Another hunting rifle crossed my path: SAKO AV .300 carbine full stock

[Gert Odendaal]

I have just apply for a license to own a SAKO.300 AV full stock rifle. This is totally a new scenario to me..I always focused on bushveld calibers in a Mauser action control feed hunting rifles.
This speedster will be a new approach to hunting for me..the most relevant being re-loading not to cause excessive meat damage when hunting plains game , especially small frame game like Springbuck on the plains of the Northen Cape here in South Africa...most shots will be in the region of 300 meters..

Choosing the most appropriate bullet for this type of shooting , , I need a bullet weight/type that will not cause excessive meat damage as stated previously.

 

[Altitude sickness]

What a beauty. Congrats

 

[PerH]

Rhino 180 grain and 165 would do nicely in .300 mag

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Rhino 180 grain and 165 would do nicely in .300 mag

I am thinking of BARNES 165 gn..

 

[AZDAVE]

I shoot the barnes TTSX in my 300 short mag, that should work just fin in your 300WM.

 

[Datchew]

168gr ttsx is very versatile in my 300wm and slightly higher BC if you want a mono metal bullet.

 

[TheRealHorskin]

My PH in EC uses 200gr ELD-X in his 300 Win Mags... They work very well, I am a Barnes guy myself.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I have just apply for a license to own a SAKO.300 AV full stock rifle. This is totally a new scenario to me..I always focused on bushveld calibers in a Mauser action control feed hunting rifles.
This speedster will be a new approach to hunting for me..the most relevant being re-loading not to cause excessive meat damage when hunting plains game , especially small frame game like Springbuck on the plains of the Northen Cape here in South Africa...most shots will be in the region of 300 meters..

Choosing the most appropriate bullet for this type of shooting , , I need a bullet weight/type that will not cause excessive meat damage as stated previously.
View attachment 619073

The .300 Win Mag is a great caliber. I.have used mine with 180 grain Accubonds to take mule deer, black bear and moose in NA. In Zimbabwe I switched to 200 grain Accubonds to take a waterbuck and nyala at less than 50 yards, a bushbuck at about 200 yards and an impala ewe at about 300 yards. The impala wss for meat st the request of the property manager. The Accubonds seem to upset quickly, but not over violently. Even the impala, which was the smallest animal I shot, was not excessively meat damaged.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

The .300 Win Mag is a great caliber. I.have used mine with 180 grain Accubonds to take mule deer, black bear and moose in NA. In Zimbabwe I switched to 200 grain Accubonds to take a waterbuck and nyala at less than 50 yards, a bushbuck at about 200 yards and an impala ewe at about 300 yards. The impala wss for meat st the request of the property manager. The Accubonds seem to upset quickly, but not over violently. Even the impala, which was the smallest animal I shot, was not excessively meat damaged.

Doug thank you kindly, yes, I am getting a lot of information in regards to the pro`s and con`s of the .300 WIN MAG caliber rifle..I will be taking this SAKO to the range shortly and see how accurate it is and how good shooting rifle it is Meat damage always is a concern , since I am hunting only to have venison in my fridge..on the other hand my dogs need to eat as well...acceptable meat damage is not a great issue..

My shot placement is always just behind the front leg , breaking only two ribs with minimum meat damage internally...

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Took my SAKO Full Stock AV .300 WM rifle to the shooting range for the first time . Licence is approved. I need to source reloading dies. Did shoot old ammo today but was the only ammo available at short notice. It is a sweet shooting rifle, the ammo was NORMA 180 gn .The rifle is a compact , well balances , fast pointing rifle, a Bushveld hunting /walk/stalk rifle, not a plains game rifle /gong shooting long distance shooting rifle at all..
Here are a few photos of the rifle at the shooting range and a video...

 

[Field28]

Your new rifles cousin in 30-06.
Very accurate and a pleasure to shoot!
Enjoy that Sako!!!

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Your new rifles cousin in 30-06.
Very accurate and a pleasure to shoot!
Enjoy that Sako!!!

View attachment 640515

I really love this SAKO AV .300WM rifle, it is a sweet shooting rifle , no recoil at all/....will take it next year to Namibia, Aranos region to hunt/shoot two Gemsbuck cows for table fair...

 

[Mekaniks]

Here is its brother in .338wm.

I really like it as well. One of the most accurate and easy shooting rifle I own

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Here is its brother in .338wm.

I really like it as well. One of the most accurate and easy shooting rifle I own
View attachment 640521

Mekaniks, when you mention " One of the most accurate and easy shooting rifles" what distances do you shoot out to and what bullet weight are you using?

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Your new rifles cousin in 30-06.
Very accurate and a pleasure to shoot!
Enjoy that Sako!!!

View attachment 640515

Field 28, at what distances do you shoot out to????I presume it is the 20" inch barrel like mine???

 

[Mekaniks]

Mekaniks, when you mention " One of the most accurate and easy shooting rifles" what distances do you shoot out to and what bullet weight are you using?

I don’t shoot much beyond 250- 300 meters. I am hand loading 225g Nosler Partitions with a full load of Reloader 19.

 

[Field28]

Some more Sako eye candy. My little 85 Bavarian in .243!

 

[Field28]

Here is its brother in .338wm.

I really like it as well. One of the most accurate and easy shooting rifle I own
View attachment 640521

Beautiful rifle! There is just something special about the full stock. The way they handle, even with the shorter barrel you have confidence in a shot with distance.
They just handle so well.

 

[Field28]

Field 28, at what distances do you shoot out to????I presume it is the 20" inch barrel like mine???

I would feel comfortable shooting out to 250-300 yards. I'm not a dial up kind of guy, I'd rather not take a unethical shot a wound an animal. That 30-06 dropped a stud blue Wildebeest bull at 220 yards in Eastern Cape with one shot to the shoulder. Shooting 165gr Nosler Partitions.

I shoot Federal 100gr with the .243. Extremely flat, no hesitation shooting a Whitetail at 200-250 with that setup.

Both rifles are topped with Zeiss 4x12x44.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

It seems the NOSLER Partitions is the way to go with this rifle..