New Bolt Action Rifle Recommendations

[Wind Gypsy]

I'm a huge Tikka/Sako fanboy, but aren't the Sako 85's known to have extraction issues? I thought that was the single model from that company that has ever not been up to par from a reliability standpoint.

Could be wrong though.

I've never had one either but my recollection is the issue is usually a ejection angle thing not extraction. Cases hitting scope and bouncing back in chamber being primary problem.

 

[MTLabrador]

I've never had one either but my recollection is the issue is usually an ejection angle thing not extraction. Cases hitting scope and bouncing back in chamber being primary problem.

I’ve used my Sako 85 .300 win mag a lot and I’ve never had this issue, though I have heard of it. With larger turrets it could see it happening.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

Put a new recoil pad on it

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/sako-rifles/sako-l61r-finnbear-30-06-springfield.cfm?gun_id=103739405#gallery-103739405-lg-1

 

[Stcknstringer22]

Now, time to start a thread for ammo recommendations, haha.

Federal terminal ascent, norma Bondstrike, these shot best in my 308's bolt actions. Cva cascade and a weatherby vanguard compact. Heavy for caliber bullets with good BC

 

[BobT1105]

Now, time to start a thread for ammo recommendations, haha.

I have 3 good loads for my .308, mine are all hand loaded. I have a 125 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip load for our local woods whitetail. Another Ballistic Tip 150 grain for longer ranges and a 150 grain Partition for black bear. Take a look at Federal Fusion in factory ammo, I know several people who swear by them. Everyone makes ammo for the .308, just buy a few boxes and find one your rifles like and then buy the entire lot

 

[shootbrownelk]

I’m open to other choices as well. My main requirement is that the .308 needs to have a barrel length of at least 22”. And I’d prefer to keep it around $1000 or under. I also don’t want a threaded barrel. I was almost willing to stretch it on a really nice Sako .30-06 (out to $1300 for a used one in great shape), but I don’t really need that much firepower. I have a .35 Whelen for that.

Go with the Sako. You won't regret it.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

Go with the Sako. You won't regret it.

On post #63 I offered an online reference for a fine used Sako rifle in 30-06 for $899.

I am getting too close to being 80 years old. Hopefully getting my second knee replacement surgery next Wednesday will make big game hunting more possible for me again. Time will tell.

Starting when I was in my later teens, about say 17, I began buying centerfire rifles. That was 60 years ago. During that time, I have probably averaged one rifle/year = about 60 rifles bought and most sold.

During my lifetime of buying centerfire rifles 3 brands stand out with great satisfaction. Sako, Belgium Safari grade Browning's and Pre-64 Winchester Model 70's. My hunting needs have charged. Over the decades I have sold two, 338's and two 300 Win mags that I really never needed. That was during the magnum craze era. They were all from the brands/models above. Really fine rifles.

The pleasure of ownership of such fine rifles never goes away. For foul weather I have a Sako SS Finnlight carbine in 308. There is a limit to blue steel and walnut, but there never is a limit to appreciation.

 

[Wyoming270]

What is the reasoning for the 22" barrel requirement?

Its about the perfect length for a long action rifle that is non magnum. Any longer starts to snag a lot, any shorter and the fireball is detrimental with standard reasonable hunting ammunition. some people chop magnums to this length but i disagree with that.

 

[Wyoming270]

On post #63 I offered an online reference for a fine used Sako rifle in 30-06 for $899.

I am getting too close to being 80 years old. Hopefully getting my second knee replacement surgery next Wednesday will make big game hunting more possible for me again. Time will tell.

Starting when I was in my later teens, about say 17, I began buying centerfire rifles. That was 60 years ago. During that time, I have probably averaged one rifle/year = about 60 rifles bought and most sold.

During my lifetime of buying centerfire rifles 3 brands stand out with great satisfaction. Sako, Belgium Safari grade Browning's and Pre-64 Winchester Model 70's. My hunting needs have charged. Over the decades I have sold two, 338's and two 300 Win mags that I really never needed. That was during the magnum craze era. They were all from the brands/models above. Really fine rifles.

The pleasure of ownership of such fine rifles never goes away. For foul weather I have a Sako SS Finnlight carbine in 308. There is a limit to blue steel and walnut, but there never is a limit to appreciation.

You could not be more correct.

Your right about the magnums. I have a vintage 300 win mag I will never sell. Cartridge can do anything. but its not needed for everything. 270 win is my go to round for big game hunting if im not going to be shooting across big open windy plains.

Ive got a pretty solid system for blued and walnut in the september rain, hail, sleet, and snow. I pull the stock coat every bit of it inside and out with paste furniture wax. Then the blued steel, i keep cut oieces of synthetic car drying shammy towel soaked in ballistol. Everytime a rain stops or im done hunting or shooting for the day i wipe the blued steel down with that.

 

[Cogreeny]

Broke in and sighted in my new xbolt 2 composite stainless .30-06 and man does it shoot. I love the stock the trigger is pretty good. No complaints she’s gonna be a killer.

 

[BayouBuck985]

Go with the Sako. You won't regret it.

I have my eyes set on a locally available, gently used (30 rounds through the gun) Sako 75 stainless synthetic in .30-06 with a Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14X44 on it. The seller is selling both together for $1500 and unwilling to sell just the rifle separately (I don’t really need the scope), but that price seems pretty reasonable to me. If I can make a sale for the Weatherby 7mm, I may go that route.

 

[mtmuley]

I have my eyes set on a locally available, gently used (30 rounds through the gun) Sako 75 stainless synthetic in .30-06 with a Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14X44 on it. The seller is selling both together for $1500 and unwilling to sell just the rifle separately (I don’t really need the scope), but that price seems pretty reasonable to me. If I can make a sale for the Weatherby 7mm, I may go that route.

Not a Sako guy but I think I would buy that. mtmuley

 

[BayouBuck985]

Not a Sako guy but I think I would buy that. mtmuley

Yeah, this is what’s available.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

I have my eyes set on a locally available, gently used (30 rounds through the gun) Sako 75 stainless synthetic in .30-06 with a Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14X44 on it. The seller is selling both together for $1500 and unwilling to sell just the rifle separately (I don’t really need the scope), but that price seems pretty reasonable to me. If I can make a sale for the Weatherby 7mm, I may go that route.

You could not be more correct.

Your right about the magnums. I have a vintage 300 win mag I will never sell. Cartridge can do anything. but its not needed for everything. 270 win is my go to round for big game hunting if im not going to be shooting across big open windy plains.

Ive got a pretty solid system for blued and walnut in the september rain, hail, sleet, and snow. I pull the stock coat every bit of it inside and out with paste furniture wax. Then the blued steel, i keep cut oieces of synthetic car drying shammy towel soaked in ballistol. Everytime a rain stops or im done hunting or shooting for the day i wipe the blued steel down with that.

I have only one all weather rifle, The 75 Sako 308 Finnlight Carbine I mentioned above.

With the Camp Perry powder designed for the 308, in the 20 1/4 inch fluted barrel, with the 1/11 twist, at a small tad under max of a by the book load, with Lapua Brass

with Barnes 165 gr TTSXBT i get right at 2'900'/sec and with 150 grain TTSX i get right at 3'000'/sec. Both better than my 30-06 and almost tack drivers

 

[Wyoming270]

I have only one all weather rifle, The Sako 308 Finnlight Carbine I mentioned above.

With the Camp Perry powder designed for the 308, in the 20 1/4 inch fluted barrel, with the 1/11 twist, at a small tad under max of a by the book load, with Lapua Brass

with Barnes 165 gr TTSXBT i get right at 2'900'/sec and with 150 grain TTSX i get right at 3'000'/sec. Both better than my 30-06

Those loads certainly are over kill for elk. But with proper powder and bullet selection you could beat those energy values in 30 06, not that you would ever need to for north america. I like to set up 2 tuned hand loads and 2 commonly available precise factory loads for each rifle. I then proof them to 600 yards and type up ballistics sheets for each load. This way if a component is discontinued i can still load the other load, or if im out somewhere and somehow end up out of ammunition i can go buy ammunition i know works in the rifle at the nearest gas station or hardware store. I didnt use to think about these things until the last two rounds of not being able to get a specific hunting load or component for 5+ years at a time.

 

[Mustangs Rule]

Those loads certainly are over kill for elk. But with proper powder and bullet selection you could beat those energy values in 30 06, not that you would ever need to for north america. I like to set up 2 tuned hand loads and 2 commonly available precise factory loads for each rifle. I then proof them to 600 yards and type up ballistics sheets for each load. This way if a component is discontinued i can still load the other load, or if im out somewhere and somehow end up out of ammunition i can go buy ammunition i know works in the rifle at the nearest gas station or hardware store. I didnt use to think about these things until the last two rounds of not being able to get a specific hunting load or component for 5+ years at a time.

On principle I backed off those 308 loads 50'/sec. I have had my 30-06 for 54 years, A Belgium Browning Safari grade. I have never got the velocities out of it that in got from my Sako 308, almost but not quite. Still in fine weather I hunt with it. It is heavier and not quite as accurate but so beautiful, which is the point of this post