After owning Sako rifles for most of my hunting life I have had a huge admiration for them but it is just a shame that some of the new 85’s just aren’t living up to that reputation. This video review is my take on some of the issues that have presented over the last few years. Still love my Sakos but wish these issues didn’t exist.
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Sako 85. The Good the Bad and the Ugly —- “Video Review”
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The bolt design of Sako 85 ejects brass almost vertically upwards, which causes brass to inevitably hit scope, so bought a second 85 Bavarian 30-06 with iron sights.
I have 2 Sako 85 Bavarians and their bolts are definitely not control feed, when a round is not fully pushed into chamber, if the bolt is pulled back, the round will not be caught and moved back with it, and if push it again, will double feed. They are push feed only.
I have 2 Sako 85 Bavarians and their bolts are definitely not control feed, when a round is not fully pushed into chamber, if the bolt is pulled back, the round will not be caught and moved back with it, and if push it again, will double feed. They are push feed only.
G'day Robbo, quick question as I'm sure you've seen your fair share of Sako L61R Finnbears over the years.
I just bought one in 30-06 in seemingly excellent condition, great bore, zero rust, excellent stock, well looked after but I can't get it to group for the life of me.
The best group I've achieved is 1.7inch at 100M using a 150gr barnes TSX bullet and 59gr of AR2209 powder, I've shot about 10 different brands and weights of factory ammo and they group around the 4 inch+ mark and worse.
Do you recall any common problems with these or have I just bought a lemon? Considering selling it to buy a weatherby but I don't know if I could sell a gun like this to somebody in good conciense.
Was this problem alleviated when the finnlite 2 was released ?
I own a Sako 85 SS Finnlight in 260 Remington with a fluted short barrel. After owning the rifle for 2 years and using it for one hunting season, the stock began decomposing and becoming VERY sticky. Beretta is apparently the parent company and I have contacted them numerous times about the decomposing stock. They refuse to do anything to rectify the issue that makes the rifle non usable as everything sticks to it. One would think that paying over $1900 US dollars just for the rifle, it would be a lifetime investment. The rifle is a good rifle…the stock makes it useless. I could NEVER recommend a Sako rifle to anyone as they DO NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT!
My 85 varmint in .223 bashes spent cases into the bottom of my swaro Z5 and runs out of elevation after 300m. Sounds like I’ll have to have it corrected myself and pad the base of the scope to protect it from damage
Looking at this in the 270, should i avoid or grab its a virgin at the right price…😮
I have a 7MM mag. Finnlight and I cannot get it to zero in at 100 yards, It’s shooting at least a 6 inch groups. I’ve shot everything from 139 grain up to 160 grain bullets, all different manufacturers. I’ve had the gun apart and back together three times. Looking for something loose. I have a Leupold VX6 3-18x50mm CDS-ZL on it with Sako rings. Any thoughts?
This problem is not acceptable with a Savage Axis, a rifle that cost a fraction of what a Sako cost.
Sako not Seiko haha
Just having a property like that even just to camp would do me.
I own seven 85’s and have never experienced ejection issues of any degree. All my scopes (Leupold and Swarovski) are mounted as low as possible. This report is surprising to me to say the least.
Hopefully after 4yrs, they fixed the problem. I going to buy one in 308
I have a 7mm mag with that same stock and it's heavy as hell. Not something you want to lug around all day. But it's still one of my favorite guns very accurate.
Interesting. I'm about to buy a 85 in 338 win mag I found used at a local gunshop for what I think is a good price…..I doubt they have a warranty of any kind on a used rifle. Wish me luck.
Get to the point already. Too much unnecessary talking in the beginning. Won’t be watching any more of your videos. Didn’t even watch this completely. Some video makers have no clue. Lol
Good video mate. But wish i had of found it earlier as i just purchased a 85 Varmint in 222. Crikey I hope it shoots as i can't cancel the order now
I had a interesting situation with a Sako L579 in 308, it is my sons rifle. I had a set of brand new in box old Sako medium 26mm mounts, I also gave him a new Doctor fixed power 26mm scope, he rang me up and said, hey dad the rear mount wont screw up tight, the front one is fine, but the rear is very lose.I said it cant be I have never seen that before, anyway the Wife and I went rushing over to his house to have a look, and sure enough he was right, you have the little tab on the back of the rear mount which locates in it's spot so it cannot go forward, but it was lose as can be, he made a spacer to fit in the rear dovetail on both sides and it seems to be ok now, but that was real strange.
With modern scopes and rifle interfaces.. if you aren't within about 0.75MRAD out the gate, something is probably wrong. Being even halfway through the adjustment in any direction is entirely unacceptable, and results in a less accurate, less usable system.
Purchased a sako 85 finnlight in 308 last week, put both optilock bases and rings. Topped it with z6i 2-12 x50. Discovered same elevation issue. From what i can tell i have 3 options. 1 send it back to Beretta hopefully have it replaced (could take months). 2. mount a sako 25moa rail that will fix the problem but will make top feeding a pain, add more weight to a mountain rifle and cost me an extra $300. 3.Bit of a 2nd class attempted but heard of people stacking some aluminum can between the mounts and the scope to adjust scope height. Either way very disappointed with sako they make such a beautiful rifle its a shame to hear this is such a common problem for the amount spent. Thank for the awesome content Robo!!
what kind of scope do you have,and lens dimension and the size of the ring for mounting the scope. My Sako is Sako AV (5) and I'm looking for 34 mm mounting rings .Can you suggest something where you can get please
Perhaps different mounts would solve the problem?
The older models prior to the 75 series were the best. Heard of issues on the newer models, which at the money they cost shouldn’t happen. Sakos are highly priced and paying that sort of money means the issues being experienced in some of these rifles shouldn’t be happening. The 3 Sakos I have are great and I will never part with them.
Can confirm my Black Bear 9.3×62 has elevation problems running a Kahles Helia 3, and I know another guy that had the same iusse in his 338Federal.
Funny when I called Beretta they said they had never heard of it as a known issue.
Frustrating and disappointing.
The extraction problem is still happening and will continue to happen till Sako redesign their 85 action.
can u explain or post links where one can get the differences betw sakos?? it's confusing betw 75, 85, a7 blah blah blah and their website is annoying as fuck
gettin softer w age..hopefully the sheilas dont notice…bro
I’m looking at a Bavarian in 30-06, have you heard of them having ejection issues? Or if Sako have rectified the issue?
I can swing a Sako if I set my mind to it but with the way Bergara and Tikkas shoot I just decided to stay in my lane. Maybe I’ll spring for one someday
I shimmed my Sako Optilock rings to get the scope canted for long range shooting. Just a couple pieces of beer can cut to shape between the rear scope base and the ring.
Well, it turned out the Sako L579’s receiver had some cant of it’s own. The total cant with my beercan shims ended up being close to 50MOA. I thus ended up with very limited horizontal adjustment with Vortex PST II scope. When the scope is near the end of it’s vertical correction the ammount of horizontal correction is limited significantly.
No problem with quality scopes that have larger adjustment range.
Just took the shims away and I now have ”20MOA base” 😃
Greetings from Greenland
I have the same issue with elevation problem whit my sako 75. I solve this problem by mill down the optilock base by 8/10mm to get 30 moa. Enough to get it approximately center of the turret adjustment.
It seems to work fine now
Do you know if things have improved since this video. Considering a Sako 85 22-250 Varmint
This is an important video and straight forward. Looking into a little nice rifle in .270, the problems appearing in the larger caliber versions was alarming to say the least. I would not have expected this in a Sako and would have crapped if I couldn't zero at 100 yds. And for the money spent, there's no reason for it. Sounds like an issue with the machining. I would suspect the scope rings may be too low, but for the fact that you are obviously a more experienced shooter. Ejection port issues sounds like a straight machine issue. All it lakes is for it to be just a hair off and bing! You're right – it would be irritating especially with a high end scope. Thanks heaps for the information and honest and balanced review.
Yesterday I had my 85 Sako Classic in .270 win. delivered. First few shots i did in in door 100 yard range. Never do it again! The noise in a confined space deafened me! Love this rifle!
I believe the barrels for the Tikka and Sako are made side by side.
The difference is that the SAKO has those extra quality of life upgrades that makes it just a nicer overall rifle.
I don't own one but i've held them in the store a few times as they are made in the next country over.
It's a really well put together gun and it has the technical solutions i would want in a gun.
If i ever get another bolt action and i don't have the need to swap barrels I would get a Sako 85.
I had the same problem with the case hitting the turret on my 375 H&H Kodiak and the spent case would drop back into the action. Not what you want on a dangerous game rifle. Sold it! Shame because it was a beautiful rifle.
I got a 85 in 30-06 with that ejetion problem. I use a simple scope on it ( somtimes a Aimpoint). Solved the problem by turning the scope 90 degrees anti clockwise. Elevation knob is now wintage, but no problem. The casing will not hit the wintage knob.Will not work on fancy scopes vith BDC. Sorry, bad english.
I never had problems with me Sako's, but I used Sako mounts always!
Would you buy another SAKO 85 robbo?