Sako 75. The World's best kept secret ?

[1armoured]

Now that everyone has bought their Tikkas,
seems like everything has gone quiet,
so I thought I'd remind the uninformed that the 'Premium' brand is Sako !
And the word for the day is 'Seventy Five' !
-


-
I've had my 75 in .308 for nigh on 15 years now, and it's never put a put a foot wrong, nor misfired, non-ejected, nor jammed,

and only occasionally failed to hit what it was aimed at !
(but can't blame the rifle for that !)


I find the .308 cartridge very versatile.
I shoot from 110grs V-Max handloads to 185gr Lapua factory, and good to go with it's 1:11" barrel twist rate.

and it handles those weights/lengths and the Sierra 155, 168 and 175's in-between very well.
Been a ton of various Milsurplus and Palma type target loads through it as well.
Just getting to shoot some 186gr cast 'boolits' through it for a bit of fun.
Bought initially for Silhouette, in Stainless/Synthetic and captive magazine, and Sako stainless high mounts, (with a view to a bit of hunting as well), it goes 9lb with a cheap Tasco on top, and cost just a little more than your average make.
I generally only shoot offhand at 200mtrs now that age and infirmity is getting the better of me, with a bit of bench at 100/200,
but have been up to 500mtr offhand, and 600yds prone.
The 75 seems such a 'simple' and uncomplicated action. Smooth, with not too much play when 'bolt open', and a simple trigger, and crisp, which I can adjust down to 1.5lbs.


Any out there still shooting their 75's, or have they all been traded for Tikkas ? 


Good to know if the old marque can still show the newer upstarts, the Tikkas, and the A7's and 85's what it's all about !!!
-
Some 75 stats;
-
http://www.sako.fi/pdf/specs/75Hunter.pdf


200mtr scaled silhouettes, Offhand;
-



-


Shoots well off the bench, even with a light bullet and light'ish load,
(with the 186gr cast lead seated, for comparison);


-

-


Shooting paper varmints at 200mtrs, with the 110gr V-Max handloads;

-

-
cheers,

SS

[longwinters]

I wouldn't say whether the Sako 75 is the best or not....but I have 3 of em and would not trade them for anything else.
 
Long

[soli]

Mine is a 25-06,Ican't keep myhands off her,a thing of beauty!

[anweis]

Mine is an 85, and i am happy.

[1armoured]

I found this on the Net re differences between 85 and 75,
I assume that it is factual;


The principal features of the 85 are:

NEW - Controlled round feeding. Based on the time tested Model 75 three lug bolt the Model 85 maintains the best features of the Model 75 while adding positive controlled round feeding. Compared to other actions with controlled round feed the Sako 85 three lug bolt head offers 10 to 40% more surface area.

NEW - Lengthened Rear Bolt Guide. Makes an already smooth action even smoother. Typically the shorter the action the more susceptible it is to bolt bind due do decreased bearing surface area. The lengthened Rear Bolt Guide of the Model 85 eliminates the possibility of bolt bind when bolt is functioned fast and hard, particularly important in the very popular WSM length action.

NEW - Total Control Magazine Latch. The TCM Latch makes it all but impossible to lose a magazine due to the magazine latch accidentally being bushed. The new TCM Latch requires slight upward pressure on the magazine at the same time the magazine latch is being pushed, easily accomplished with a cold hand, to release the magazine.

NEW - Synthetic Stock Models, FinSoft Recoil Disipating Butt Pad. Unique to the synthetic stock models the FinSoft Butt Pad system incorporates integral soft, hollow fins that collapse to absorb and redirect the recoil force down, away from the shooter's cheek.

NEW - Sculptured Receiver Profile. The receiver and bolt shroud profiles have been sculptured, reducing the weight of the affected parts and enhance their appearance.
Also,

One other difference between the 2 is the 85 has an integral recoil lug machined into the action. The 75's recoil lug is bolted to the action
(Haven't checked my 75, so I can't verify this)


cheers,
SS

[anthonyg]

gentlemen  I also have A sako 75 stainless synthetic cal 708. I bought the rifle in the 1990's. I use it for silhouette shooting   I think this rifle is the best factory gun ever made  AG Staten island NY

[drdougrx]

I have an 85 finnlite in 06....would switch every caliber I own to a sako if I could afford to.

[Zachary]

I have something interesting to share, and maybe someone can help me out.
 
I have 3 rifles chambered in 7mm-08 (my favorite Whitetail cartridge), and they are as follows:
1.  Tikka WH Stainless (the original model with a true short action, not the Tikka Lite model).
2.  Remington BDL SS DM (Detachable Magazine).
3.  Sako 75 Stainless Synthetic.
 
The factory ammo that I purchased is as follows:
 
1.  Hornady Light Magnum - 139 grain Interlock (which is my favorite Whitetail round).
2.  Federal Premium 140 (which is my second favorite Whitetail round).
 
Here is what is interesting (if not downright confusing):
 
1.  Tikka WH SS.
When I put the Hornady Ammo in the Tikka.  It cycled the ammo just fine.  Same thing with the Federal Ammo.  I did not fire the ammo.  I simply loaded up the magazine and cycled the ammo.  Working the action with the Tikka is truly a pleasure.  It is so sleek...like wet glass.
 
2.  Remington BDL SS DM.
Same as the Tikka.  No problems with either the Hornady or Federal Ammo.  I love my Remingtons, but the Remington action just doesn't cycle as smoothly as the Tikka.
 
3.  Sako 75 SS.
Now here is the confusing part.  When I put in the Hornady ammo, the Sako cycled it just fine.  The action is very smooth (although, believe it or not, not exactly as smooth as the Tikka).  In any event, when I put in the exact same Federal ammo, the dang thing wouldn't cycle!  The bolt just wouldn't fully close down.  I went back in disbelief and put the Hornady ammo...again no problem.  But when I put the Federal ammo back in, it still wouldn't cycle.  I went back and forth doing the same thing with the other two rifles, with no problems.
 
Why in the world didn't my Sako cycle the Federal ammo when all of the other rifles did?  I'm still scratching my head on this one!
 
Zachary

[Don Fischer]

I have something interesting to share, and maybe someone can help me out.
 
I have 3 rifles chambered in 7mm-08 (my favorite Whitetail cartridge), and they are as follows:
1.  Tikka WH Stainless (the original model with a true short action, not the Tikka Lite model).
2.  Remington BDL SS DM (Detachable Magazine).
3.  Sako 75 Stainless Synthetic.
 
The factory ammo that I purchased is as follows:
 
1.  Hornady Light Magnum - 139 grain Interlock (which is my favorite Whitetail round).
2.  Federal Premium 140 (which is my second favorite Whitetail round).
 
Here is what is interesting (if not downright confusing):
 
1.  Tikka WH SS.
When I put the Hornady Ammo in the Tikka.  It cycled the ammo just fine.  Same thing with the Federal Ammo.  I did not fire the ammo.  I simply loaded up the magazine and cycled the ammo.  Working the action with the Tikka is truly a pleasure.  It is so sleek...like wet glass.
 
2.  Remington BDL SS DM.
Same as the Tikka.  No problems with either the Hornady or Federal Ammo.  I love my Remingtons, but the Remington action just doesn't cycle as smoothly as the Tikka.
 
3.  Sako 75 SS.
Now here is the confusing part.  When I put in the Hornady ammo, the Sako cycled it just fine.  The action is very smooth (although, believe it or not, not exactly as smooth as the Tikka).  In any event, when I put in the exact same Federal ammo, the dang thing wouldn't cycle!  The bolt just wouldn't fully close down.  I went back in disbelief and put the Hornady ammo...again no problem.  But when I put the Federal ammo back in, it still wouldn't cycle.  I went back and forth doing the same thing with the other two rifles, with no problems.
 
Why in the world didn't my Sako cycle the Federal ammo when all of the other rifles did?  I'm still scratching my head on this one!
 
Zachary

Sako's are pretty smart rifles. Maybe it's trying to tell you that the ammo is junk! lol
I had several Sako's somewhat older than what your talking about here. L61R's and L461's Some of the best rifles I ever owned.