This .270...or that .270...

[Mountain Bug]

@Ade8mm You are correct sir, my apologies.

@Alhamander There is no sin in owning something simply because it makes you smile.

Scott

 

[VSS]

@Alhamander There is no sin in owning something simply because it makes you smile.

Absolutely this

 

[1894]

Answer me this please.. if the old rifles are that good why did the makers bother to change?

The requirement to cut costs, improve profitability and grow demand by creating the desire for new things.

 

[Tim.243]

The requirement to cut costs, improve profitability and grow demand by creating the desire for new things.
Your M700 was designed in 1962 and the L61 in 1961. I’m a fan of M700s but I’d take an L61 over a T3 every time. The one thing that I’d consider would be spares

There are enough spares to keep me going for the next number of renewals

 

[Longstrider]

I'm late to the party here, but my tuppence-orth would be to say "Buy the Sako and shoot it for ever!" My stalking rifle is a Sako L61R Finnbear in .270Win, and it STILL shoots damned tight groups, is a pleasure to own and never fails to make me smile. I bought it secondhand about 30 years ago and have never regretted it. Most folks I talk to about it, most of whom know more than I do, tell me I got a 'good 'un ' because QC went downhill after that model.

BTW, my favourite .22 rimfire is also a Sako from the same era and that's as good as a rimmy can be despite literally many hundreds of thousands of rounds going through it.

 

[GlennUK]

Yes an old rifle is like an old car...they come out go to car shows and when it rains scuttle off home.
Answer me this please.. if the old rifles are that good why did the makers bother to change?
I have in the shed a 350 Jap Grass track bike (built by my Dad in 1970) It will run ok but put it up against a modern 350 and you will only see them coming past you. I have a 90 year old lathe and 70 year old mill but they won't hold tolerance like a modern one

With regards to manufacturers, they sell things which is why they change to convince folk to part with their hard earned cash.

Whether the shooting is materially better is in many cases probably largely academic in hunting terms.

I am sure there are improvements to individual rifles that for example improve feed/extraction but i am curious whether most of the guns that have been built for hunting were ever genuinely inaccurate to the point they werent suitable for hunting?

Even if some were, from what the OP says the gun in question doesn't sound like it falls into that category at all.

 

[Grandhubert]

I’ve always gone for brunettes, as I get older though blondes are more my thing

Well fed ones that at first glance appear either slightly tanned or just in need of a good wash?

 

[MAH]

is a Sako L61R (Finnbear)

My thoughts..
A great opportunity rarely knocks at your door twice.
You can buy a new tikka anyw day of the week.

Given your description, that's a bargain, that's presuming you'd enjoy using a beautiful vintage rifle.

 

[NullMac]

There is no romance in shooting a lot of bigger deer (only hard work)

Damn right.

 

[South Pender]

Well, I'm new to this forum, this being my first post. So perhaps I should just keep quiet for a while and soak up the wisdom of you longer-term forumers. However, I'm a long-time Sako owner, and, given your choice, the Sako L61R is, in my opinion, by far the superior rifle. The experts on Sako rifles can be found on the Sako Collectors Club forum, and, of all the Sako models produced over the past 75 years, the No. 1 choice among these guys is the L-series models (like the L61R). The L61R was the first Sako long action (for '06-class and belted magnum cartridges). It was followed by the A-series (almost identical to the L-series) and then several other designs, ending up with the 85 (and now the 90). So among all these action-design changes over the years, the No. 1 choice among most Sako aficionados is the L61R. I've owned L- and A-series Sakos and have an 85, and I don't disagree with these guys. Some of my shooting buddies have Tikkas, and although they're fine rifles (and made in the same factory as Sakos), in my opinion, they're nowhere near the quality of a Sako.

 

[VSS]

So @Alhamander, what was the outcome?

 

[Siggy]

Get the tikka.
The Sako sounds great and a fair price but a t3 with a plastic stock is a work horse that will last years. Sounds like you are stalking in Scotland so a stainless tikka in a plastic stock is probably a good idea. Loads of aftermarket options
The finnbear is an old rifle now and everything wears out. It’s a classic but If, you are going to butcher it by putting a mod on it, really what’s the point.
I’d go for the creedmoor straight off but 270 is one hell of a round,

 

[Alhamander]

Well. Apologies for the slow reply, which will also partly explain my answer. Suffered an eye injury recently (scope eye...) so that has put things slightly at a stop. Can't see at all from my right eye and hoping the next few weeks will let the operation done do its work.

However, I bought the Tikka already...and agreed to buy the Sako too, just waiting for the eye all-clear and then go get it - no urgency. And why not, as they say...wife told me to just buy both and get on with it... The Tikka has happily been out in the pouring rain and not batted an eyelid (unlike me).

I would say this --> anyone who has *any* doubts about a .270 should stop worrying (as I slightly did in the past, having heard the scary stories...recoil! muzzle-flip!). I can basically not tell the difference from my .243. So easy to shoot, accurate more than I am. It has so far taken 2 deer from 2 shots (until eye injury). No runners. Very impressed.

If I had not already had a .243 I might have gone for a 6.5CM...but very glad now to have both the .243 and the .270. And another one to arrive soon hopefully!

 

[VSS]

I do like a story with a happy ending!
(Apart from the bit about the eye!).

 

[User00056]

I would say this --> anyone who has *any* doubts about a .270 should stop worrying (as I slightly did in the past, having heard the scary stories...recoil! muzzle-flip!). I can basically not tell the difference from my .243.

I suspect most of the .270 horror stories are repeated verbatim by folk who've never actually shot one. Any rifle that doesn't fit will be a horrible thing to shoot. Nastiest rifle I ever shot was a Mannlicher .308. Looked stunning, but was a hideous thing to shoot (for me, anyway) Three shots and I gratefully handed it back to its owner.

I shoot an unmoderated .270 and can honestly say I never even notice recoil or noise.

 

[Hunters moon]

Yes an old rifle is like an old car...they come out go to car shows and when it rains scuttle off home.
Answer me this please.. if the old rifles are that good why did the makers bother to change?
I have in the shed a 350 Jap Grass track bike (built by my Dad in 1970) It will run ok but put it up against a modern 350 and you will only see them coming past you. I have a 90 year old lathe and 70 year old mill but they won't hold tolerance like a modern one

Miss grass, our club used to run them regularly. Smell of castrol R too but yes, modern bikes in all disciplines... soo different. I recently acquired a 308, what a rifle compared to my old 243..

 

[tusker]

Well. Apologies for the slow reply, which will also partly explain my answer. Suffered an eye injury recently (scope eye...) so that has put things slightly at a stop. Can't see at all from my right eye and hoping the next few weeks will let the operation done do its work.

However, I bought the Tikka already...and agreed to buy the Sako too, just waiting for the eye all-clear and then go get it - no urgency. And why not, as they say...wife told me to just buy both and get on with it... The Tikka has happily been out in the pouring rain and not batted an eyelid (unlike me).

I would say this --> anyone who has *any* doubts about a .270 should stop worrying (as I slightly did in the past, having heard the scary stories...recoil! muzzle-flip!). I can basically not tell the difference from my .243. So easy to shoot, accurate more than I am. It has so far taken 2 deer from 2 shots (until eye injury). No runners. Very impressed.

If I had not already had a .243 I might have gone for a 6.5CM...but very glad now to have both the .243 and the .270. And another one to arrive soon hopefully!

Wow, you have a wife that say,s " just buy the two" You are truely blessed to have wife like that.
Tusker

 

[Bowland blades]

I’m 100% buying a .270 - it’s just deciding new Tikka or old Sako…!

Guns are not being made better than the L61R , just more modern and easier to get parts in a hurry . A real good one would tempt me ! Big Sako fan ( i have two 75s ) one is from when they where launched , though its now living in a McMillan stock pillar beded , Sassen Barrel . The only thing the 75 lacks is a built in picatiny everything else IMO has not been done better . Current Tikka ? Its at about the right price and i dont think i have come accross a new tikka that didn't shoot great but i would " personally" prefer a laminate or walnut stock over the injection moulded hollow plastic . I have found spares for the Sako 75s easy to get parts and magazines ( the barrels from sako are crazy expensive compared to a custom barrel , so be careful what one you buy or how much you pay ( there are many sleepers though , many deer rifles exist that have only rarely been shot)

 

[paul o']

Get the one that shoots the best
Names mean nothing if they can't hold a 10p group

 

[A Guy Out West]

Jump on the old Sako!