet to shoot my L461 in .222 Rem, which I'll keep ready for your next visit down here. That will let you experience how that action operates compared to a M700. If you don't come close to wetting your pants over the Sako, I'll buy you a beer. Deal?? The Sako is just sooooo smooth...

And while we are at it, we'll shoot my single shot A1 in 6mm PPC. Not many factory rifles come close to that kind of accuracy straight out of the box, and not many factory rifles can better the match (factory) trigger on that rifle. Sakos are nice! Their stocks may not be the prettiest in the World, but in terms of fit and functionality, they'll beat a Remington any day.

With regards to the orginal question, which I suppose compares contemporary Sakos (75s) to other contemporary rifles.... No, I would probably not choose a Sako 75 over a Sauer, Heym, Steyr or Blaser. But if I could afford the difference, the Sako is a better rifle than a M700 or a M70, at least in terms of fit and expected out of the box accuracy. But then again, a M700 will also get the job done...

Pete, what has been keeping you of late? Good to see you back, even if it means one more Blaser-phobic to endure... . Are you going to come down to Zurich for the April range outing as we discussed??

- mike

I had a pair of AV Fiberclasses and in a fit of stupidity I sold my 375. So now I have a 30-06 Fiberclass/Finnfiber depending on what they called it that week.

It's my favorite rifle. Trigger is awesome, the fit and finish are nice, and it has a wonderful McMillan stock on it.

Sako's new owner is more of a $$$$ person so the rifles lost a lot of the AV qualities.

If I can find another AV I am going to buy it. The 75 stock design is wonderful. But I don't care for the actions being cast, or the plastic stocks. I would own one if I could get it at a good price and it was a caliber I wanted. I wouldn't own one just to own one.

I really like M700s except for that little tiny safety. Of course and I love R93s, and I would love to have a 202 or a M03 Mauser.

I think the only way to tell is to have owned one of each for a long time, shot the hell out of both then come to a conclusion.I still am in this experiment.Hope to one day have the answer.

VV,

You're getting some pretty candid responses here - looks like you'll have an opinion or two to assist in deciding.....fact or fiction?

Mike,

Tight-fisted? You haven't a clue my friend; when I pay cash the notes have blood on them when I shove 'em across the counter.....after I undo all the (numerous) security features on my wallet!

I can't loose on your offer; I get to shoot your Sako, then I'll tell you whatever you want to hear about it and get a free beer, cool! I'll wait on wetting the pants.....

Fergus & Seth,

Very good points as well IMO.

I'm not a fan or the optilock mounts, but the work.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/PeteLincoln/S3500748.jpg

alternatively the Sako 75 ( and all other sako's) can be converted to a picatinny rail. which is the best, strongest and most versitile mounting system available.
Pete

Pete don't forget and "UGLIEST" mount!

Well next to my beloved Blaser's ugly mount.

I love these questions! I guess the question that runs thru my mind when folks compare hunting rifles is....... at what range would I feel comfortable stood infront of one?

I kinda judge a hunting style rifle purely by the trigger and the size of group it produces - sad maybe in todays materialistic society, but it helps me keep in mind that we are looking (hopefully) for a hunting tool.

The day I look for a work of art is the day I lose sight of my primary aim (no pun intended) - that of placing the shot!

Having said all that - yeah, by my criteria, overpriced when performance is compared to the Tikka range!

Keep well!

Rgds Ian

I´ve owned several Sakos and I regret selling my .222 Rem Mag -that gun shot like few else. I have a .416 Rigby built on a L61 action and it is nice.

BUT I never liked the Sako 75 that I had and would never buy another 75!

IMO Sako no longer deserves it´s reputation.

cewe,why didn't you like the Sako 75.One thing that is for sure the extractor is extremely reliable.It also feeds much more easily than a Remington.The rail for the mounts is also very convenient.The trigger is very consistent and the firing pin spring does not lose it's power easily.Blueing is nice.Wood is nice.

I had a 75 in 30-06 (stainless barrel/walnut stock) and it was quite a looker! The gun shot well, no problems with the trigger BUT I´ve never owned a gun that after a day in the woods was rattling like an old jalopy -screws were always working themselves loose. The action on tht gun was in no way smooth and the magazine fell out if I coughed. The last drop was when the barrel started shifting in relation to the action -I´ve never regretted selling it even though I shot a fair amount of game with it.

Well for what its worth, I shoot a Sako 75 in 6mm PPC. VSLAM heavy barrel and that thing shot sub 1/4 on barrel break in with factory ammo. It shoots better with handloads. Not bedded not fiddled with in any way. Just straight out the box and shot. Not many rifles can do that.
I agree the older sakos have a very nice feel to them but I sincerely believe that the 75S problems are not caused by the action but by sloppy quality control standards that let bad rifles leave the factory. If the action and barrel are well matched and the recoil lug is firmly in place these actions are world beaters.
Just my opinion

See Yawl!

I should have said when you can buy a Remington,Winchester, Howa or Weatherby for around £500-£600,is the workmanship and finish and out of the box accuracy that much better than a Sako that costs £900.

Its worth the extra if YOU like the looks and feel, it fits you better, and you are happy with what you get. That is pretty much it with anything you buy in life. Find what makes you happy. Most cheap guns will go bang when you pull the trigger and be adequate for hunting purposes (generally).
Much of it is personal taste.

We are 9 friends that hunt together and only one is not using Sako. We have hunted together for some years and under all kind of conduction, in frost, snow, rain and all weathers our Icelandic nature throw at us, plus some of us have taken theirs guns abroad to the States, Europe and Africa. Not once has any of our guns failed and I can add that 20 years ago I bought a old Sako Riimaki in 222 with heavy barrel from a old farmer that used it a lot and I have done the same, and now that rifle is my youngest daughters favorite, and still shoots like a dream.

Up to .338 win mag not, but for 375 yes, because Tikka doesn´t make a .375.