Help needed please, a friend has money burning a hole in his pocket for a new rifle.

Was looking at a Sauer 202 or a Sako 85. Am I imagining things or were there reports of action problems with the Sako's. Think he is looking at a .308 or 30-06 but not sure. He might also be considering a synthetic stock.

On a different topic I have now bedded a Bansner stock to a Rem 700 in 7-08 and am really happy with it. Although I don't think the Bansner is as tough as my McMillan it certainly makes for a lightweight stalking rifle (also invested in a Swaro 3-10x42 scope) great combo!!!

NW, what does he intend to shoot with it, mainly roe?
if he got himself a sako 75, which are 100% problem free! in .308 he can spend the rest of his money on some good optics...

now that would be a good combo.

but then if he got a 30.06 i could kick his arse on some targets maybe?!

Haven't seen a sako 85 yet, Glasgow Field Sports have a few on order so we'll see what the difference is between the 75 & 85 when they come in.

I haven't any knowledge of the 85 but I'd bet a small amount of money that underneath all the marketing hype the 85 costs less to produce than the 75 which in turn cost less than the previous model which in turn ..... you get the drift

This is an 80s vintage sako with 80s mounts and 80s scope - IMHO much superior to what is available now.



I'm sure the 85 is fine but I mourn the fact that I cannot buy the older models...

Looks like Beretta have told Sako to give their rifles the same treatment as Tikka did to produce the T3 - ie cost cut to sell cheaper in the US.

The Sako 75 is a pretty decent rifle. My buddy has an older L461 in .243win which is a great rifle.

The new 85 looks like shit. Horrible cheap looking stock. Can't comment on the metalwork yet.

Nightwalker, to answer your question, if your pal's budget will run to the Sauer 202, buy it. They are a great rifle.

There are some decent synthetic and light weight options available now.

Regards

Cheers folks, haven't looked into them as yet but is it right that the '75 is now dicontinued?

But what about the problems with the '85 actions blowing up, or have I just imagined all of this?

I see to recall something as well although I thought it was a bad batch of SS barrels which were coming apart?

A friend of mine had a couple of the Tikka T3's and they really did smack of being cheap and cheerful with the plastic trigger guard ect...

Trouble was they both shot extremely well, in fact I can't recall anybody ever complaining they don't shoot...

Personally I would take a CZ over Tikka even if the CZ are a bit argicultural...

Regards,

Pete

NW,

I really don't have a Dog in this fight but for my $0.02 worth you are comparing apples to oranges.

O.K. - O.K. - whether the Sako 85's are a better model than the 75 is to me a more valid comparison than trying to compare the Sako to the Sauer which from my perpective entails different criteria.

The Sauer's (Brian point, a good one) are a more Teutonic engineered rifle, different style, heavier, trigger, safety, don't balance as well as the Sako's IMO but are modular system with countless options available, barrels, stocks, mounts, accessories, etc.

With the Sako, well there's just one rifle but you get the Sako mythos and better balance and supposedly detailed craftsmanship (and you're stuck with expensive Sako scope mounts for the rest of your life also).

The choice is there but to me based on sorta, "What do you want in a rifle?"

nightwalker
your friend will be delighted with a sako 75 tried and tested as opposed to poss probs with model 85?
saur 202? i have just sold my 202 in 300 win mag only fired 43 shots from new?the reason?i found a sako 75 stainles 300 win fired seven shots only,i would have bought a sako in the first place only couldnt get one in the uk for app 18 months,that said the saur s are nice rifles shoot well,i find that my sako handles/points far better and also the recoil feels less/ taking it to czech /germany in 2 weeks.
GERRY ,we can get warne mounts in the uk now ,so not so expensive! and better made
regards scirroco

1894 and Claret are bang on!

I viewed the Hunter model on the GMK stand at this year's Game Fair. I didn't ask to handle it as I wasn't in the market at the time but when viewed bolted to the display stand I couldn't agree with Clater more. It looked dreadful when compared to the equivalent Model 75.

If I was your chum and I defintely wanted a Sako I would look to pick up a 75 in the model of my choice. Alternatively contact Brian Fox and have a serious look at a Howa. I did recently and if I hadn't already bought two SS Model 75s it would have been a tough choice. The stainless laminate Howa I handled offered equal if not better perceived quality to my 75s and for half the money or less. It's a buy one get one free deal when compared to Sako! Difficult to argue against.

Regards,

Gerry, if I had feelings, you could hurt them: Sauer 202 - Heavy? Badly balanced? As we would say in NI, catch yourself on big lad....

The only problem with my Sauer is the weight of the S&B scope making it top heavy.

Pete has it right on the Sako problem. Sako got a dubious batch of stainless steel a few years ago. A couple of rifles let go, the barrels peeled like banana skins. There was a recall on specific S/S models.

Right that must have been it then! There was just something that was in my head about them thats all.

Observed a Sauer 202 in .270 knock down 4 fallow this morning coming out the rain, no messing. 120 grain RWS little meat damage but not much shot reaction either.

Regards NW

Brain,

Sorry about trodding on your Sauer toes, pal. Life's all about choices....many of my buddies shoot them, they are enormously popular here in the Fatherland and obviously abroad. Their success speaks for itself and even a version for the Left-Handers of the world - good concept and great marketing - fantastic. A great Tuetonic combination that Sauer/S&B, reduce the top-heaviness with a Leopold - I don't think so?

In all seriousness "catch your(my)self on big lad....", is that sorta like comprehending what's occuring or such? You know, common language and all?

Gerry, "catch yourself on" would be the Northern Ireland equivalent of an Americanism like "get real", generally used in a humourous context.

Regarding scopes, my CZ wears a Meopta, my Steyr wears a Swarovski and the Sauer wears the aforementioned S&B. Notice a pattern? Wasn't really intentional.

I am considering swapping the S&B for a 3-12x50 Swaro one of the new illuminated reticules. Purely as way of reducing that weight thing.

Trying to finish some work here so I can go and hunt woodcock with the german pointers.

Do you think I have a German thing going on? I have even took a notion for a Blazer recently. Better lie down.

I haven't seen or used a sako 85, but have used and owned older Tikkas/sakos. Agree with several comments made, sako 75's still availble and a proven product, as with Tikka M695s. Spend your monet wisely; more then availble for quality optics. Most modern centre-fire rifles offer decent accuracy these days, however they are only as good as the optics mounted on them, and "the nut behind the but". Enjoy your shopping!