I have another question on Sakos..I have quite a few pre Garcia sako's that are marked bofors, and was wondering what all the action type's are I have some that are L57, L571 L461 etc.. Can someone explain what the differnces are, or where I might look to find out..

Here's a basic primer on Sakos. It is not intended to be comprehensive or absolute, so Harry, don't jump all over me!

The first Sako-made Sako actions (this excludes the Moisen-Nagant and the Sakos built on FN Mauser actions) Were designated L-46 (.22 Hornet and .222) and L-57 (.243, .308). The L-46 used a detachable magazine, while the L-57 had a hinged floorplate as I recall.

After a few year's production, they were slightly modified into the L-461 and L-579, and the long-action L-61R was introduced. All had hinged floorplates and box magazines. The safety was changed from a round-headed button to a sliding tab.
Factory guns were available in standard rifle, deluxe rifle, and Mannlicher-style full-stocked carbine.

Prior to 1972 when the Garcia Corporation took over importation from Firearms International, most, but not all, barrels were stamped "Bofors Steel".

After Garcia began importing, the blue finish on the standard model lost a little of its polish, the sporter barrel contour became a little heavier, and the stock became somewhat beefier and less trim. This was all apparently supposed to suit the American buyer better (!). The long action also lost its rear safety locking lug (a la Mauser).

The entire line was revamped again, this time approximately coinciding with when Stoeger took over distribution. The short, medium, and long actions were renamed A I, A II, and A III (standards like .30-06) and A V (belted magnums). Features like a shrouded cocking piece, a red cocking indicator, and on some actions a slighly shorter tang set this action apart from its predecessors. (However, features were somewhat mixed up during this period: I have an L-61R Garcia with a shrouded cocking piece.)

The recently dropped line, the numbers of which I never really learned (L-469? L-581?) was similar in many respects to the original Mauser-like actions, but used a barrel-clamped recoil lug like a Remington, and was in some other ways different.

All have now been dropped in favor of the 3- lug Model 75 and the Model 995 (TRG-S).

L 46 had detach mag and was in calibers Hornet, Bee, 222, 7 x 33, 25/20.
Later a L469 ( detach mag) came about for longer 222 Mag.
Then all small calibers came under L461 which was a hinged floorplate.
L57 and L579 were for 308 length cartridges.
L61 was for 30/06 and up.
Finnwolf was a lever rifle with detach mag in 243 and 308 only.

[This message has been edited by Harry (edited 03-18-2002).]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it..

"Harry" and "Stonecreek",

You guys crack me up !!

Just found a brand new, blued, Sako single-shot action, with target trigger and a PPC boltface.

Can you guys say......19PPC??!!

Take care.

Friend Of The 17.....and now 19
Kevin Gullette

O. K., Kevin, tell me why a .19 caliber instead of the now factory-available .20 caliber? Will you custom make your own bullets or are they available from a custom or semi-custom shop?

Don't get me wrong -- I think a .19 caliber shooting about a 25 or 30 grain bullet would be a super little gun. I'm just inquiring about how difficult it will be to feed. By the way, what's the actual bullet diameter?

Stonecreek,

I'm looking at the 19 caliber because of more available bullet weights and a bit higher BC.

Calhoon makes bullets up to 44 grains, and has plans for polycarbonite-tip bullets. Pac-Nor makes the barrels. I think the bullet diameter is 0.194", but I'm not sure...have to check.

I'm looking to shoot relatively high BC bullets in the 3700-3900fps range, and let the BC help flatten the trajectory(plus cut wind drift)....rather than velocity. Also, once you exceed 3900fps, or so, bore fouling seems to exponentially increase......very bad, especially for a PD rifle.

As far as feeding is concerned.....this is a single-shot action, so no problem. But, I do have a 17PPC Sako repeater rifle that has shown no problems in feeding. It was originally a Sako Lightweight Hunter in 6PPC.

As far as the 20 caliber is concerned.....I guess I could rant about my plans for a 20 Dasher-VLD rifle launching 62gr. pills.........but no one has bought the bullet dies......yet.

Got ya "hooked" yet??!!

Friend Of The 17....19....20....etc.
Kevin Gullette

Good luck with your project, Kevin.

When I said "feed", I was meaning to refer to finding the ammunition to "feed" it, which you explained, not to actually feeding from the magazine.

Anyway, the .19 sounds like fun!