Sako accuracy guarantee

[Shabz]

Does anyone have experience of having to claim on a Sako accuracy warranty? What is involved? Will I be without a rifle for a year while it’s sent back to Finland?

I had an old tikka t3 in .270win which would shoot well enough with home loads but not with factory copper ammo that I need to use on some forestry work so bought a new Sako 85 in .270win a few weeks ago. I bought a new Sako rather than a second hand one as they’re ‘guaranteed to shoot sub MOA 5 shot groups with premium ammo’. I paired it with a sightron s3 mounted with tier one mounts on a contessa rail. The rifle has a genuine Harris bipod on it. I’ve not bought any cheap components for it.

I can not shoot a group with it for love nor money. My preferred round is the Sako power head 2 with a 110gr Barnes ttsx but it shoots maybe a 5 inch group. I spent £100 on those trying to zero it. I thought I’d try some different bullets so bought some Hornady super performance with 130gr GMX bullets, some Norma bullets with 110gr VMax and some cheap federal 130gr bullets.

None of these bullets would shoot better than a 11/2-2 inch group. The best that I found were the Norma 110gr vmax which I did a shooting test today with but the groups were embarrassing. I needed every millimetre of the 4 inches I was allowed.

Since I’ve got home, I’ve changed the scope for a hawke one that I had in the cupboard so I’m hoping it’s the sightron at fault and I can send it back but if it still doesn’t shoot, what happens with the return? I need a rifle to be able to keep on top of the cull, I don’t want to have to buy another one while this one is looked at.

Just to add, I shot a tiny group today with my pals custom .308 so I’m confident it’s not me. He couldn’t do any better than I can with my rifle either.

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[long_range_rob]

I don’t know about their guarantee but every rifle is fired on a range by a human being before leaving the factory. Any (and they are few and far between) that won’t shoot dub MOA are sent back as unacceptable.

 

[Andyquadra]

Have you been back to the shop you got it from?

 

[Shabz]

Have you been back to the shop you got it from?

No, I’m going to try it again with a different scope on it tomorrow and then take it back if I still can’t get a group out of it. Just wondered if anyone had any experience of taking one back.

 

[Shabz]

I don’t know about their guarantee but every rifle is fired on a range by a human being before leaving the factory. Any (and they are few and far between) that won’t shoot dub MOA are sent back as unacceptable.

Are you sure that’s what happens? I know they’re all fired but is that not just for proofing?


Edited to say. I just watched a Sako factory tour video and they shoot a full magazine for every rifle. I wonder what bullets they use?

 

[User00040]

Have you been back to the shop you got it from?

This!

 

[bogtrotter]

Are you sure that’s what happens? I know they’re all fired but is that not just for proofing?


Edited to say. I just watched a Sako factory tour video and they shoot a full magazine for every rifle. I wonder what bullets they use?

Don't know if they still do but used to be when you bought a new Sako you got the test target with it as proof of what it
was capable of.

 

[Shabz]

They must use a digital target nowadays to save on the paper! Nowt like that with mine!

 

[Sierra]

My thought process would be to change every variable, one by one to find the fault.
Scope
Mounts
Ammo ( which it sounds like you have tried)
Moderator
Remove from the action, clean, check & torque correctly when re-assembling

It is very unusual for Sako to produce a rifle that doesn't shoot but it will happen from time to time and must not be discounted.

 

[ashray]

good evening ,try using a properly lead filled bullet and see if it shoots. sako use their own ammo which is a lead cored bullet! you may find its not the rifle but the bullets.

 

[User00040]

good evening ,try using a properly lead filled bullet and see if it shoots. sako use their own ammo which is a lead cored bullet! you may find its not the rifle but the bullets.

No, the Sako Powerhead II line uses Barnes TTSX bullets which are copper.

@Shabz I'd check the bedding block in the stock, could be loose. Sako 85's are pretty notorious for having shite bedding, but the two work 85's used in the past worked OK for me.

 

[Shabz]

Checked the bedding block, tight enough, checked/tightened the action screws, shot lead bullets of varying weights (I have to shoot copper, the reason I bought a new rifle) and checked moderator. I’ve changed the scope and I’ll try shooting it without the mod tomorrow. If it doesn’t shoot, I’ll take it back to the shop.

 

[User00040]

Checked the bedding block, tight enough, checked/tightened the action screws, shot lead bullets of varying weights (I have to shoot copper, the reason I bought a new rifle) and checked moderator. I’ve changed the scope and I’ll try shooting it without the mod tomorrow. If it doesn’t shoot, I’ll take it back to the shop.

Keep us posted, hope it gets sorted!

 

[antsa]

Take it back. If the importer doesn't want to deal with it then they'll probably cop a load of s**t on here. Not good for their image. I could relate an episode that I followed when I lived in Sweden. In short, a bloke bought a new 85 in 6.5x55 for his 50th. Couldn't get it to shoot. He took it back to the seller and for some unfathomable reason they together decided that the rifle needed bedding - which they did!!!! The whole bedding process was documented in pics on a national forum. Bedding done, off to the range - the rifle shot like s**t. First then he contacted the importer. Of course they refused to touch it thereby receiving a huge amount of negative publicity. IIRC the issue was finally resolved by the bloke getting a refund but it took a long time and the importers name was mud.
Shoot your rifle with a selection of different ammo, different scopes, another shooter, check action and mount screws but don't fiddle too much with the rifle. If it still doesn't shoot, take it back.

Cheers

 

[Steve123]

I had a new Sako 75 stainless laminate varmint, it would not group anything and I took it back to the shop and I got a refund as it was a duff one.

 

[gixer1]

Take the moderator off altogether....had a mates gun recently that wouldn’t shoot, turned out to be a dodgy Stalon moderator.

that or the scope are the likely culprits. There are very few rifles come out of the factory not shooting...all the brands I know of test them.

 

[DCG]

Take the moderator off altogether....had a mates gun recently that wouldn’t shoot, turned out to be a dodgy Stalon moderator.

that or the scope are the likely culprits. There are very few rifles come out of the factory not shooting...all the brands I know of test them.

Lot of sense in this. If it’s chucking groups like this I’d suspect something wrong with the accessories.
As has been said, before you waste any more ammunition:-
Check the bedding block in the stock.
Check correct torque of the action bolts and that when it’s torqued up, the barrel’s not touching the stock.
Check the scope mounts, if you’ve used Optilocks, ensure the base is firmly attached to the ring base.
Check the crown.
Then:-
Try it without the moderator on and if possible with another moderator, that way you’ll eliminate the rifle if the moderators at fault.
Try it with another scope.

Then I’d go back to the supplier if all of that doesn’t work, you can confidently argue that it’s not right.

Been there, got the T shirt, not with Sako though.

 

[Shabz]

So, I checked and rechecked everything last night, changed the scope for a cheap hawke one that I bought for my .223 and went out to shoot a group this morning. By the time I had it somewhere near I was out of bullets so only managed a three shot group (pictured) which has two in the same hole and one very close to it. I’m going to go and buy some more bullets this afternoon and see if it was a fluke or not. Hopefully that’s it sorted and I won’t be without a rifle!

 

[Cottis]

I have had a windage turret on a Sightron fail on me before. You could hear it rattling a bit when you shook the rifle. I was throwing shots laterally on a rifle and cartridge combination that was previously proven.

Hopefully you have found the culprit and if it is the scope, get it back to Optics Warehouse, whether you bought it from them new or second hand from elsewhere. They will get it back to Sightron and almost certainly replace with new rather than fix. That is what they did with mine. Took a few weeks but ultimately the warranty was good.

 

[Shabz]

I have had a windage turret on a Sightron fail on me before. You could hear it rattling a bit when you shook the rifle. I was throwing shots laterally on a rifle and cartridge combination that was previously proven.

Hopefully you have found the culprit and if it is the scope, get it back to Optics Warehouse, whether you bought it from them new or second hand from elsewhere. They will get it back to Sightron and almost certainly replace with new rather than fix. That is what they did with mine. Took a few weeks but ultimately the warranty was good.

Yeah, I had to send a Rudolph scope back to them once and they were very good.

I’ll get the scope tested on a rifle that I know shoots to double check before sending it back.

Could’ve bought a Swarovski with the extra cost in bullets!