Longwalker
AH elite
This is the comment I wrote on the "Canadian Gun Nutz" website about this issue. I hope it adds some useful information:
"The cause of the problem is too much clearance between the claw of the extractor and the face of the bolt. So there is a few thousandths too much clearance between the rim of the cartridge and the claw. Because of the slack, when the ejector blade hits the case at the 6 o'clock position, the case starts to move upwards instead of to the side. It achieves enough momentum to continue moving upwards and hits the scope adjustment turret.
Some "problem" model 85 Sako rifles, like my M85 Bavarian 7x64 can be easily fixed by a extra length / extra strength extractor spring that holds the extractor claw against the case with a bit more tension as it is extracted. I bought the appropriate spring from Gary Eakin, Bighorn Sales in Houston BC.
My Sako M85 Kodiak .375 H&H did not respond to the stronger spring trick. And I wanted to use it as a dangerous game rifle. Not good. It was fixed by having a new extractor claw built by a skilled machinist. It now has 0.004" clearance between rim of case and claw when case is firmly against the bolt face. Now it is perfectly functional. I wish Sako would have designed the extractor claw properly to begin with. It's the only defect I have found with their rifles."
I eventually found that the stronger spring I installed in my 7x64 was not the best solution. As the original sharp edge of the extractor was gradually dulled after much use, the grip on the case was diminished and the problem returned. So a new extractor fixed the problem permanently. I installed it myself with minimum tools. A small screwdriver and a needle nose pliers. And it was cheap and easy. Annoying though.
Somebody could make a good business building new extractors for Sako 85's. Many, many rifles benefit from after market triggers, so why not extractors?
"The cause of the problem is too much clearance between the claw of the extractor and the face of the bolt. So there is a few thousandths too much clearance between the rim of the cartridge and the claw. Because of the slack, when the ejector blade hits the case at the 6 o'clock position, the case starts to move upwards instead of to the side. It achieves enough momentum to continue moving upwards and hits the scope adjustment turret.
Some "problem" model 85 Sako rifles, like my M85 Bavarian 7x64 can be easily fixed by a extra length / extra strength extractor spring that holds the extractor claw against the case with a bit more tension as it is extracted. I bought the appropriate spring from Gary Eakin, Bighorn Sales in Houston BC.
My Sako M85 Kodiak .375 H&H did not respond to the stronger spring trick. And I wanted to use it as a dangerous game rifle. Not good. It was fixed by having a new extractor claw built by a skilled machinist. It now has 0.004" clearance between rim of case and claw when case is firmly against the bolt face. Now it is perfectly functional. I wish Sako would have designed the extractor claw properly to begin with. It's the only defect I have found with their rifles."
I eventually found that the stronger spring I installed in my 7x64 was not the best solution. As the original sharp edge of the extractor was gradually dulled after much use, the grip on the case was diminished and the problem returned. So a new extractor fixed the problem permanently. I installed it myself with minimum tools. A small screwdriver and a needle nose pliers. And it was cheap and easy. Annoying though.
Somebody could make a good business building new extractors for Sako 85's. Many, many rifles benefit from after market triggers, so why not extractors?