Steyr-Mannlicher V Sako.

[XYZ]

With the arrival of my FAC hopefully due on the horizon within the next few weeks I took a market research trip today to look at some rifles.
I had initially decided a Sako 85 would be the rifle I would most likely end up with but on my visit to a gun dealer today I was introduced to the Steyr-Mannlicher Classic half stock.
The Sako is a popular rifle as we know and a decent tool for the job but the Steyr also has it's appeal.
Both are good looking rifles but the Steyr is a prettier gun. The Sako action was very loose and rattled whereas the Steyr was tight and felt nice to operate. Sako has a metal magazine, Steyr a plastic one.
Also the scope option is another dilemma, a Schmidt & Bender 8x56 or a Zeiss 3-9x50?
The package deal offered on both rifles were within a couple of hundred pounds with the Steyr coming out slightly cheaper.
I would be interested to hear any thoughts, opinions, pros, cons, regarding these two rifle/scope combinations, if one would be more preferable to you and why.

Thank you for any help/advice in advance.
Best Regards,
Adrian.

 

[Hornady]

Steyr = ugly

not sure where you get pretty from. that butt stock went out of fashion with the cowboys

the Classic light is the best looking of the lot though. but id rather not go out with the best looking of the ugly sisters. especially when im spending £1100+

the sako bolt might feel loose due to it being an open action rather than a ejection port. this stops top loading of the mag.

the Tikka T3 is closer in design to the Steyr than the Sako 85.

 

[Moonraker68]

The Sako will probably hold its value better. I use an S&B 8X56, and would recommend it. Not sure what model the Zeiss is, but there is a new lower priced range which I think has attracted some adverse comments on here.

 

[nell]

Never had a Sako,but mate has one in .243 and seems very happy with it as am i with my classic half stock in .308, has a Swarro varipower on top and is a Very accurate rifle.. Dont suppose this helps your dillema really

 

[User00003]

I've got a Sako 75 Hunter, and I believe the 85 is pretty similar, just the new version. I think the Sako is one of the sweetest off the shelf rifles I have ever shot, it's very good looking, good quality, and very accurate. The bolt is a little loose (not in a negative way), but it's better than tight and sticky, plus it makes it easy to recycle another round!

I can highly recommend the Sako, and having a S&B fixed on it, I can of course highly recommend that too. everyone I know using variable scopes leave it on 6x anyway

The Steyr I have never shot, but I was told it may need retrospective pillar bedding if you fit a bipod, as there's not enough free-float between the factory stock and the barrell - if that's the case, bear the extra cost and work in mind...maybe that's why it's for sale..

 

[nell]

I had no such problem when fitting a bipod,the rifle and scope are used on driven boar,elg hunting trips where a fixed mag scope unless a low mag is pretty useless

 

[Thar]

Mannlichers can have there issues, if you look back over some of the old threads you will see what I mean. The old M72 and SSG were good rifles, the new ones appeal because they are comparatively cheap.

The Mannlichers have had problems with flexi forends, not feeding from the mag’ the SBS bolt is not to everybody’s liking, the accuracy can take some sorting out, all of this has been covered in old threads.

I have three friends that have/had Mannlichers, one has a UltraLight and loves it, another had a classic and it was a devil to get any decent groupings out of it, it went and he got a Sako 85, the other mate had a full length stock carbine, he had wanted one for years, he had so much trouble with it that in the end he would not sell it private and traded it for a Sako 75 finlight.

Then of cause there was the rumor about Mannlicher selling 5 millon pounds worth of 50 cal’ sniper rifles to the Iranian Republican Guard, the USA tried to block the export license, but the Germans got round it by saying they were for Police action only.

You try and find a bad thing said about a Sako.:?:

ATB

Tahr

 

[JC275]

Mannlichers can have there issues, if you look back over some of the old threads you will see what I mean. The old M72 and SSG were good rifles, the new ones appeal because they are comparatively cheap.

The Mannlichers have had problems with flexi forends, not feeding from the mag’ the SBS bolt is not to everybody’s liking, the accuracy can take some sorting out, all of this has been covered in old threads.

I have three friends that have/had Mannlichers, one has a UltraLight and loves it, another had a classic and it was a devil to get any decent groupings out of it, it went and he got a Sako 85, the other mate had a full length stock carbine, he had wanted one for years, he had so much trouble with it that in the end he would not sell it private and traded it for a Sako 75 finlight.

Then of cause there was the rumor about Mannlicher selling 5 millon pounds worth of 50 cal’ sniper rifles to the Iranian Republican Guard, the USA tried to block the export license, but the Germans got round it by saying they were for Police action only.

You try and find a bad thing said about a Sako.:?:

ATB

Tahr

I've got four Sako's and not one of them will make me a brew in the morning. JC

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

The wooden stocked Mannlichers are very nice rifles, they do not suffer from the stock problems that the pro-hunter are associated with. Would I buy one ahead of a Sako 85? Yes I might, I have done in the past.

In what world is the Mannlicher ugly? This one was the most consistently accurate rifle I have ever owned, or seen short of an F class or bench gun. Ugly it was not:

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

.....
Then of cause there was the rumor about Mannlicher selling 5 millon pounds worth of 50 cal’ sniper rifles to the Iranian Republican Guard, the USA tried to block the export license, but the Germans got round it by saying they were for Police action only.

QUOTE]

Tahr, that story has been comprehensively trashed. It was a load of balls.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Adrian

I have posted re both the Mannlicher Pro-Hunter and Sako 75. I have sold the attached Pro-Hunter, but over the five years I owned it, it shot well off the bipod.

The issue I have with both brands is the limitations in terms of triggers, stocks etc. This is why there is now a Remington in my gallery.

My suggestion would be to go on GunTrader and buy something. It doesn't really matter what you buy, but once you have a rifle you will understand the issues better and form an opinion on what to buy next. Rifle ownership is an expensive and exciting voyage of discovery. It's very unlikely your first rifle will be your last, unless you buy one of these:

PGM Précision - Ultima Ratio

I watched a guy shooting one of these yesterday in .300 Win Mag at 500yds - really impressive piece of kit.

Regards JCS

 

[Thar]

I've got four Sako's and not one of them will make me a brew in the morning. JC

The funny thing is I know of 3 other people that will only have Sako’s in there cabinets.

Tahr, that story has been comprehensively trashed. It was a load of balls.

Hi Brian

Do you have any links? Sorry if I have rattled you a bit, but you have to admit even setting aside my experience there have been a number of posts by unhappy owners of the newer Mannlichers over the last couple of years and how many posts by unhappy Sako owners?

I do not know Adrian’s financial position but a new rifle is not cheap, and if he is unhappy with it it will no doubt cost him a few hundred pounds to change it, the Sako would be the safe option IMO.

ATB

Tahr

 

[XYZ]

Guys, I sincerely appreciate all your comments and opinions.

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks the Steyr is a good looking rifle, thank you Brian for posting that photo.

The package offered to me was for a Steyr Classic half stock with choice of moderator (I can't remember the two options) and a Zeiss Duralyt 3-9x50 scope which came in at around £1900 vs a Sako 85 with the same kit which was offered at just under £2100.
There was also the choice of a Hungarian Schmidt & Bender 8x56 with the price difference in scopes obviously taken into consideration in the final total.

I will try and get a bipod or even a sling or gunslip thrown in too........

The Steyr rifle fitted well, came to the shoulder easily and comfortably and my eye was straight down the middle of the gun. With the Sako my head was slightly off meaning I had to tilt my head to the right to get the same view down the middle.
I like the finish to the metal of the Steyr over the Sako, the waterproof/bloodproof coating looked good and gave a nice matt finish which contrasted well with the stock.
I know looks aren't everything in a gun but I would prefer to shoot a rifle I'm happy with and enjoy looking at, handling etc rather than going for one I don't particularly like as much. Not much between them both I know but it's personal preference and my hard earned cash at the end of the day.

I can judge a rifle on it's looks as well as the next person but I am interested in the thoughts of members who've owned both or shot with both and could evaluate their performance against each other. Any specific ammo preferences?

Best Regards,
Adrian.

 

[Hornady]

i think the only real alternative to the Sako 85 is maybe the Sauer 202. The wolverine model looks the business

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

i think the only real alternative to the Sako 85 is maybe the Sauer 202. The wolverine model looks the business

The 202 is in a different league to a factory standard Sako, but the wolverine weighs a tonne.

I would rank timber / blue steel factory production rifles as follows (excluding "boutique" makers)

1. Sauer. I sold mine, what a knob. Just a brillant rifle, top quality manufacture and very accurate. Barrel change is not as easy as a Blaser.

2. Blaser. Very close to Sauer. Very accurate. Barrel / calibre change is in seconds. Top loads only. I have one with 22/250 and 30/06 barrels. Love it, but I wish I still had my Sauer also.

3 & 4. Sako & Mannlicher. Both make very good rifles that should be 100% functional out of the box. The Sako is very much the conservative choice, a very traditionally styled rifle. Mannlichers are not to every ones taste. I love them. Mine was in 222rem, came from the factory with Al pillers and a fore-end pressure point. Stunningly accurate. .3" to .4" all day. My current favourite rifle is a semi custom 260rem on a Sako 75.

5. The rest. Rem, Winchester, Tikka, Howa, CZ, Ruger. They all go bang and kill stuff. They will all need improved as they come with flaws. Rem and Ruger have crap triggers and poor stocks. Tikka's are accurate, trigger is good, stocks are crap. CZ, heavy old things. Howa might be the best for the money, but they need re-stocked and barrels cut back to 20".

That is another point, almost all factory rifles come with too much barrel for carrying a Mod. Barrels need to be chopped to 20" before threading.

 

[wicklow202]

Id second what Claret said, i had a Sako 75 st/syn, very good rifle changed it for a Sauer 202 outback, the sauer is a much neater rifle, the bolt is really smooth, comes with a set trigger just an overall better rifle in my opinion and very accurate. I also have a tikka t3 lite in 25-06 for the money its a cracking rifle, very accurate gun, its a joy to shoot, lovely crisp trigger on the tikka set at 1.5lbs.
Would highly recomend either the sauer or tikka.

wicklow202

 

[User00003]

Guys, I sincerely appreciate all your comments and opinions.

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks the Steyr is a good looking rifle, thank you Brian for posting that photo.

The package offered to me was for a Steyr Classic half stock with choice of moderator (I can't remember the two options) and a Zeiss Duralyt 3-9x50 scope which came in at around £1900 vs a Sako 85 with the same kit which was offered at just under £2100.
There was also the choice of a Hungarian Schmidt & Bender 8x56 with the price difference in scopes obviously taken into consideration in the final total.

I will try and get a bipod or even a sling or gunslip thrown in too........

The Steyr rifle fitted well, came to the shoulder easily and comfortably and my eye was straight down the middle of the gun. With the Sako my head was slightly off meaning I had to tilt my head to the right to get the same view down the middle.
I like the finish to the metal of the Steyr over the Sako, the waterproof/bloodproof coating looked good and gave a nice matt finish which contrasted well with the stock.
I know looks aren't everything in a gun but I would prefer to shoot a rifle I'm happy with and enjoy looking at, handling etc rather than going for one I don't particularly like as much. Not much between them both I know but it's personal preference and my hard earned cash at the end of the day.

I can judge a rifle on it's looks as well as the next person but I am interested in the thoughts of members who've owned both or shot with both and could evaluate their performance against each other. Any specific ammo preferences?

Best Regards,
Adrian.

Mate, sounds like you've got your heart set on the Steyr - go for that one, as otherwise you'll always be wondering 'what could have been' and never be happy with the Sako (even if it was the better rifle..I say 'if').

For me, I love my Sako, I agree the trigger is a bit clunky and the action not as silky as could be, but that's why if I don't custom build my next rifle, I'll probably go for something like the Saur 202, what a beauty!

 

[XYZ]

Mate, sounds like you've got your heart set on the Steyr - go for that one, as otherwise you'll always be wondering 'what could have been' and never be happy with the Sako (even if it was the better rifle..I say 'if').

Is it that obvious?

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Adrian

Steyr Mannlicher Pro Hunter MKII | shootreview

It's a good out of the box rifle, but as I have posted before, there's nothing that can be changed easily or cheaply should you want to improve its performance.

Regards JCS

 

[Farmer]

Hi Adrian,
When I applied for my variation it took two and a half months to come back so, like you I spent my time doing market research and came out in favour of a Tikka T3 Lite, until that is I came across the Mannlicher Pro Hunter. I did some more research, made my decision and got the Mannlicher Pro Hunter Mountain with the 20inch barrel and a Zeiss 3-12x50 Duralyt scope. There were issues with the stocks on early models but the MKII sorted those out. I find it very accurate with the right ammunition, mine likes Fedeal Powershok and Norma, prvy on the other hand gets spat all over the place.

View attachment 3259View attachment 3260

The target on the left are the Fed's (the 2 strays are me not the gun) and the target on the right are the Norma's. Both shot off a bipod from 150yds.