Is this stock fit okay?

[emship]

Hello all,

I got my first bolt-action rifle recently, a Sako 85 Classic. Also my first wood stock rifle.

I noticed there's a noticeably larger gap with the stock on the right of the barrel than on the left.

Is this normal (e.g. from the wood warping)?

Thank you!

[SVT-40]

Looks okay. It may be "free floated". Which means none of the stock touches the barrel.

Slide a piece of paper around the barrel and slid it up under the wood. If it slides with no contact it's been free floated.

If it touches it's not.

But before you do anything shoot it... See how it groups.

Also make sure the action bolts are tight. Old rifles often have loose action bolts.

Also post more pic's of your Sako. It looks like a beauty!!

[golfish]

OP, please post more pictures of the gun. We need to see the whole gun...

[Preston-CLB]

My Savage has a free-floated barrel. There is a small difference in the gap between the barrel and the stock on each side of the barrel. It does not appear to affect accuracy.

As was mentioned, do the 'piece of paper check', and that the action screws are torqued to spec (tight, if you don't have a torque wrench).

More pics would be nice.
--P

[BlackOpsArms]

We've seen this before and not preferable looking (most are straighter) but I'm pretty sure its acceptable.

[ar15barrels]

I got my first bolt-action rifle recently, a Sako 85 Classic.
Also my first wood stock rifle.

I noticed there's a noticeably larger gap with the stock on the right of the barrel than on the left.

Is this normal (e.g. from the wood warping)?

Gaps being uneven is not desirable but is also not a problem.

[hambam105]

What the heck. Craftsmanship is over-rated.

[pennstater]

emship, your Sako is indeed free floated. While the slight difference in gap is not desired, shouldn't affect accuracy at all. You have a very nice rifle there.
I doubt very much your stock has warped. What caliber?

MLC

[LCU1670]

Make sure you do the papercheck after cleaning too, you would be supprised how much grit gets in there at the range.

[emship]

Thank you for your replies. I appreciate all the advice.

While it bugs me in an OCD type of way, glad to know it's probably fine. Can't wait to take it out after the coronavirus lock down is over.

The rifle is a Sako 85 Classic in 6.5 Creedmoor.

Do you think this gap issue could be fixed if I remove the action from the stock and reattached it? Or is this something I shouldn't do until I take it to the range to test it?

[golfish]

Thank you for your replies. I appreciate all the advice.

While it bugs me in an OCD type of way, glad to know it's probably fine. Can't wait to take it out after the coronavirus lock down is over.

The rifle is a Sako 85 Classic in 6.5 Creedmoor.

Do you think this gap issue could be fixed if I remove the action from the stock and reattached it? Or is this something I shouldn't do until I take it to the range to test it?

That's a beauty...
I just wanted to see the whole rifle.
Thanks for posting them

[Preston-CLB]

That is a beauty! My dream rifle, actually.

Before you do anything to the rifle, take it out and shoot it.

If Sako suggests a barrel break-in procedure, I think you should follow it.

If it does not perform as advertised, I would contact Sako.
-P

[emship]

Thank you guys! Thank you for the advice, I'll be sure to take it out before messing with anything.

[mtenenhaus]

i know what you mean, my rifle was the same and it bugged me too.

one thought, if and when you take apart the rifle you might want to record the torque measurement so you have a reference for the future (if it's not already noted in the manual).

On my rifle (an inexpensive 22), i ended up bedding it and so i carefully sanded out the forend just a bit and evened out the discrepancy.

[LynnJr]

I would take the barreled action out of the stock and clean everything including the inside of the stock then shoot it.
I put my hunting rifle in my Jeeps rifle rack and after a day of off-road driving any gap will fill up with branches twigs leafs and other obstacles.
Before firing I usually blow out the scope bell as they collect alot of debris as well if caps are not used.

As to wood warping it happens all the time and usually more so on higher grade stocks using exhibition grade wood. Guys spending $3500 and up on a stock generally insist on tight fitting wood and often times those rifles don't shoot well until you open up the fit.
A 30 year old gun in a wood stock that spends it's life in a rack will more often than not have a warped stock in my experience and many shooters will store them barrel down rather than horizontal to avoid that.
If it doesn't shoot well two business cards under the action will often times let you know if it's a stock interference issue.