Sako Brown Bear 500 Jeffery

[BenKK]

It feels like a .22LR when you need it!

 

[BenKK]

Just an update... I got my Sako Brown Bear .500 Jeffery back from the gunsmith a few weeks ago. It now has a 2mm bead instead of 4mm, and a Decelerator pad. It’s nice. I’ve been testing it on buffalo and it has now killed an additional six of them, at ranges varying from two feet to 120m, four with one shot only (each, of course). So far I’ve only used the 600 grain Woodleigh PPSNs.

 

[Dr Ray]

Hello everyone, I am doing a little preliminary review on the sako brown bear I just picked up. It's in 500 Jeffery. I am very impressed with the quality of the rifle, fit and finish is what I would expect from sako which is fantastic. The rifle points like a dream and I love the express sights!!! The front sight is a very large dot which is super quick to acquire. The weight is lighter than I would prefer for this caliber but I intend to have a gunsmith add some weight in the stock and a better recoil pad. The recoil pad appears to be an afterthought though, it's barely an inch thick and has no cushion to speak of, a metal butt plate on a WW2 era Mauser comes to mind..... that's really the only disappointing part about the rifle. Everything else appears to be fantastic. I'm going to be getting some ammo soon, I will try and shoot it stock but I get the feeling that experience will be akin to instigating my own mugging. I probably won't do a ton of serious shooting until I get the weight added and buttpad changed. Does anyone know of a good gunsmith here in the states that's familiar with the big bores? I don't mind paying to have it done right. On a side note, I want to give a huge shoutout to the folks at euro optic @www.eurooptic.com, they were beyond fantastic to deal with. I even picked up a tikka t3 in 30-06 while I was there and threw in some 30-06 ammo. As a heads up they are having an awesome sale on their tikka t3's. I got mine for $200 off regular price! I will report back after shooting it!

Thanks,
Voodoo


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The Brown Bear is excellent. Suggest you might get the trigger lightened a bit.

 

[steve white]

Any decent gunsmith can install a Pachmayr decelerator pad. You can also strap on a shoulder pad. That was Tony Sanchez Arino's favorite elephant cartridge!

 

[Daniel Cary]

Ok, I'm Seriously Motivated on Purchasing this in 500 Jefferey. I've been on the fence with a CZ 500 Jefferey, readily available. I have researched, as much I can gather, for better or worse regrading the Firearm. "I love the Spec's, Short or Brush Guns, ie. Light Weight & Big Bores" I am an enthusiast however, so?. Beautiful Barrell finish from what I can see. Laminate, not just for Integrity but character Flaws wouldn't be an issue, a True work Horse in the 500's. I've sent Emails to Shops & A Close Dealer to see if one could be found. … I knows theirs Backorders with some retailers. Would anyone have a Recommendation, dealer recommendation where I can Find One???

Thank You. Regards, Dan

 

[Daniel Cary]

Hello everyone, I am doing a little preliminary review on the sako brown bear I just picked up. It's in 500 Jeffery. I am very impressed with the quality of the rifle, fit and finish is what I would expect from sako which is fantastic. The rifle points like a dream and I love the express sights!!! The front sight is a very large dot which is super quick to acquire. The weight is lighter than I would prefer for this caliber but I intend to have a gunsmith add some weight in the stock and a better recoil pad. The recoil pad appears to be an afterthought though, it's barely an inch thick and has no cushion to speak of, a metal butt plate on a WW2 era Mauser comes to mind..... that's really the only disappointing part about the rifle. Everything else appears to be fantastic. I'm going to be getting some ammo soon, I will try and shoot it stock but I get the feeling that experience will be akin to instigating my own mugging. I probably won't do a ton of serious shooting until I get the weight added and buttpad changed. Does anyone know of a good gunsmith here in the states that's familiar with the big bores? I don't mind paying to have it done right. On a side note, I want to give a huge shoutout to the folks at euro optic @www.eurooptic.com, they were beyond fantastic to deal with. I even picked up a tikka t3 in 30-06 while I was there and threw in some 30-06 ammo. As a heads up they are having an awesome sale on their tikka t3's. I got mine for $200 off regular price! I will report back after shooting it!

Thanks,
Voodoo

I just posted the same above sir, … I was just wondering, though I suppose you already Mentioned your experience with Euro-optics. … Congratulations, A Unique & Beautiful Investment

Ok, I'm Seriously Motivated on Purchasing this in 500 Jefferey. I've been on the fence with a CZ 500 Jefferey, readily available. I have researched, as much I can gather, for better or worse regrading the Firearm. "I love the Spec's, Short or Brush Guns, ie. Light Weight & Big Bores" I am an enthusiast however, so?. Beautiful Barrell finish from what I can see. Laminate, not just for Integrity but character Flaws wouldn't be an issue, a True work Horse in the 500's. I've sent Emails to Shops & A Close Dealer to see if one could be found. … I knows theirs Backorders with some retailers. Would anyone have a Recommendation, dealer recommendation where I can Find One???

Thank You. Regards, Dan​

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[ve7poi]

lop changed +1" and mercury tube installed for balance now comes up perfectly for me and felt recoil reduced even with out tube. I also have used 700NE slugs at 1000grs each in butt to balance the rifle if more weight needed.

 

[Daniel Cary]

The Dealer contacted me! I'ts ordered, 20% Down. "8 Month Wait" however!

 

[ve7poi]

One word of advice the butt pad will have to be sawn off as it is attached with steel pegs not screwed on , if your changing length or pad.
Congratulations on your purchase you will enjoy it.

 

[Voodooracer]

Congrats @Daniel Cary! It will most definitely be worth the wait! If you want the contact info of the folks that did the work on mine, let me know. They did a stellar job!

 

[Daniel Cary]

Congrats @Daniel Cary! It will most definitely be worth the wait! If you want the contact info of the folks that did the work on mine, let me know. They did a stellar job!

Thank You, and you will certainly be 1st to know! … Glad to hear your pleased, as it's a traditionally unorthodox'd 500 imo, … After countless research, owners reviews & Overall, for what it is, "Found the 500 i'd hope someone would develop" … w/o undermining the R8's, Triple Rivers, etc, …

 

[Voodooracer]

Thank You, and you will certainly be 1st to know! … Glad to hear your pleased, as it's a traditionally unorthodox'd 500 imo, … After countless research, owners reviews & Overall, for what it is, "Found the 500 i'd hope someone would develop" … w/o undermining the R8's, Triple Rivers, etc, …

Yea they don’t seem quite as popular among the other common 500’s but the people that have them seem to swear by them (myself included). Yes it may not have the Mauser claw extractor but I have yet to see mine hiccup running the bolt fast or slow. Plus it points and shoots so well for me, it’s one rifle I’ll never sell.

 

[Daniel Cary]

Congrats @Daniel Cary! It will most definitely be worth the wait! If you want the contact info of the folks that did the work on mine, let me know. They did a stellar job!

Thank You! I'm still patiently awaiting the arrival of this firearm and am convinced it will be a nice addition. I do have a question, if you can answer. I shoot Ruger's M77 458Lott, this Sako in it's stock form, does it have a noticeable difference in Recoil with full house loads???

 

[Voodooracer]

Thank You! I'm still patiently awaiting the arrival of this firearm and am convinced it will be a nice addition. I do have a question, if you can answer. I shoot Ruger's M77 458Lott, this Sako in it's stock form, does it have a noticeable difference in Recoil with full house loads???

Daniel, I did not get an opportunity to shoot mine in stock factory weight before I sent it out to have the work done to it. I have never fired a Ruger RSM in 458 lott but I have fired a cz 550 in that caliber. In my estimation the Sako in stock form would be more of a handful than the Ruger with full power loads. But everyone perceives felt recoil differently. I can say that after the weight addition to mine, it feels like it recoils quite a bit less than my 470 double or my cz 450 rigby (currently my hardest kicker by far). Then again, with the new buttpad trimmed to my LOP, the Sako truly fits me like a glove, which is a huge factor. Hopefully this helps! I am excited for you to finally get yours, you definitely won’t regret it!

 

[colorado]

500 Jeffery recoil is but a maiden's kiss

 

[Voodooracer]

500 Jeffery recoil is but a maiden's kiss

A kiss from a maiden if her lips were a sledge hammer

 

[CoElkHunter]

I would have done the same thing, work on conditioning and increase the weight of the gun. I like all of my guns to be heavy and with a long barrel. Yes, carrying in the brush sucks but it's easier to point and shoot.

Wow! Heavy rifles with long barrels. You and I think along the same lines. I love my CZs with their 25” barrels. It seems many others here on AH enjoy shooting heavy recoiling calibers in light rifles with 22” barrels?

 

[CoElkHunter]

A kiss from a maiden if her lips were a sledge hammer

"Iron Maiden"?

 

[Voodooracer]

"Iron Maiden"?

Most definitely! I prefer heavier rifles and work on conditioning than going too light. My 500 with the weight added to the stock is actually very manageable and quite fun to shoot at the range. I can pretty comfortably shoot 10 or so rounds in a row before noticing discomfort. Again, it helps tremendously that the rifle fits me like a glove. One rifle I’ll never sell!

 

[Daniel Cary]

Strange as it sounds, the Sako will never see a hunt & I'm hoping the recoil is Significant!