Sako 75’s?

[wildfowler.250]

Interested to hear what the opinion is from folk on here about them? They seem to have cult rifle status but the last rifle made would have been 15 years ago now. Aftermarket parts should you wish for one, are minimal unlike a Tikka T3. When I’ve spoken to gunsmiths previously, they’ve actually said they’d prefer a T3 as a donor action.

This is coming from someone who’s used one a lot. But second hand prices seem fairly high. You barely,(excluding one chap on here) see them sold at the price of an action to rebarrel. And I’ve seen some ‘mint’ ones advertised at £1k.

What’s the current verdict? Still desirable? Does it take that much modifying of a Tikka to get it up to speed? I’ve never loved the T3 but they work. Are they that much worse than the 85? Maybe a second hand 75 is still better value for money than a new Schultz and Larsen?


Interested to hear folks thoughts.

 

[long_range_rob]

I’ve got 5 I won’t be parting with them any time soon. I’ve had 591’s, Tikkas, 85’s, Rugers, Parker Hales and even a Remington (something I try to forget) but the Sako 75 just does everything right for me. I still think it’s the best hunting rifle yet designed.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

In my Avatar to the left, there's a Sako 75 in 243 Win that I purchased in May 2002. It was a good rifle in it's day, but the lack of a Picatinny rail and the challenges of restocking it, persuaded me eventually to part with it.
Regards
JCS

 

[NullMac]

And I’ve seen some ‘mint’ ones advertised at £1k.

Yes but what did they sell for?

I had 2. Good enough in their day but not as great as people make out. Best bit really was the magazine. I didn't think the action was particularly smooth and the stocks were unremarkable.

Funny post on here ages ago saying they were only worth £500 which really got people's backs up. Probably not worth that now. Only Tikka's really seem to sell easily secondhand. I was in a gun shop this week that wasn't even going to get the new ones in and do not buy in any second hand rifles at all as they do not sell.

 

[wildfowler.250]

I’ve got 5 I won’t be parting with them any time soon. I’ve had 591’s, Tikkas, 85’s, Rugers, Parker Hales and even a Remington (something I try to forget) but the Sako 75 just does everything right for me. I still think it’s the best hunting rifle yet designed.

I was trying to find another caliber to add another but stuggling between .22CF , 6.5 & .270 already. Suggestions?

Bolt is silky smooth, love the double stag mag but I find the cheek too low for a x56 scope which frustrates me.

In my Avatar to the left, there's a Sako 75 in 243 Win that I purchased in May 2002. It was a good rifle in it's day, but the lack of a Picatinny rail and the challenges of restocking it, persuaded me eventually to part with it.
Regards
JCS

What did you go for in the end? What’s the main perk of a picatinny? I do find the cheek a bit too low, scope a bit too high with an 8x56 on them.

Yes but what did they sell for?

I had 2. Good enough in their day but not as great as people make out. Best bit really was the magazine. I didn't think the action was particularly smooth and the stocks were unremarkable.

Funny post on here ages ago saying they were only worth £500 which really got people's backs up. Probably not worth that now. Only Tikka's really seem to sell easily secondhand. I was in a gun shop this week that wasn't even going to get the new ones in and do not buy in any second hand rifles at all as they do not sell.

Well there is that.. If you saw some of the rougher ones for £400 and then added in a new barrel you’d maybe be in new gun territory with a custom rifle. But then spare mags are still pricey.


I’m trying to talk myself out of one..

 

[User00035]

I’ve got 5 I won’t be parting with them any time soon. I’ve had 591’s, Tikkas, 85’s, Rugers, Parker Hales and even a Remington (something I try to forget) but the Sako 75 just does everything right for me. I still think it’s the best hunting rifle yet designed.

I agree. I might add I have a 75 in .243 for sale and it's only £800.
Just sayin...

I do actually enjoy shooting my M595 more and I can't quite explain why. It just feels more "right". But in terms of performance, there's nothing in it and the Sako is a very fine rifle.

 

[nun_hunter]

I had one and it was nice. I like the double stack mag but then a double stack floor plate works just as well in a stalking rifle.

Bolt was smooth and the safety that allows the bolt to be removed while on safe was good but my Tikka has a silky smooth bolt and the same safety feature.

Biggest issue was zero aftermarket parts suck as a picatinny rail to allow a better selection of rings and mounts and no adjustable stocks and the variety of stocks were all pretty much the same .

 

[75]

I’ve got one - had it since new and wearing a 260 barrel now. Nice action, great double stack mag, good shaped stock but average quality and very few aftermarket stocks available.

 

[hoodwink]

I am in the process of getting a new barrel put on a 75, I already have another in 243.
Picattiny rails are available,
Brittannia or Barton gun works .
Magazines are available at a cost of £115
Stocks are a pain, difficult to say the least, but the original was that good that one of the major stock companies copied it.
Have you seen the quality that’s coming out of the main rifle company’s, I looked and Sako, Tikka, Begara I didn’t like.
The chambering are limited also on a new rifle.
I don’t have the answers there is no right or wrong. Many people have told me I’m mad
I’m having chambered 280ai

 

[Tim1]

You will not beat a 75 for a factory rifle. The sole disadvantage is that McMillan no longer inlet for them and the possibility of getting an alternative synthetic stock is almost non-existent. I’m working on the possibility of getting a Pendleton Varsport for mine.

 

[User00035]

GRS makes stocks for the 75, if you're into laminate.

 

[sikasako]

I have a Sako 75 along with a Tikka T3, both of which were bought from new.

The Sako 75 is a lovely rifle, main advantages over the Tikka T3 being super smooth silent action with metal double stacking magazine. As stated in earlier posts, main disadvantages of the Sako 75 is the lack of availability of aftermarket parts.

 

[hoodwink]

Wouldn’t you think the lack of alternatives would get a Rifle stock manufacturer thinking there’s a market there.

 

[hoodwink]

Alternatively will Ceracote work on a synthetic 75 stock

 

[long_range_rob]

I was trying to find another caliber to add another but stuggling between .22CF , 6.5 & .270 already. Suggestions?

Bolt is silky smooth, love the double stag mag but I find the cheek too low for a x56 scope which frustrates me.




What did you go for in the end? What’s the main perk of a picatinny? I do find the cheek a bit too low, scope a bit too high with an 8x56 on them.



Well there is that.. If you saw some of the rougher ones for £400 and then added in a new barrel you’d maybe be in new gun territory with a custom rifle. But then spare mags are still pricey.


I’m trying to talk myself out of one..

Look for a 6mmPPC mine is the most accurate rifle I’ve ever owned

 

[75]

You will not beat a 75 for a factory rifle. The sole disadvantage is that McMillan no longer inlet for them and the possibility of getting an alternative synthetic stock is almost non-existent. I’m working on the possibility of getting a Pendleton Varsport for mine.

Can you let me know how you get on with the Pendleton please

 

[Border]

I have 2 75's a 17 Rem and a 6.5x55, both in McMillans. Haven't seen any modern rifles that I would swap them with so far. Also have a M591 in 6mmBR and like that too.

 

[Donkey Basher]

Bolt was smooth and the safety that allows the bolt to be removed while on safe was good but my Tikka has a silky smooth bolt and the same safety feature.

What model Tikka have you got? The safety on my M595s (I’ve got four of them - used to have five but sold one to a friend) locks the bolt to prevent the firing pin going forward if for any reason the sear fails. No way can you remove the bolt with the safety engaged.

 

[long_range_rob]

What model Tikka have you got? The safety on my M595s (I’ve got four of them - used to have five but sold one to a friend) locks the bolt to prevent the firing pin going forward if for any reason the sear fails. No way can you remove the bolt with the safety engaged.

T3?

 

[Dave Lakes]

Common junk, real connoisseurs use the L61R at half the price