SAKO rifles

[Dimitri A.]

OK, so school me on SAKO rifles. I've been wanting one for a long time, but get so confused with their whole naming system, AI, AII, AIII etc, and L49, L61, L61R. What are the main differences in these rifles? If I understand correctly, they are just different naming conventions for action lengths, correct?

I'm looking to get an older one because I like the beautiful wood and deep rich blueing of the older rifles. Is one generation/type better than or have any advantages over the other?

Also, not sure what caliber. I read a lot of good things about 6.5 Swede, but I already have a 6.5 CM. I'm looking at 7mm-08, but ballistically seems pretty close to .270, albeit from a shorter case, and I have one of those. I don't plan on hunting anything outside of the lower 48, so with the exception of maybe Grizzly and Brown bears, and maybe moose, I think .270 has everything pretty much covered.

Not really a fan of the magnums as I think they are overkill for anything in the lower 48, except for maybe moose and the bigger bears.

Let's get the conversation going.

[sigstroker]

7-08 is not much like .270 at all. 7-08 is a lot more like .308. I used to have one and eventually concluded a .308 was about the same except with cheaper ammo.

[DrewN]

491 is .223 length, 591 is .308 length, 691 is 06 length, 691 Magnum is just that. 691 in 9.3x62 is what you want. In my opinion. Left handed of course.

[sakosf]

https://www.collectorsfirearms.com/sako-av-270-win-r27253/

[DrewN]

This is an L691 in x55.

[FishnHunt]

My buddy has a sako and seems like every time we are out he is doing something or fumbling with the feeding or ejection of his 7 mag. Do some search on feeding issue.
I have 3 Tikkas (sako)in various calibers and have 0 issues with any kind of feeding.
If you don’t re load the 270 is much Moore available and cheaper vs 7/08. Both awesome rounds.
With new 270 bullets and chambering , the 270 coming back to life, as long as it’s twisted right.
Have you looked into the 6.5 PRC? It’s going traction and suppose to be the bees knees.
I also have a 9.3 and While it’s a thumper, simply not necessary for deer/elk.

[Dimitri A.]

My buddy has a sako and seems like every time we are out he is doing something or fumbling with the feeding or ejection of his 7 mag. Do some search on feeding issue.
I have 3 Tikkas (sako)in various calibers and have 0 issues with any kind of feeding.
If you don’t re load the 270 is much Moore available and cheaper vs 7/08. Both awesome rounds.
With new 270 bullets and chambering , the 270 coming back to life, as long as it’s twisted right.
Have you looked into the 6.5 PRC? It’s going traction and suppose to be the bees knees.
I also have a 9.3 and While it’s a thumper, simply not necessary for deer/elk.

I have been eyeballing the 6.5 PRC. At the same time that I bought my my Bergara ridge rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor, my cousin got one in 6.5 PRC. He took an elk with it last year and was extremely happy with the results.

[pennstater]

I recently sold my Sako L61R Finnbear .270 to a friend in Idaho. These are fabulous rifles. If you can locate one at fair price, snag it. You won't be disappointed.

MLC

[Meety Peety]

I fell in love with and older one (AIII or AIV I think, cant remember, but it was a deluxe model) at a gun show once. It was pricey but gorgeous, I didn't know anything about them so it caught me off guard. Decided to think about it for a while and see if I could do a little bit of cell phone investigation on it.. went back a little later and it was gone. Always wished I would have just bought it, small amount of money in the grand scheme of things.. even had the wife telling me "just buy it already". Ive seen a few of them come up for sale here and there, searched Gunbroker a few times, but have never come across another one that was so beautiful. I still know next to nothing about them, but I feel like the "deluxe" that typically comes up in a Gunbroker search is not even close to the one that I came across.

[Dimitri A.]

This is an L691 in x55.

[FISHNFRANK]

7-08 is not much like .270 at all. 7-08 is a lot more like .308. I used to have one and eventually concluded a .308 was about the same except with cheaper ammo.[/QUOTE=sigstroker;24689322]7-08 is not much like .270 at all. 7-08 is a lot more like .308. I used to have one and eventually concluded a .308 was about the same except with cheaper ammo.

I have to disagree. I own 4 Sako 85s. A .30-06 Classic, a .270 and two in 7mm-08, one is a Finnlight. The .270 and the 7mm.08 are very similar in capability. The difference being about a 1” better trajectory for the .270 at 300 yards. But any animal hit with either is never going to know the difference and the 7mm-08 has maybe 20% less recoil in a similar weight gun. That said, I still love my .270. All of them perform well. The next level up is the .30-06. With a 180 grain bullet moose and elk are very doable. Not that you can’t with the others but for bigger animals you want that little extra. You do get extra recoil for it though. I’m not a fan of magnums either. They’ll just make most people flinch and aren’t even helpful unless you are shooting bigger animals at longer distances.

If you’re not a reloader, and plan to hunt mostly deer, get the .270. Don’t think any harder about it. I love the 7mm-08 but I reload so I also love the .280 Remington in my x bolt. Reloading opens up a whole new world to rifle shooters. The .308 is a rainbow round...Leave it it be.

Sakos are probably the best production gun money can buy. I have no complaints save one; if you need parts, Beretta (Brownells) has to get them from Finland and sometimes the Finns only ship parts once a year. For what that’s worth.

My favorite domestic bolt is a Browning X Bolt. They borrow a lot from the Sakos, that why I like them

[sigstroker]

Sounds like you were handloading the 7-08 way past factory loads.

[Bull Elk]

7mm-08
.308 case
.284 bullet

I own two 7mm-08’s. Love them!

[DrewN]

I mean, I was joking about 9.3 x 62 (kinda, because a LH 9.3 is top of my list ), but I would 100% go for 6.5 x 55. Available everywhere, and everywhere is more than the US. Just kills stuff dead. No drama, no muss. And it's cool, and will always be cool. Jumbo, buff and big bear is about the only game I'd feel undergunned with the x55. And I'm never,ever hunting the 2 of those that aren't a ruminant anyway.

[The King]

Mine is a Sako Bavarian in .30-06
Low variable power scope, plus iron sights zeroed in.
A hunting machine.