Special maintenance for a gun that hasn't been fired in 25 years? Sako L61R Finnbear

[Ballistics]

Good afternoon. This is my first post so I apologize if I offend any regulars.

For father handed down a very special rifle to me for Christmas... a Sako L61R Finnbear 30-06. I believe it's a mid-'70s model as it has a "Garcia Imports, Wash DC" stamp on the bottom of the barrel.

He said he took a few dear with the rifle in the late 70s, early 80s and guessed that he put about 60 to 80 total rounds through the rifle. It has not been shot since the early to mid 80s. He said the gun was cleaned every 3 or 4 years on average since then. He also CLP'ed the rifle a couple weeks ago when he decided to hand it down to me for Christmas.

Is there any special maintenance I need to do to this gun because it hasn't been fired in so long? Or was my father's maintenance good enough that I can simply take her to the range and start shooting?

 

[AirForceShooter]

If he has maintained it as he said all it would need is a rod down the barrel a few times and a light cleaning and oiling.
Then shoot the crap out of it.

It's priceless


AFS

 

[jpwilly]

Send it to me for a complete check out...be sure to send some ammo too!

 

[coug]

sounds cool. I would run a dry patch down the barrel a couple of times, then go to the range and refresh its memory.

 

[Picher]

Check the trigger mechanism for free movement. Sometimes oil gets into the trigger and slows or prevents trigger return. If you have a trigger pull gauge, using snap caps or fired rounds, check the consistency of pull. If it's not consistent, run some lighter fluid through it to clean out the gunk, let it dry, then try again.

Torque the action screws to reasonable tightness. If it hasn't been pillar-bedded 25-30 inch-pounds (not foot pounds) may be adequate. That's about as much as you can tighten screws with a 6" screwdriver. Just don't tighten so much you crush the wood.

After those checks, she should be good to go.

 

[Slamfire]

I would remove the firing pin mechanism from the bolt. I would use pipe cleaners, bristle brushes, and remove any powder residue, dried grease or oil inside the bolt and on the outside of the mainspring/firing pin.

Then I would rub down the outside of the firing pin mechanism with a light oil and reassemble.

Lastly I would add light grease to the cocking cam groove.

 

[forindooruseonly]

Congrats on a great rifle too. Those older Sakos are outstanding guns.

 

[CraigC]

Clean it, lube it and shoot it.