Sako quality control

[antsa]

The other issue was with my mates new sako S20.
I was fitting his scope for him and I put the bottom half of the rings onto the picatinny base on the rifle, when I tried to set the scope into the rings it wouldn't go in. I removed the rings again to check them and refit them.
What I found was that the slot in the built in picatinny rail was not true to the action and the mount was sitting at an angle.
I moved the mount back to the next slot and it was fine and the scope dropping straight in.
Both rifles are shooting very well but I was disappointed to see these issues with new sakos.

Thankfully my four 85s, all with Optilocks, function without problems. Three were probably made around 2011 and one 2016/2017. Luck of the draw maybe and I will not be buying another one. My AI is a gem (even though I sometimes think we look at the past through rose-coloured glasses).
The S20 problem above begs a question. I know nothing about CNC machining but how can one machined action turn out like this? Wouldn't all actions machined that shift, day, week be the same? Any ideas?

Cheers

 

[alberta boy]

Locally , Sako has lost some of it's earlier regard . I really like the older models , but the newer ones just aren't that cut above the competition , their lower sales numbers out here reflect that . They still make a good rifle , but they're asking for a lot more money for their rifles than other companies that sell a comparable product . It's too bad really .

AB

 

[palo]

Thankfully my four 85s, all with Optilocks, function without problems. Three were probably made around 2011 and one 2016/2017. Luck of the draw maybe and I will not be buying another one. My AI is a gem (even though I sometimes think we look at the past through rose-coloured glasses).
The S20 problem above begs a question. I know nothing about CNC machining but how can one machined action turn out like this? Wouldn't all actions machined that shift, day, week be the same? Any ideas?

Cheers

I don't know but the dealer has another rifle the same that came along with my mates.
I must check it the next time I'm up that way.

 

[Long drag]

Sorry can't agree with you about Sauer, of the above the only one I can talk about is the Sauer 404, brilliant piece of kit, and shoots very well.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

The operator that loads up the CNC machine with metal billets might not have cleared the swarf completely away from the last batch so that the new batch could be slightly misaligned to the bore axis. QR issue then.

 

[Malxwal]

Without going into detail, at least two Tikka T3x issues which relate to the quality of metal they are using these days, and GMKs point blank refusal to honour any warranty. They point out in the manual that a rifle should be oiled and cleaned (this includes the bore) every time it is removed from storage, regardless of whether or not it is actually fired.
Talking to an RFD, the issue of excessive corrosion and no warranty backup from GMK is fairly common.

 

[Border]

I have 3 Sako rifles. 2x 75 and a M591.
I prefer the older rifles and would probably choose Tikka over Sako nowadays.
Ironically I choose Sako over Tikka before.
Must be a sign of getting old when everything was better before and your newest rifle is from the nineties......

 

[Border]

Without going into detail, at least two Tikka T3x issues which relate to the quality of metal they are using these days, and GMKs point blank refusal to honour any warranty. They point out in the manual that a rifle should be oiled and cleaned (this includes the bore) every time it is removed from storage, regardless of whether or not it is actually fired.
Talking to an RFD, the issue of excessive corrosion and no warranty backup from GMK is fairly common.

GMK would never win any awards for customer service. Every post slates them, wonder why?

 

[8x57]

Never had any issues whatsoever myself with either Sako or Tikka and I've owned several of both. I currently have a 85 that I have owned for 12 years and have been more than happy with it. However, I have heard from a ranger friend of more than a few issues they have had with Sako rifles in recent years and I have witnessed a problem with a new T3 that a fellow club member had purchased so am inclined to believe that standards may have slipped. In agreement with Border regarding customer service from GMK, my experience was with another "quality" product that they were distributing at the time.

 

[Shabz]

I just recently bought a Sako 85 in .270 fitted a contessa rail and tier one mounts and could not get it to shoot. I adjusted the trigger down to see if a lighter trigger might help. After adjusting the trigger, I tested it to see if it would slam fire, rattled the bolt vigorously and banged the butt off the floor. Well, when I did that, the scope, mounts and rail flew off. I screwed it back on as tight as I could get it and went to have another go. Still couldn’t get it to group so took it back to the shop. When they tested it, the guy told me that the scope flew off on firing the first shot so he changed the rail and gave me it back. It was marginally better but still no real use so I took it back and they gave me a refund. I’ve heard that they sent it back to GMK who still couldn’t get it to work so it’s away back to Finland apparently.
I took the £2200 refund and bought a secondhand one for £950 which shoots cloverleaf groups.

 

[Cranborne]

I've had two Sako 75's, a Finnbear and a Tikka M595. All wood / blue, and all were accurate and reliable. I convinced myself after a wet week in Scotland that I need a stainless / synthetic T3X. It's a good rifle, but the action tarnished really easily....not quite the 'sturdy and long-lasting choice for all weather conditions' that the brochure promises. I look after my kit, and a Winchester M70 stainless I've owned for longer than the T3X is still spotless.

 

[User00040]

Without going into detail, at least two Tikka T3x issues which relate to the quality of metal they are using these days, and GMKs point blank refusal to honour any warranty. They point out in the manual that a rifle should be oiled and cleaned (this includes the bore) every time it is removed from storage, regardless of whether or not it is actually fired.
Talking to an RFD, the issue of excessive corrosion and no warranty backup from GMK is fairly common.

Oil in the bore (assuming they mean chamber too?!)... sounds like a recipe for overpressure!

 

[Malxwal]

Oil in the bore (assuming they mean chamber too?!)... sounds like a recipe for overpressure!

It's a get out clause. They say you didn't rigourously adhere to their stipulated maintenance, and you're hard pushed to prove you did.
I love a T3, but I'd not buy a new or recent one unless it was for rebarreling.

 

[BigPat]

I must have just been lucky. I have a 75, a T3 and a S20 (All are stainless versions). All perform flawlessly, need only the basic cleaning regime, they don’t tarnish and are a pleasure to use. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another Sako or a Tikka if I needed a new rifle.

 

[C h r i s]

I'd never buy a Tikka T3 unless is was cerakoted or blued, I've had a couple of lightweight stainless T3's that were prone to tarnishing and small rust spots along the barrel, even though the surface was always religiously coated with oil, and in one case wax coated - its as though there is a contamination in the metal itself. Other SS rifles & LBPs I own have never suffered from this.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

I'd never buy a Tikka T3 unless is was cerakoted or blued, I've had a couple of lightweight stainless T3's that were prone to tarnishing and small rust spots along the barrel, even though the surface was always religiously coated with oil, and in one case wax coated - its as though there is a contamination in the metal itself. Other SS rifles & LBPs I own have never suffered from this.

What everyone seems to forget is it is actually Stains less. The middle S being dropped when made into a single word.
No gun grade stainless is truly stainless it would not be strong enough. Some however is better than others. Some is considerably worse.

 

[Mick9abf]

The amount of money that a manufacturer and importer (who will get a better deal for shifting a product) and what freebies are given to shooting ‘journalists’ by particular brands is what has shaped the U.K. market.

I find it hard to pick up any modern sporting rifle and not manage to find one thing I don’t like or think is poor quality one way or another.

The price point of the likes of Sako, Tikka, Blaser, Sauer etc etc are promoting just makes me think if I’m spending that on a factory rifle I’d rather spent not a lot more, or the same if I supplied an old action, to have a rifle built to my specification by any number of gun plumbers with a good chance that they will shoot better and any dramas will be sorted without drama as rifle smiths want to keep their reputations intact where as big multinationals couldn’t care less.

 

[JH83]

I'm sticking with my 75 until it collapses, at which point I'll stick a new barrel on, unless it needs a "Trigger's broom" update!

If I had to go new, I'd go with something from the Blaser/Mauser/Sauer stable personally.

My 75 and 591 are going nowhere fast either!!

 

[Muntybuck5803]

My 75 and 591 are going nowhere fast either!!

I used to have a 591 that I really regret selling. Cracking rifles.
I had an 85 and really didn’t like the fact it would eject cases into the scope and the poor recoil lug set up. I’m not sure they were even QC issues so much as just a poorer design compared to their older offerings.
I’ll be hanging onto my Sako M995 and looking to rebarrel it as funds allow- Another one of Sako’s older/better offerings.

 

[Shabz]

I’ve had four long action Sako 85s and I’ve not had one yet that ejects brass into the scope. I don’t see the problem with the recoil lug either. In the vast majority of cases it works perfectly well.