I have a worn out sako L46 cal. 222 rem, what caliber options do I have (rebarreling). How much can we open the boltface?

I have an L461, and I have much the same question. I would suspect that we could use a cartridge based on the 222, 222 magnum, or 223 case with fair ease. That would include the .204 Ruger, 221 Fireball, or the 6x45 if you want to do something different.

Clemson

As far as the L46 action is concerned, your biggest problem trying to fit another cartridge, is going to be the magazine. As far as I know, there were some made in .222 Rem Mag - which should also allow you to use the .223 Rem. But larger than that?? And even moving up to the .222 Rem Mag case, you'd still have to resolve the magazine problem. Now, I know this is not what you were dreaming of, but I have to mention it regardless: why change anything?? The .222 Rem is one of the classic cartridges of all time, accurate, economical, easy to get components for, deadly out to reasonable distances. Put on another .222 Rem tube and have at it!

The L461 is quite a different animal to the L46, as it does not use detachable magazines. In that rifle, you have a lot more leeway, provided you are happy to ensure proper feeding by potentially changing rails, ramp etc.

- mike

Don't ruin that fine old L46 by opening the bolt face. As far as the clip is concerned a 221 Fireball or the 17MK 4 might work, also the 17 Javlina(that's a 17 on the 222 case). If you want bigger consider the 25 Copperhead (25/222).
Please leave the bold alone. Pedro

Thanks guys , Just condidering the options I have. I already have a very accurate 222 rem, Rem 700 BDL rifle. So Maybe I'll go for the 204 ruger. Is there still problem getting brass?
I heard that the L46 action will take the 6mm PPC? And there is a Finnish 7mm "bird" round based on the same action. Do you know anything about that
rgds Afox

There seems to be a lot of concern here over these two actions. If I can help, I would recommend you sell both the L46 and L461 to me and I will dispose of them properly.

Glad to help,

Jim

You're all heart, Jim.

Clemson

Well, I guess you could do something radical & rebarrel it to one of the Sako original calibers [G], like the 7x33 Sako.

Its's a dandy little round. With the 77 gr. FMJ ball (RN), it is the real ticket for Gobblers. Will punch right through rimfire silhouette targets (the steel ones!)at 100 yards, so with a comparable weight SN bullet, would be a dandy "farm" gun for foxes in the hen house, pesky woodchucks up to 225 yards or so, even the occasional "eatin'" meat. Brass is available from Huntington's, among others.

The 6x45 looks intriguing to me.

don't let kobe have them - his idea of disposing of them is to sell them to me at an 400% markup

OK, please understand I am no expert but I'll tell you something I would be sorely tempted to do here. First, assuming no emotional attachment to the Sako, I'd sell it outright. Then I would buy something in 223 and IMMEDIATELY rechamber the 223 to the 223AI. The 223AI has about a 10% greater case capacity than the 223, everything else is the same - no mods other than the rechamber.
Now, having said this, I'll confess I want a 223AI badly. Probably would be either a Tikka or a Cooper Mod 21, depending on what the bank balance looks like at the time.
So, let us know what you decide and how it works.

Sako built some factory .22 PPC and 6mm PPC's on the L461, so those and the 7.62x39 (or any cartridge based on it) could be made to work -- PROVIDED you could find a way to modify the detachable magazine.

I think that I would stick with the .222-case head. That allows you anything from the .17 Javalina (.17/221 Rem) all the way up to a 6.5-222 Magnum. 6x47 is a fine target and light deer cartridge.

. . . and, oh yes, the new Remington 6.8mm military cartridge, which has about a .421" case head, would also fit with minor bolt face opening! I'd bet that it wouldn't be that hard to make the factory magazine feed that little miniature .270 Winchester.