300 Winchester in Sako Finnlight II

[Dr Ray]

Friend is thinking about buying the above for scrub hunting. He already has a heavy Ruger but finds it heavy going as he walks a mighty long way.
I am suggesting that the rifle itself weighs only 3.1 kgs (6,8lbs) and the sharp recoil may be an issue.
Would like to hear what others think particularly anyone who has one.

 

[grand veneur]

Wait for the new one , it coming soon !

https://www.sako.fi/rifles/sako-s20/s20

 

[Shootist43]

Dr. Ray both you and your friend know that this "issue" is a trade off. Yes there will be more recoil, but when used on game it likely will not be an issue. Zeroing the rifle off a bench could be another story.

 

[Ridgewalker]

I like light rifles since I walk a lot in the mountains of Colorado. I have a 300 WM Tikka Lite SS that started life straight factory stock. It was about the same weight the Sako you mentioned. I immediately installed a Limbsaver recoil pad. Noticeable help in recoil softening. I occasionally use a shoulder pad for bench work. Eventually installed a Bell and Carlson stock. I am a bit sensitive to recoil (having suffered from torn retina), but it isn’t a problem at least not yet. It is very nice to walk around the mountains carrying.

 

[Standard Velocity]

I like light rifles since I walk a lot in the mountains of Colorado. I have a 300 WM Tikka Lite SS that started life straight factory stock. It was about the same weight the Sako you mentioned. I immediately installed a Limbsaver recoil pad. Noticeable help in recoil softening. I occasionally use a shoulder pad for bench work. Eventually installed a Bell and Carlson stock. I am a bit sensitive to recoil (having suffered from torn retina), but it isn’t a problem at least not yet. It is very nice to walk around the mountains carrying.

I’ve been looking at a B&C stock for my new Tikka. Which one do you have and do you like it? B&C has one for less than $300 that looks good.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Standard Velocity, here’s the one I chose.
http://bellandcarlson.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=1092

Brown with black spiderwebbing.

 

[Standard Velocity]

That’s the one.

This is supposed to be a light, handy weather resistant rifle. I like the factory stock ok so may keep it. Does the B&C have a rounded profile in the forearm and pistol grip? The pictures look like it but these things are hard to tell without holding it.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Does the B&C have a rounded profile in the forearm and pistol grip?

Yep. Quieter than the Tikka stock and not as slick feeling.

 

[curtism1234]

My Savage 7mm Rem Mag weighs 7 3/4 pounds scoped. I suspect the rifle you speak of will be about the same. It knocks me around pretty good but nothing that would cause me to flinch. A 300 might though. A heavier scope and mounts/rings may help.

The Browning Xbolt weights 7 pounds if I remember right. That might be a good compromise between the lightest rifles and the standard heavy ones.

 

[Waterbuck2008]

All excellent advice above, and I'll add some limited experience of my own. .300 WM can be either a real pleasure to shoot in a balanced, midweight rifle, or a total firecracker, like the ultralight Sako rifle to which you're referring. I've had standard-weight M70's and Savages that had a mild push with the .300WM round, and seen well-built men crushed into flinching by light mountain rifles, in both WM and the similar recoiling Short Mag. To sum it up, light rifles in .300 WM are excellent in the field, where you will never notice the recoil, and you don't intend to plink around with them.