The rifleing is barley visible but it will still shoot into moa at 100yrds.40gr vmax's
its a Sako Riihimaki. mfg around the late 50's.
It has a detachable magazine.
I have been trying to deside wheather to have it sleeved or just put a new barrel on it.
the way it is its value has declined but what I would really like is a barrel that has all the Finland markings,
what do you think?

If at all possible I would have the barrel bore scoped, and hope that the throat is where the wear is. Then you could either make it a .223 or a .222 Mag which in the later case would be the simplest to remarque! Surely the fresh rifling would greatly extend the life of a classic varminter.

If you like the rifle and shoot it a lot, I'd rebarrel. Save the old barrel for the collector that you might sell the rifle to someday. In the mean time, look for a good used take off. You might just find one someday. Then again, an inch @ a 100 ain't all that bad.

I have been looking but nothing as of today.
The 40gr vmax is only thing i can get it to shoot 1:14 twist? veery thing heavier key holes.
Thanks.

I go with Craigster. I just sold my 1957 model single shot. I built it from a partial receiver, that is no trigger, bolt release, bolt release housing, and no sear bar. It took me a long time to make the pieces, but the rifle wasn't original. I have the sear bar and bolt release on floppy if anybody needs them.
Butch

I have found out that H 335 and BLC 2 load data seem to stretch out the accuracy on a throat eroded 223 barrel...

I have an ER Shaw 223 barrel supposedly showing up any day now... It was $147.00 delivered on the door step long chambered.. but unblued..

I am going to have it parkerized....

I had a doctor friend that passed away, that had all sorts of firearms...but his favorite one hands down was a Sako Forester in 222 Rem, that he bought before he went to Australia for 2 years to work on a sheep station... he loved that darn thing....

I'd never let the one you have go.. I'd just rebarrel the old gal...

to wash out the barrel,it must have had a lot of rounds down the barrel.. I am discovering the life of a 223 barrel can be pretty darn long... like 12,000 to 15,000 rounds or better in a bolt action...

I saw a .222 take-off barrel on ebay or some other site just yesterday. It should just fit right in with minimal work necessary.

I can't imagine that if the gun shoots as well as you say that the rifleing is as bad as you think it is.

The 14 twist barrel should have no problem shooting up to 55 grain pills. It may be shot out if it will only stabilize 40 grain pills.

I would rebarrel and have it chambered for a min spec 222 Rem with a 0.250 neck. This neck size allows you to use factory loads (no neck turning, but keeps the brass from getting to large.

Mike