Rifle Opinions

[spike.t]

Thankfully you weren't talked into buying one of those junk Rigby's @spike.t would have you get.....

nah didnt even try as his madam would have skinned him alive.........no not that nasty....

 

[spike.t]

i think what people must remember is its the choice of what is available at the gun shop here. these days we have a good choice in guns and ammunition compared to not long ago, but it is still whats here that is your choice. you can wait and see whats in the next delivery but.......so no complaints from me as we spoiled compared to a few years ago

 

[Ray B]

I'm not sure how the A7 & Bavarian Sakos differ from the 85S, but if they are anything close my choice would be the Bavarian for the Euro lines/stock.

 

[mark-hunter]

I'm not sure how the A7 & Bavarian Sakos differ from the 85S, but if they are anything close my choice would be the Bavarian for the Euro lines/stock.

A7 is crossbreed between Tikka and Sako 85, in medium price range level.

Tikka has 70 degrees bolt rotation, two locking lugs, push feed, plastic mag, and dove tail in majority of models.
Sako A7 has 60 degrees bolt rotation, three locking lugs, push feed, plastic mag, integrated piccatiny rail.
Sako 85 has 60 dgrees bolt rotation, three locking lugs, control feed, metal mag, dove tail - sort of.

Key words are: All metal parts, control feed, 60 degrees throw. (All summarized in model 85)

Sako 85, or bavarian sako - is actually the same rifle, Sako, made by Sako, but with different stocks.

Bavarian (traditional) stock is shaped as hog back, traditional cheek plate, and rosewood for end tip (Forschnabel) - very similar to Steyr in 243, shown above.
Sako 85 bavarian has nice details, such as superb checkering, roswood tip on pistol grip, asymmetric pistol grip, for perfect fitting of hand grip, etc.
The qualitty and finish of S85 stock is incomparable to A7, or Tikka - but hardly visible on photo. You need to try holding it in the hand.

Sako 85 is the rifle to boost the pride in the owner, who wants the rifle with great accuracy, high quality, and absolute middle european traditional design (austrian/bavarian), integrated in modern style control feed action (suitable for production on CNC machine).

 

[PeteG]

A7 is crossbreed between Tikka and Sako 85, in medium price range level.

Tikka has 70 degrees bolt rotation, two locking lugs, push feed, plastic mag, and dove tail in majority of models.
Sako A7 has 60 degrees bolt rotation, three locking lugs, push feed, plastic mag, integrated piccatiny rail.
Sako 85 has 60 dgrees bolt rotation, three locking lugs, control feed, metal mag, dove tail - sort of.

Key words are: All metal parts, control feed, 60 degrees throw. (All summarized in model 85)

Sako 85, or bavarian sako - is actually the same rifle, Sako, made by Sako, but with different stocks.

Bavarian (traditional) stock is shaped as hog back, traditional cheek plate, and rosewood for end tip (Forschnabel) - very similar to Steyr in 243, shown above.
Sako 85 bavarian has nice details, such as superb checkering, roswood tip on pistol grip, asymmetric pistol grip, for perfect fitting of hand grip, etc.
The qualitty and finish of S85 stock is incomparable to A7, or Tikka - but hardly visible on photo. You need to try holding it in the hand.

Sako 85 is the rifle to boost the pride in the owner, who wants the rifle with great accuracy, high quality, and absolute middle european traditional design (austrian/bavarian), integrated in modern style control feed action.

And that gents is how you sell a rifle...

Thanks for that @mark-hunter, i'm all for the Sako Bavarian or the M12. Both are neat rifles.

 

[spike.t]

And that gents is how you sell a rifle...

Thanks for that @mark-hunter, i'm all for the Sako Bavarian or the M12. Both are neat rifles.

you can tell your old man he has no taste cos i aint!!!!...(tikka owners dont kill me am sure tikkas are great..)

 

[Odessit86]

Hi Pete,
I am not sure if the budget is limited, or not. I voted for sako 85 bavarian.
Here is my personal comparison:

Tikka T3 hunter:
Sako barrel, good precision. (+)
many plastic parts (bolt shroud, magazine, aluminium recoil lug) (-)
removable single stack plastic magazine - capacity 3 (flush with stock), or 5, non flush (-)
Push feed, two locking lugs, 70 degrees bolt rotation (-)
Entry level rifle of Sako / Tikka factory (-)
Possibly cheapest option (+)

Sauer 101.
Barrel fitted with special makers proprietary system (hard to replace) (-)
Does not have image of being accurate as tikka/sako (-), however 1 - 1.5 moa should be acievable
removable Double stack magazine, flush fitting, capacity 5 (+)
Shape of stock is excellent to tackle recoil, althoug not critical for 243. (+)
Push feed, 60 degrees rotation, 3 locking lugs (+)
Entry level rifle, of sauer, in slightly higher price range then Tikka (+/-)

Sako A7
Sako barrel, good precision. (+)
Push feed, 3 locking lugs, 60 degrees rotation (+)
Intergarted piccatiny rail. (easy installation of scope) (+)
removabel, Single stack 3 round capacity magazine. (-)
medium level rifle in Sako prodution line (+/-)

mauser m12
Lower end rifle, compared to modular m03 (-)
No experience with this one, thus no other comments.

Sako 85 bavarian
Sako barrel, good precision. (+)
Control feed, 3 locking lugs, 60 degrees rotation (+ +)
Flush mag, steel, 5 round cap. (+)
High end rifle. (+)
Dove tail, possibility to mount scope on their propitiatory opti lock system. (-) not perfect.

this is not economic option, but money being no object, i vote for this rifle, thus: Price (-), but overall quality (+)
The only production high end rifle in the line of above makers. (+)
No short cuts. no plastic. (+)
The only one on the list with control feed system. (+)

Sako 85 is a Push feed..... DONT MISLEAD THE People...
Sako 85 has a ejector issue.. A big downside
Mauser M12 hands down.. Mauser don't have a issue at all.. Mauser M12 too push feed action...
Every hunter should have it a Mauser...
Mauser it's a legendary brand.. Sako don't even come close... And Sako with its issue not worth a price that they asking...

 

[Rem1903a3]

A have no experience with the Sako line ,but the catalog says the Sako 85 is a controlled cartridge feed RCS round controlled System .

 

[mark-hunter]

Sako 85 is a Push feed..... DONT MISLEAD THE People...

Good day, Sir,
Welcome to the forum, I see you are new member here. Not sure, if you are joking, stating your opinion, or stating a fact?
Writing in block letters to me sounds serious.

As far as, the fact goes:
Sako 85 is advertised as CRF action.
https://www.sako.fi/rifles/sako-85

As far as the opinion goes, you are welcome to explain why do you think Sako 85 is not CRF, or what would be ejector issue you mentioned?
Or why M12, by mauser would be so much better?
you mentioned two rifles of reputable makers, without any explanations, when we speak about MISLEADING THE PEOPLE.

 

[shark_za]

The Sako 85 does grab the round early and you can half push the round forward and then pull back without inducing a jam.
It is a way of controlled feed but not like the massive extractor Mauser 98.
Mauser 12 is a modern push feel and I would rate it next to Tikka. Certainly not the level of finish and class as a Sako 85.

I'm left handed and there is a Sako 85 in LH for R35k just sitting out of my easy affordability range.
I may be so depressed after lockdown I will just buy it.

 

[wesheltonj]

I am not sure what the ejection problem is, but I have my theory. My theory is that folks are using the extra low scope mount instead of the low. I have the low on my 375 H&H SAKO model 85 classic, and have zero ejection problem.

I have four SAKO’s, three is Classic and one in Bavarian. While the Bavarian is a Beautiful rifle, I prefer the cheek piece on the Classic.

Certainly Mauser has the name and history. However, SAKO is a more affordable high quality rifle.

 

[rookhawk]

I don't mean to be a grouchy curmudgeon, but here goes anyway.

Why is anyone contemplating buying any of these guns in caliber .243?

The quality of all of these guns, while good for modern standards, is vastly inferior to alternatives at the same pricepoint in the vintage realm. All these guns were designed and built in the modern way, meaning they figured out how to make them as cheaply as possible and thus they were able to stay in business. If you need a modern caliber that doesn't exist in better guns at the price, I get it, but for a .243?

Alternatives that are 100x better, many of them so much better that their costs to manufacture exceeded their original MSRP, bankrupting the makers!:

-The veritable sea of .243 winchester Steyr Mannlicher Model 1952
-The manifold options of 98 mausers in .243, most of which would cost $4000+ to be built to same specs as the virtually unused vintage example
-A pre-64 Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 95%+ condition in .243

Maybe it is a personality or worldview perspective, but I never wake up one day asking what model of Chevy I should buy. I start by saying "I want a ferrari or a rolls royce" and then spend hours trying to find one at Chevy budget. As the analogy goes with rifles, the original options listed are all in that $700-$1500 price range and will sell used at a pawn shop in the $50-$350 range. The counterproposals I gave you will also be able to be purchased for $700-$1500 and will resell if you no longer want them for exactly what you paid, $700-$1500.

 

[Rem1903a3]

I buy every pawn shop Sako 85 available for $50 t0 $350 ,I just haven't seen any . I get what your saying , I like my 1949 winchester M70

 

[CBH Australia]

A Tikka would do it but congratulations on the Sako.

 

[spike.t]

I don't mean to be a grouchy curmudgeon, but here goes anyway.

Why is anyone contemplating buying any of these guns in caliber .243?

The quality of all of these guns, while good for modern standards, is vastly inferior to alternatives at the same pricepoint in the vintage realm. All these guns were designed and built in the modern way, meaning they figured out how to make them as cheaply as possible and thus they were able to stay in business. If you need a modern caliber that doesn't exist in better guns at the price, I get it, but for a .243?

Alternatives that are 100x better, many of them so much better that their costs to manufacture exceeded their original MSRP, bankrupting the makers!:

-The veritable sea of .243 winchester Steyr Mannlicher Model 1952
-The manifold options of 98 mausers in .243, most of which would cost $4000+ to be built to same specs as the virtually unused vintage example
-A pre-64 Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 95%+ condition in .243

Maybe it is a personality or worldview perspective, but I never wake up one day asking what model of Chevy I should buy. I start by saying "I want a ferrari or a rolls royce" and then spend hours trying to find one at Chevy budget. As the analogy goes with rifles, the original options listed are all in that $700-$1500 price range and will sell used at a pawn shop in the $50-$350 range. The counterproposals I gave you will also be able to be purchased for $700-$1500 and will resell if you no longer want them for exactly what you paid, $700-$1500.

Because we in Zambia not guntopia usa....and petes dad wanted a 243.....simple....

 

[Rick Cox]

Sako Bavarian, then the Tikka.

 

[Tanks]

Not qualified to give an opinion. My caliber range is .22LR -> .223-> .308 -> .375 after which I have 4 big bore rifles.

I used to have a .220 Swift but sold it to a friend, actually thinking of getting another for prairie dog shooting.

 

[spike.t]

Not qualified to give an opinion. My caliber range is .22LR -> .223-> .308 -> .375 after which I have 4 big bore rifles.

I used to have a .220 Swift but sold it to a friend, actually thinking of getting another for prairie dog shooting.

Not really an issue as was bought and delivered three years ago

 

[IvW]

243 wm....makes no difference whatever rocks your boat.....
I do not like plastic on any rifle.....

 

[PeteG]

Perhaps time for an update on this.

my father went with the Mauser m12 in the plastic black stock.
It is a very good rifle for the money. it is very consistently accurate with a variety of factory ammo.
He wanted to stay with the 243 win since he could not get a 6,5x55 which was the first choice of caliber.

We took it down to luangwa with us last november.
So far, he is happy with it and since he decapitated a little bird at over 120m with it he isn’t complaining.

I am not overly fond of the plastic and neither was he, unfortunately with our limited selection, this was what was available and that made up some part of that choice for him.

1 puku, 1 impala each with a pinpoint perfect shot.

sure I would like to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a premium fancy grade special rifle, but that is not going to happen and never was going to happen.

the Mauser was a better stock fit than the others and thus a major contributor to the choice.
Unfortunately it does not have iron sights, but that is a compromise he has accepted.

the action is smooth, reliable and serves it purpose perfectly.