6.5X55: Barrett or Sako?

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mshootnit

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I have 2 Sako A7’s. Fantastic rifles. I don’t know enough about the Barrett’s to say one way or another. I do prefer a magazine over a blind box, but that’s just me.
 
I handled the Barrett at Whitaker’s last week, very nicely finished gun and sweet trigger. It was in 6.5 Creedmoor. I want a 6.5 Swede really bad!
 
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Just reading the specs id probably go with the Barret if they are the same price. Im actually gonna keep my eye on those.
 
I handled the Barrett at Whitaker’s last week, very nicely finished gun and sweet trigger. It was in 6.5 Creedmoor. I want a 6.5 Swede really bad!
rifle stock finish looks almost rough texture. What did it feel like in the hands?
 
Never heard of Barrett to be honest. I'll look it up and research it. My grail gun has been and is a Finnlight in 6.5x55. PERFECT gun and caliber for varmints and deer in Pennsylvania.
 
Barrett's MOA guarantee is nice.
Sako also has a MOA guarantee, with 5 rounds. Mine have been spectacularly accurate. The only Barrett I have sufficient personal experience of is the M82 so I really can't compare or make recommendations one way or the other.
 
For either rifle, I would get a 24" barrel. I have a M70 and M700, both with 22" barrels. I cannot push my 140's as fast as the velocities you see in manuals or as fast as shooters claim. I do believe that a 22" barrel really drops the velocity of the bullet un necessarily. The Swede is capable of excellent accuracy, have bud's who have long range rifles chambered in the 6.5 Swede. Of course a sporting rifle is not capable of target accuracy, but still, the 6.5 Swede does well.



M70 Featherweight 22" Barrel

Wpl2oYN.jpg



143.5 gr FMJBT Swedish 1986 ball. OAL 3.065" 47.4 grs powder average

13 Oct 2017 T=72 °F


Ave Vel = 2460
Std Dev = 21
ES = 30
High = 2474
Low = 2444
N = 5

Very good group


140 gr Hornady Spire Point 43.0 grs AA4350 R-P new brass CCI-200 OAL 2.990"
18 Nov 2007 T = 75 °F

Ave Vel = 2428
Std Dev = 29
ES = 95
High = 2480
Low = 2385
N = 24

easy bolt life, nice rounded primers



I8FnTgx.jpg

140 gr Hornady SP greased 45.0 grs IMR 4831 wtd lot 2-22-2014 new R-P cases CCI 200 OAL 3.065"

2 Nov 2017 T=72 °F

Ave Vel = 2419
Std Dev = 19
ES = 43
High = 2439
Low = 2396
N = 5


dnnCFQt.jpg

140 gr Sierra Matchking greased 45.0 grs IMR 4831 wtd lot 2-22-2014 new R-P cases CCI 200 OAL 3.065"

2 Nov 2017 T=72 °F

Ave Vel = 2438
Std Dev = 12
ES = 30
High = 2448
Low = 2418
N = 5

WS2wWAC.jpg



140 gr Hornady SP (0.264") greased 47.0 grs IMR 4831 wtd lot 282 NNY cases Fed 210S OAL 3.050"

13 Oct 2017 T=72 °F

Ave Vel = 2633
Std Dev = 24
ES = 81
High = 2680
Low = 2599
N = 10



140 gr Hornady SP (0.264") greased 48.0 grs IMR 4831 wtd lot 282 NNY cases Fed 210S OAL 3.050"
13 Oct 2017 T=72 °F

Ave Vel = 2688
Std Dev = 16
ES = 44
High = 2705
Low = 2661
N = 10

Overmax load, primer cupping around firing pin, shiny rub marks on case heads


140 gr Hornady SP greased 45.0 grs H4831 wtd lot 01-06-2014 new R-P cases CCI 200 OAL 3.065"

2 Nov 2017 T=72 °F

Ave Vel = 2289
Std Dev = 9
ES = 16
High = 2296
Low = 2280
N = 5
 
rifle stock finish looks almost rough texture. What did it feel like in the hands?
The Barrett felt really light and well balanced and the action was slick and tight. Didn’t notice it feeling rough but it did have some texture to it. And like I said a sweet trigger. Also the Kimber were a solid feeling Rifle.
 
Barrett's MOA guarantee is nice. Plus, I guess they know a little something about long range shooting.
Sako says they will not ship a rifle that will not shoot MOA.
If you have one that won't shoot MOA or better, a phone call to them would probably be beneficial.

I do not have the Barrett nor have I shot one, but I have both a Tikka and a Sako Model 85 in 6.5x55. Both are great shooters and will easily shoot less than MOA with their favorite loads. Fit and finish on the Sako is noticably better and so is the quality of the wood.
 
The Barrett is a little lighter, full length bedded and has a Timney trigger. On the other hand the Sako has a safety that locks the bolt with a bolt release tab letting you cycle the bolt on safe, probably my favorite safety style. One thing I'm wary of is all the reports of ejection problems with the long action 85's and tales of Beretta's inaction on the problem. You don't really see many reports of ejection issues on the short action 85s, maybe the case on 6.5x55 is short enough not to be affected? The other thing about Sako's (and Tikkas for that matter) is that Beretta is the importer, so if something goes wrong you'll wind up dealing with them. Some folks say that their CS is not too hot, the only time I've had to use them, they weren't unpleasant, just really slow.

So far it seems like the Barretts have been getting good reviews for accuracy and general fit and finish. I'd be really interested in one of their 18" threaded models, but I just don't really care for Remington style safeties (on hunting rigs) and blind magazines.

Btw, have you actually seen a Sako 85 Synthetic Stainless live and in person? I've only actually been able to lay hands on the 85 Finnlight, which is similar, but fluted. I wasn't sure if the un-fluted Synthetic Stainless models were ever imported.
 
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