Let me hear your Sako experiences.

[Inebriated]

As things often go, I was actually looking around at some fiberglass stock options for one of my Savage 111's, and accidentally clicked "Sako" in a drop-down menu... Never gave Sako a lot of thought, but I liked what I saw, and long story short, I ended up drooling over the Sako Grizzly. Now, I'm still not not wanting a walnut stock for my particular application, but it got me interested in the brand and I am now looking at the Black Bear.

Since I was looking to get out of the Savage polymer stock, looking at another rifle with a polymer stock seems... silly. Does anyone have direct experience with their synthetic? I've seen a couple of videos and it seems durable, but I want to know if the rifle still balances, and if it's anywhere near as flimsy as the Savage stock? If the rifle balances well and I can't feel it flexing in-hand, I'm fine with it.. Those were the two goals I wanted to accomplish by moving to a fiberglass stock.

Look forward to your input, and pictures are encouraged.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

My Tikka factory synthetic stock is very stiff and doesn't flex at all. It feels just as sturdy as any wood stock I have held and almost as good as my very expensive Manners stock.

Tikka is made by Sako and I'd guarantee that the synthetic stock options on a Sako would be just as good as Tikka's but more than likely better.

 

[Rudedog]

I have a Tikka T3 Lite in .300 WIN MAG. The factory plastic stock was okay but the recoil pad was very hard. I replaced that stock with a Bell and Carlson that has full length aluminum bedding block and a Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad.
Huge difference in felt recoil, ergonomics and accuracy.
Something to think about.

 

[Ash]

I have a SAKO M28/76 - outstanding rifle if not exactly current production.

 

[EIB0879]

I have a Sako. L691 in 300 Wby . A very smooth and accurate rifle.Mine has a beautiful wood stock and I could never imagine it with a synthetic stock.

 

[RainDodger]

Mixed results here. I have a tack-driving Tikka in .30-'06 that I absolutely love. Then I have a really gorgeous Sako heavy barreled L579 Forester in .243. I bought the .243 unfired 20 years ago and have yet to get it shooting really well. I finally decided to put some tension on the free-floated barrel to see if I can get anything tighter than about 1.5" groups. I'll know more about that in a few weeks. I'm probably one of the very few who's had an issue like this though!

 

[rodinal220]

I have a Sako L61 30-06 that is a tack driver with match ammo. I have a Sako Finnbear .375 H&H that is also very accurate.The Finns make accurate rifles.

Yes they cost more,but they are very accurate and have good triggers.Their stock geometry fits me well,so basically out of the box little if anything needs done.

I wanted the Sako 85 in .416 Rigby but the $10k price is beyond gold plated.

Tikkas are also very good.They use some cost saving manufacturing methods that do not equate to "cheap" like polymer followers,less metal in the detachable mags.

 

[codefour]

I recently bought a Tika T3 Lite in 7mm Rem Mag on a whim. I got it NIB for $450 IIRC. I had an old box of 150 grain Rem Corelokt. That ammo shot .5 MOA! I was shocked. The trigger was very nice for a $450 rifle that adjusted very easy.

I have some nice custom Rem 700s. I am going to probably go Sako on my next higher end rifle. The Sako/Tika design just works. It is rather simple but ingenious.

 

[Paul7]

I have a Sako Finnlight in 6.5x55, it is my all around hunting rifle. The synthetic stock is really nice, I prefer it to wood. Here it is with a pronghorn I got last Saturday.

 

[Inebriated]

Thanks for all the input guys!

Paul7, gorgeous animal! How's the balance on the Finnlight? It's essentially the Black Bear in stainless and without irons, and I've found a number of people talking about how well theirs shoot, but I still haven't heard if they are front-heavy.

 

[Offfhand]

Experiences with SAKO rifles? You bet, here are nine of them, the varmint rifle segment of my SAKO collection. Including three wildcat calibers built on SAKO actions, plus early factory originals in calibers ranging from .22 Hornet to .243 Win.

 

[Paul7]

Thanks for all the input guys!

Paul7, gorgeous animal! How's the balance on the Finnlight? It's essentially the Black Bear in stainless and without irons, and I've found a number of people talking about how well theirs shoot, but I still haven't heard if they are front-heavy.

Never thought about the balance, so I guess it must be pretty good! I don't find it front heavy at all.

 

[SilentStalker]

Sakos, IMO, are some of the finest rifles ever made. I can't speak to your more common hunting set-ups much, but I have a Sako TRG22 and 42 as well as many Tikkas and they are hands down some of the best rifles out there. In fact, I have several custom built bolt actions costing $6000+ by some of the best gunsmiths in the country and they don't hold a candle to the accuracy of one of my TRG's even with it shooting factory ammo. They are just crazy well built. If I could only have one bolt action rifle to suit a ton of different purposes it would be a Sako or a Tikka.

 

[Inebriated]

Offfhand, that's one good looking rack . Bet that room smells nice.

Paul7, good to know! I've only used lower-end polymer stocks (Savage, Ruger American, etc.) and if they have anything heavier than a sporter profile, the balance stands out to me. After reading a lot about various Sako rifles with the polymer stock, it just doesn't seem like it's a problem. I think I'm sold on it.

 

[Techsan]

Do some research on ejections problems with the 85 long action models.

 

[Inebriated]

I have, I've seen more people without problems than with. If it does have a problem, it'll be rejected before I transfer anyway. Thanks for the heads up though.

 

[Paul7]

Offfhand, that's one good looking rack . Bet that room smells nice.

Paul7, good to know! I've only used lower-end polymer stocks (Savage, Ruger American, etc.) and if they have anything heavier than a sporter profile, the balance stands out to me. After reading a lot about various Sako rifles with the polymer stock, it just doesn't seem like it's a problem. I think I'm sold on it.

Do it, and don't worry about the cost, if you average out the higher price over lower quality rifles, over 20 years it isn't much difference. And remember you've got more resale value with Sako.

 

[Inebriated]

Yeah, I've said the same about a number of pricey purchases. I won't care what I paid when I'm still using it in 30 years. I just wanted to be sure about the stock. I would expect Sako to put out a quality product, but there aren't many around here to handle.

Thanks for the input guys.

 

[Paul7]

Yeah, I've said the same about a number of pricey purchases. I won't care what I paid when I'm still using it in 30 years. I just wanted to be sure about the stock. I would expect Sako to put out a quality product, but there aren't many around here to handle.

Thanks for the input guys.

I did hear of complaints of the original Finnlight stocks being cheap, but not the current ones.

 

[jgh4445]

Just got my Sako 85 Bavarian Carbine yesterday. Sako quality is pretty darned evident in the fit and finish of this one. Its really nice. Can't wait to get it scoped and to the range. I put a couple of pictures up on an earlier post about the Mod 85 Bavarian if anyone is interested.

 

[atomchaser]

The original Finnlight stocks were okay but noting special. The newer ST (soft touch) stock is much nicer. The rubber texture on the ST makes it easier to handle in wet conditions and quieter.

 

[HKGuns]

For the record, Tika's are not Sako's and don't count.

I own two Sako's and they're both fantastic hunting rifles. Triggers break like glass and they're very well made.

 

[dubbleA]

For the record, Tika's are not Sako's and don't count.

I own two Sako's and they're both fantastic hunting rifles. Triggers break like glass and they're very well made.

I totally agree with that. It's funny that in most "Sako" threads this comes up. I own several Sako's and they are great rifles. I bought a Tikka once but quickly returned it to the dealer as the bad things outweighed the good.

 

[Inebriated]

I'm not looking at Tikka, and I've pretty much decided on the Sako so this thread is open to off topic stuff... What don't you guys like about Tikka?

 

[SilentStalker]

Tikkas are not Sakos, especially the older ones but since Sako bought out Tikka you will find a lot of similarities. You would be hardpressed to find a rifle better than a Tikka in that price point. I would take one over a Remington 700 or equivalent any day but that's just me. Are they Sako's? No, but their quality is there. I don't know how long it has been for you since you have tried any of them but I encourage you to go and try out a newer one. Not to mention Tikkas most expensive rifle was a third of what my TRGs cost. So that has to count for something. Anyways to the OP you cannot go wrong with a Sako. You might pay a little more for it but I assure you it is well worth the investment.