Howa 1500 or sako 85

[rick1127]

Morning all.
I'm looking for a 204 and I've seen a howa 1500 with grs stock.
And a sako 85 stainless both in 204.
Now the question is, is the sako worth 3 times the amount of the howa?
I've got only sako in my cabinet so I can not comment on what the howa is like to use.
But I know how my sako perform.
It will be used for rabbits fox etc.
Any help appreciated.

 

[splash]

Personally I’d go Sako
But others will say save your money .

 

[Boosh]

It may be worth considering, you say rabbits and fox so I imagine night vision and thermal will be used.
The Sako 85 cam be a pain for limited optic mounting options, but you would be fine with a tube type device and optilocks.

 

[Mungo]

Howa, no question.

Sako 85 is absurdly overpriced, and has the weird bedding arrangement that can cause nearly incurable accuracy problems.

 

[Brighty3006]

Sako

 

[25 Sharps]

They will 100% both do the same job (the sako 1500 is based on an older sako action). So in that sense no, it’s not worth more, the Howa will have lots of options for aftermarket, the Sako will be engineered and finished more nicely.

I have a Howa and a Sako 75, if buying again and money was not part of the consideration I’d get another Sako.

But the howa will do the job just as well.

 

[243ack]

Warning: Curved ball - how(a) bout an ATA Turqua?. Good reviews, guaranteed sub MoA - all for five hundred quid - or less.

 

[Sako6.5x55]

I’ve also only have Sako’s in the cabinet, 2 are 85’s in stainless synthetic. I’m not sure what these problems are that people imagine you have with a Sako, I’ve shot my 6.5x55’s to 860 yards and my .223 on a good day shoots less than 1/2MOA groups at 500 yards. One of my 6.5’s has had in excess of 8,000 rounds through it and still shoots as well as it did the first day I had it. I don’t have a clue about the Howa, I just know that when you’ve got something that’s perfect for the job why would you look for something else, unless your only criteria is cost.

 

[weblyish]

Warning: Curved ball - how(a) bout an ATA Turqua?. Good reviews, guaranteed sub MoA - all for five hundred quid - or less.

Picked up an ATA shotgun second hand a while back and it's great.
did not expect much the price from new was peanuts and this one had been abused a bit but is still a cracking bit of kit

Recently shot a friend's turqua at a range and it also seemed pretty nice - not sure about the 500 quid tho the one I used was just under 800 and wasnt customised as far s I know

 

[homer]

I have had both rifles over the years, nothing wrong with either. Personally, the sako is a tad overpriced and I can say, the howa is one of the smoothest actions I have ever had. I still have the howa.

 

[Smellydog]

Howa.
Sakos are over rated, like Berretta shotguns.

I've only ever known two People with Sako rifles and both were reluctant to shoot well.

 

[nun_hunter]

I've got a Howa 1500 now and previously had a Sako 75 (which most say is far superior to the Sako 85) and if I had to choose the same as you I'd go for another Howa.

The Sako simply isn't worth the extra money unless you just want something to show off a little.

 

[cooperjb1308]

I have both and I certainly wouldn’t go and spend a triple the money for the Sako new but every now and then a great deal can be had second hand on the sakos which is how I’ve bought mine. My Howa was almost new and cost £400 but I’ve bought sakos at £700.
Sako definitely feels put together better but Howa also has more aftermarket stocks at a sensible price.

 

[Mungo]

I’ve also only have Sako’s in the cabinet, 2 are 85’s in stainless synthetic. I’m not sure what these problems are that people imagine you have with a Sako, I’ve shot my 6.5x55’s to 860 yards and my .223 on a good day shoots less than 1/2MOA groups at 500 yards. One of my 6.5’s has had in excess of 8,000 rounds through it and still shoots as well as it did the first day I had it. I don’t have a clue about the Howa, I just know that when you’ve got something that’s perfect for the job why would you look for something else, unless your only criteria is cost.

Not every 85 has problems, but the ones that do are very nearly impossible to fix - and you never know what you’re getting.

The issue is well documented.

 

[rick1127]

It's looking like a howa it already has a grs stock fitted.
And from what you guys are saying there is nothing wrong with the howa.
I've got a sako quad ,75 and 85 so I know the sako.
I just didn't want to buy the howa and the regret it after because the action was horrid or something.

 

[rick1127]

I had loads of problems with a sako quad in 22lr it wouldn't load properly and the cases kept getting stuck in the chamber and the importers fix was shocking and I was not happy on a brand new rifle.
But other than the anti slip stock fitted to my 85 I've not had a problem with any of the other sako,s I've got.
But it could be time for a change and try the howa

 

[dropmdead]

look on here for how many problems there are with, and then Sako 85....Howa is the win.
Loads of options for the howa - chassis at 3kg to 750gr carbon stocks, loads of rail options, triggers are easy.
Think of a Howa as a reverse engineered Sako, built and redesigned by Japanese

 

[Smellydog]

I had loads of problems with a sako quad in 22lr it wouldn't load properly and the cases kept getting stuck in the chamber and the importers fix was shocking and I was not happy on a brand new rifle.
But other than the anti slip stock fitted to my 85 I've not had a problem with any of the other sako,s I've got.
But it could be time for a change and try the howa

The magazine design is rubbish. The extractor just needs a stronger spring. Mine works fine now but yeah a Sako!!!

 

[the prowler]

Morning all.
I'm looking for a 204 and I've seen a howa 1500 with grs stock.
And a sako 85 stainless both in 204.
Now the question is, is the sako worth 3 times the amount of the howa?
I've got only sako in my cabinet so I can not comment on what the howa is like to use.
But I know how my sako perform.
It will be used for rabbits fox etc.
Any help appreciated.

Sako75 204 custom

 

[Smellydog]

Sako75 204 customView attachment 410163

What is that nv unit please?