First rifle - Sako 75!

[alexjoneill]

It's official! FAC received on Friday and collected my first rifle yesterday! (Exciting!!!)

Sako 75 in 308 - can't wait to actually try it out, get zero'd & get out there!

I understand each rifle varies with the bullets it likes but at the price they are, does anyone have any recommendations on ones to try out in the future?
(Is there such a thing as a sample pack of 5?)

The shop recommended Sako gamehead which I will try at my earliest opportunity once I find somewhere to zero

Not to much of a point to this post as the bullets recommended by the shop may be perfect - it was more of a post as I just wanted to share the news with you guys and gals - oh & did I say I was excited!

(Took 11 months from FAC application to receiving in Hampshire)

 

[ZimCoxy136]

Looks good, congrats!

Sako Gamehead is good ammunition, hopefully it groups well and saves you some time and a few £££ from trialling different ammo.

Widdington shoot is not too far from you. Jeremy is a top bloke and has a nice range set up. You could try booking in with him for a range session if you are looking for somewhere to zero.

Let us know how you get on!

 

[alexjoneill]

Looks good, congrats!

Sako Gamehead is good ammunition, hopefully it groups well and saves you some time and a few £££ from trialling different ammo.

Widdington shoot is not too far from you. Jeremy is a top bloke and has a nice range set up. You could try booking in with him for a range session if you are looking for somewhere to zero.

Let us know how you get on!

Many thanks for the recommendation! I had heard about Widdington and had a quick google this morning funnily enough, do you happen to know how to get in touch with Jeremy as I didn't have much luck finding any contact info as of yet and it looks like the website is down (although I get the impression this may be for the clays?)

 

[Cranborne]

Good rifleman in a good calibre.

 

[alexjoneill]

Good rifleman in a good calibre.

Thank you
Super pleased with it!

Funnily enough the Sako 75 I actually enquired about had a deposit put down on it the same day it was advertised but they replied to my email & said another had recently been dropped off and hasn't been advertised yet as needs to be looked over and cleaned etc - like it was meant to be...!
Just hoping she shoots straight but the shop said it all looks spot on so feeling confident!

 

[Woodlander]

It will shoot straight, just got to find the best ammo for it.
Whatever you do, don’t even think about reloading for it…..that way madness lies

 

[Cranborne]

Decent scope as well!

 

[wytonpjs]

Good choice - I started with a Sako 75 Hunter in .243 in 1995 and I still use it! It's been chopped to 20" and now sits in a Sako synethic stock but boy does it work well and it still brings a smile to my face

Enjoy

 

[alexjoneill]

It will shoot straight, just got to find the best ammo for it.
Whatever you do, don’t even think about reloading for it…..that way madness lies

I am very tempted to get into reloading one day but not yet that's for sure!
My target club allows downloaded 308 so definitely a temptation but like you say - it's a whole new world to get lost in I bet!

 

[alexjoneill]

Decent scope as well!

Thanks - definitely agree, very lucky the scope and moderator were included with the rifle and both being good quality items
Am thinking about going digital one day but happy that I have all I need to get going straight away once zero'd

 

[Stalker62]

My first rifle was a Sako 75 in .243. I now also have them in .308 and .375.

After a long week in Sutherland (-20c and deep snow), my wooden stock was so badly bleached, it looked like a piece of balsa. A mate of mine actually did a decent job of bringing it back to life (I do not have the patience or the skill for that kind of nonsense), but I have since swapped out the stocks on the .243 and .308 for synthetic.



Good solid rifles - you will be fine with your very wise choice.

 

[alexjoneill]

Good choice - I started with a Sako 75 Hunter in .243 in 1995 and I still use it! It's been chopped to 20" and now sits in a Sako synethic stock but boy does it work well and it still brings a smile to my face

Enjoy

That's very reassuring!
I was hoping to get one rifle that would last me and wouldn't feel the need to upgrade/change and sound like the 75 works well for you! Super excited!

 

[alexjoneill]

My first rifle was a Sako 75 in .243. I now also have them in .308 and .375.

After a long week in Sutherland (-20c and deep snow), my wooden stock was so badly bleached, it looked like a piece of balsa. A mate of mine actually did a decent job of bringing it back to life (I do not have the patience or the skill for that kind of nonsense), but I have since swapped out the stocks on the .243 and .308 for synthetic.



Good solid rifles - you will be fine with your very wise choice.

Would you recommend swapping to synthetic stock or does it really depend on the weather and temperature you go out in regularly?
Would love to see a pic if you have one handy in the new stock

 

[Corf30]

Dream set up for me I have same in .222 I'd also like the same in 308 or 25 06.Thats a quality last light scope. Girlfriends father gave me a pot of walnut(I think)oil which brings the wood back up where iv had a rubber extension pad over the stock.You jammy git you've good good taste.My .222 looks near identical to your .308

 

[alexjoneill]

Dream set up for me I have same in .222 I'd also like the same in 308 or 25 06.Thats a quality last light scope. Girlfriends father gave me a pot of walnut(I think)oil which brings the wood back up where iv had a rubber extension pad over the stock.You jammy git you've good good taste.My .222 looks near identical to your .308

Do you have a recommendation for wood oil to use - that's something I need to look into just to make sure it stays pretty and stays protected from the elements best it can

Great to hear you rate yours so highly - really can't wait to try mine out!

 

[Stalker62]

Would you recommend swapping to synthetic stock or does it really depend on the weather and temperature you go out in regularly?

It really is a personal thing. If you are going to be out in all weathers, then perhaps it is something to consider.

However - a nice piece of timber is a beautiful thing.

Would love to see a pic if you have one handy in the new stock

Ignore the fact that I 'mixed' the bolts up in this photo...

 

[Corf30]

Try some 150 sako super hammer head a hard bullet but hits them like a train.Id buy that off you if you ever got bored.

 

[alexjoneill]

It really is a personal thing. If you are going to be out in all weathers, then perhaps it is something to consider.

However - a nice piece of timber is a beautiful thing.



Ignore the fact that I 'mixed' the bolts up in this photo...

View attachment 384134

Definitely agree that there is something special about a wooden stock
Have you noticed any difference in weight/handling since switching?

Some very pretty rifles you have there! The stocks do look very clean - the two tone looks great!

 

[Stalker62]

Just a final tip.

If you ever buy a second rifle, do not put them in the same cabinet, they have a nasty habit of breeding...

 

[alexjoneill]

Try some 150 sako super hammer head a hard bullet but hits them like a train.Id buy that off you if you ever got bored.

Thanks for the suggestion, I will take note
I did read 150 perform well, I believe the ones the shop recommended were 120 but would need to get the box out to confirm

Hoping this rifle will stay with me throughout my whole stalking journey