I'm looking at a customized .375 with a L61R action. The thing is gorgeous and seems to fit me perfectly, the action feels slick and tight, and the trigger breaks like glass. I'm really tempted but would appreciate any critique of the action.

Well, no one else wants to comment so I'll jump in... I like the L61R just because it's all steel and classy looking. I don't know enough about the new 75 but I think it is much nicer than the A-V series.

They make a wonderful 375, they just don't appeal to the CRF fans.

I had a custom made up about 1970 on one. I just did not appreciate CRF at the time and got the action for $40 anyway.

So I put a big bucks walnut blank into it and while it shoots well I am not so confident of a push feed anymore.

The Sako has a crummy safety that just fools with the trigger. In general I wish I picked something better for a DGR.

On the positive side the bolt handle is easy to grip. I don't know what else to say now. I have posted pics of it here and at least its accurate.

As far as yours goes a good deal is a good deal.

After that guide on Admiralty got chewed up when his Sako double fed and jammed I think even less of Sako's. Then there are the Sakos that blow up. Bet they never mentioned that to you!

The blowing-up thing isn't fair; that happened decades after the L61R came out. Or did I sleep through that one?

The L61R is an awesome action! Very solid and very straight.

lawndart

I have several L61 actions. One is a 358STA that weighs about 7lb. I had issues with Sako extraction on a short action 220 Swift but no trouble with the long ones. Mark

The Sako blow-up I believe was the modern guns and also a barrel blow up and not the action. Beretta pinned that on the steel of the barrel.

I have an AV in 7mm and it's been great. I had an L61R, but the rifle just didn't fit me near as well as the AV. I had some AIIIs as well and I admit the AV wasn't really an improvement over them. I was conversing with a gentleman who was well versed in Sakos and had bought and sold thousands of them. He never said a bad word about the L61R.

I found the info that fella sent me. Here you go:

"The L-61 R action was the predecessor to the AIII action for the longcalibers of 25-06 and bigger (going in length) the L-61 R had a round boltcap with a screw in it behind the bolt handle (just about where your eye would be looking straight into it if you were aiming your rifle) this is the opposite end of the bolt face and was for gunsmith adjustment and repairs. Nothing really to enhance performance but just an access point.

There are very minor differences in the foorplate design but you would have to hold a latter version up to the L-61R to really see them. The L-61R was used on all Finnbear models."

Here are his comments regarding the AV compared to the L61R, AIII, etc.:

"I believe as you have stated that the AV is better, but due to some internal features to strengthen the overall design (most of it overkill and really not necessary) and the earlier actions are smoother because back then they hand honed each action longer and spent more time on honing. The AV is also honed but not as long. Remember, Sako never worried about making money since they were government owned."

One last comment he made was that some Sakos are stamped Bofors, but in reality, MOST Sakos were actually Bofors, stamped or not.

Hope this helps.

quote:

Originally posted by Josywales:
One last comment he made was that some Sakos are stamped Bofors, but in reality, MOST Sakos were actually Bofors, stamped or not.

To my knowledge, the "Bofors" stampings relate to the barrels, not the action. All (true) Sako actions were made in the Finnish town of Rihimaki (OK, Finns, tear my spelling apart ). Bofors is a company and (I believe) a town in Sweden.

In general, those older Sako actions are as smooth as snot, and the guns usually shoot really well. Although not an L61R, my favourite Sako is built on an L461, it is just soooo smooth...

- mike

Go ahead and gush over a L61 but I have both a pre 64 M70 in 375 H&H and the aformentioned L61 in .375 I.

The Winchester is a class action. It has all the right features including CRF, a real safety that locks the firing pin, a real recoil lug, a bolt guide that can't be assembled backwards like the Sako so that the bolt falls out in your hand. The Sako does not impress. My mistake and I am stuck with it years later.

The Sako is the wrong action for a DGR. Maybe that's why it's for sale!

I have owned/used about 100 big game rifles, only one of which was a Sako, a Finnwolf in .308 win. It malfunnctioned from day one and needed serious mods before performing properly; the Belgian BLR in .308 I have is a far superior rifle. I found the Sakos I have shot to be very nicely finished, but, my P-64 Mod. 70s, classic Brnos, Husqvarnas and Belgian brownings are much superior rifles in functional terms.

I have spent my entire life in serious Grizzly country and have had lots of experience with them, they qualify as "dangerous game" IMO. I completely agree with Savage 99 on his comments re: DGRs and mine is also a P-64-.375H&H.

I knew a guy who has a Sako Fiberclass that he double-clutched up at Edziza Park in N.W. B.C. when a Grizzly ran up to him while backpacking; he told me pointblank that he would be dead now if the bear had not decided to wander off. It's good fun to argue about what is best in situations like this, but, those of us who have been there tend to choose a CRF in a "stomper" caliber as this is not an experience that one wants to repeat.

[/QUOTE]
To my knowledge, the "Bofors" stampings relate to the barrels, not the action. All (true) Sako actions were made in the Finnish town of Rihimaki (OK, Finns, tear my spelling apart ). Bofors is a company and (I believe) a town in Sweden. - mike[/QUOTE]

Yes, it is the barrels that are stamped and not the actions. Thanks for clarifying. And the point being that some barrels, although Bofors steel, for some reason were not stamped.

quote:

Originally posted by Wanderer:
I'm looking at a customized .375 with a L61R action. The thing is gorgeous and seems to fit me perfectly, the action feels slick and tight, and the trigger breaks like glass. I'm really tempted but would appreciate any critique of the action.

Most people consider the L61R to be the Gold Standard of push feed actions. I'll try to avoid reopening the endless (and typically irrational) debate over Mauser-style ("controlled feed") actions vs. others, except to say that there are VERY FEW ways for a bolt action to misfeed, and that there are as many or more chances for a malfunction with a "controlled feed" as with any other. Sako L61R's are in no way prone to misfeed.

Savage 99's comments on the Sako safety are equally applicable to any safety that only addresses the trigger and not the striker. Most safeties are trigger rather than striker, at a ratio of about 10 to 1. Again, the Sako safety is among the best of its type: positive and silent. The same applies to the trigger, which can typically be adjusted (as you've found) down to the two pound range without modification.

The comment about "internal" improvements in the AV action are erroneous. The AV's (and very similar AIII's) are excellent actions, but outside of having a shrouded striker head, they are essentionall the same as the L-series. There is no stregthening of the A-series, in fact it lacks the third or "safety" lug (a la Mauser '98) at the rear of the bolt that the early L61R's had. This third lug was redundant, so it was dropped in later production.

Sakos are regarded as among the strongest of actions (although virtually any action is stronger than the brass case that actually contains the pressure). Recent "blow ups" of one particular model of current-production Sako rifle have been related to a defect in the stainless steel of certain barrels and is not related to the action.

But let's not quibble over opinions, rather let's let the market decide: If you go out looking for a Sako L61R or a current production CRF Model 70 on which to build a rifle, you're going to expect to pay more for the Sako. So I guess the "market" has an opinion of the relative values.

Hello
I was going to ask this in a separate thread
but seeing this topic I saw excellent occassion
to ask my question here.

Several months ago I read a post here on AR
(in Big Bores or Gunsmithing)an old post I`d add
As you probably know the earlier SAKO actions
have separate bolt stop housings attached to the
receivers by two screws.Some guy posted that
after ammo failure(case rupture or pierced
primer,I can`t recall now)the escaping gases
sheared both screws and sent the bolt stop
housing into his face.The guy said something
about having a "nice" mark on his face since then.He didn`t ditch the rifle though.He just
reattached the bolt stop housing with bigger
screws and probably still uses that rifle.
So..that seems to be the weak spot of those
actions,and like everytime I hear about
this type of accidents
I`d like to ask...Has that happen to anyone else out there?

Regards
-----------------------------------------------

Buy the damn thing and go away happy. Sako tested each of those actions (I was there and have seen them do it many times) with 3 blue pill (30%) overloads before they ever fired them for accuracy. The pre 1972 actions had a third locking lug just before the bolt handle.
Bofors is the steel used in the bbls. and is from the Bofors factory in Sweden. No Bofors markings can be found after 1968 as I recall (would have to look back in my records and too damn lazy to do so now) but there was Bofors steel at the plant as late as '72. Bofors has to do with bbbls. only and nothing to do with actions.
I have seen a number of serious blow ups due to wrong ammo in the guns and the action has never failed. Most actions were checked and used again.
I use a number of Sako action rifles myself and have some that have had multiple of thousands of rounds run thru them. NO PROBLEMS!
I will be happy to put that action up against any Mod 70 or 98 you wish to put against it. If you are willing to try and blow one of yours up I will donate one of mine for the trials.

I have a L61R and no problems as of yet. It is one smooth action, in a .338 cal.---one of the best shooters I own. Never jammed a bullet either. Reload to boot.good shootin

quote:

Originally posted by DARTH 44:
Hello
I was going to ask this in a separate thread
but seeing this topic I saw excellent occassion
to ask my question here.

Several months ago I read a post here on AR
(in Big Bores or Gunsmithing)an old post I`d add
As you probably know the earlier SAKO actions
have separate bolt stop housings attached to the
receivers by two screws.Some guy posted that
after ammo failure(case rupture or pierced
primer,I can`t recall now)the escaping gases
sheared both screws and sent the bolt stop
housing into his face.The guy said something
about having a "nice" mark on his face since then.He didn`t ditch the rifle though.He just
reattached the bolt stop housing with bigger
screws and probably still uses that rifle.
So..that seems to be the weak spot of those
actions,and like everytime I hear about
this type of accidents
I`d like to ask...Has that happen to anyone else out there?

Regards
-----------------------------------------------

I'm suspicios of that story. If sufficient presure went to that area of the action it would blow away from the action, not back into the face. The screws may have sheared and the bolt release fell off but that doesn't mean that's what struck his face. More likely that a piece of primer or brass blew through the bolt into the face.

For what it's worth, I bought a like new Finnbear (L61R)in 375 H&H last fall. Loaded up with Nosler 260 and Rl 15. Shot with all three touching at 100 yd., what else could you want?

quote:

The Sako is the wrong action for a DGR. Maybe that's why it's for sale!

Cuanta questa senor?
How much?

LD