New, from Oregon USA

[Dtharvester]

Hello

I’m joining on to learn more from those with more familiarity with European firearms, specifically Sako/Tikka, which is what lead me here reading as a non-member.

I live in central Oregon, USA, and am officially past middle aged, which means I’m making more time for the things outside of my career, while preparing for life after work.

I’m late to big and small game hunting with firearms as my obsession through much of my single life was successfully taking quarry through falconry (rabbits, hare and quail). I grew up handling hand guns and rifles but never made the time for non-falconry related hunting until married.

Thus far shotgunning has led to waterfowl and grouse in the freezer, but I’ve yet to take any large game with my rifle, though I’ve taken it on a walk after both blacktail & mule deer as well as elk.

This year’s goal is first to address my Sako s20 feeding issue (led me here seeing DIY solutions), then, with a reliably cycling rifle, to decide if I’m going to apply for any Autumn tags by late Spring.

DT

 

[Trigger260]

Welcome from yorkshire. I own a tikka t3 in 260rem and haven't a bad word to say! Enjoy the forum

 

[Dtharvester]

Thanks!
I’ve also had great experiences with the T3x, which led me to getting this S20 in 300 win mag.
The rifle is great in all but one thing…but mis-feeds on an elk of a lifetime wouldn’t be forgivable. I’m confident I’ll get it addressed through a bit of effort, but appreciate having the perspective of others closer to the biggest user base.

 

[fallow me]

Welcome from Northamptonshire, Tikka T3X in 308 win, in a GRS stock, amazingly accurate,
Mis- feeds might be down to ammo ,

 

[Dtharvester]

Thanks!
Good thought, though 2 different mags - 1 provide by Beretta as a warranty solution - using both Sako and Nosler production ammo, has gotten the same results. Again, the gun shoots lights out and I find all else to be top notch.

DT

 

[wytonpjs]

Welcome. I have an S20 in .308 (the pictures have been posted in many threads) and it has been flawless despite significant abuse. I did have one miss feed as I was about to drop a third red stag but the base of the mag had come off the day before and in reassembling it, I basically cocked it up such that after 2 rounds, the follower jammed sideways. After much cursing and a swap over to a spare mag, I eventually reassembled it and it has been faultless since. I have seen a guy on the UK eBay site selling 3D printed insert for the S20 mag to address the misfeed issue but I think they have pulled his listing for being in violation of selling rules. Here is his FB page:

Mine Products

Mine Products. 56 likes. Predominantly 3D Design and Printing although some of our products are not 3D printed. An array of items focused around items I have found a need for, mainly field sports but...

www.facebook.com

 

[Dtharvester]

Thanks!
I saw that mod for plate short actions and I think it got pulled before he had a chance to develop anything for a long action, as he didn’t have access to a LA mag at the time.
I’ve slid the bolt back and forth numerous times before a round was picked up, so I wouldn’t have to do much to cock up a great opportunity.
Doubly frustrating that I don’t want to start any hand loading until this issue gets resolved. The gun already shoots better than me, so other than ammo availability and limit bullet weights in production ammo that is available, I’m not sure i could do better.
If I hadn’t killed my Fbook account long ago I’d hunt that guy down. May have to hijack my wife’s to give it a go.

 

[T.eddie]

Welcome from Essex UK

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Welcome from the UK & Germany.
Falconry is I understand very hard regulated in the USA I read, I think it was in a Field & Stream article that you have to have had a mentor for five years before being allowed out alone with a bird which if that's true makes such an amazing contrast to the 2nd Amendments waffle.

 

[User00043]

Welcome from Rutland UK

Paul

 

[Dtharvester]

Welcome from the UK & Germany.
Falconry is I understand very hard regulated in the USA I read, I think it was in a Field & Stream article that you have to have had a mentor for five years before being allowed out alone with a bird which if that's true makes such an amazing contrast to the 2nd Amendments waffle.

Thanks!
It was 2 years as an apprentice, which requires that you pass a knowledge test, a State inspection of my equipment and facilities, along with a 2 species limitation of birds you can fly.
Then I was a “General Class” falconer for five years, after which I was labeled Master and granted some additional privileges, All the while carrying a State and Federal permit and providing yearly reporting, So yes quite formal by intent relative to firearms regulation. However, if raptors fired bullets, alongside the lot they allow to mentor in some states, and the number of falconers that don’t learn to actually hunt their birds, I’m pretty sure at least a dozen falconers a year would end up shot in their homes.
To be fair, the enforcement varies by state, so while I started in a state that was well run, I ended my falconry life in Oregon, and it is not.

 

[Dtharvester]

Welcome from Rutland UK

Paul

Thanks Paul!

 

[Dtharvester]

Welcome from Essex UK

Thanks!

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Interesting to hear that from boots on the ground.
I have a raft of books on falconry but eventually never pursued it. Not many Germans wanting to read English books on the subject, they do a falknerschein here which is as hard as the Jagdschein just without the shooting part. My neighbours son in law did it just for the craic.

 

[Scotty99]

Welcome from Herefordshire. Keen to learn about hunting in Oregon. My son lives in GA so I’m up to speed on hunting in the SE not so much in the NW.

I‘ve owned Sako 85s in the past and found them really accurate, I have a Tikka T3x in .223 at the moment also very accurate.

I do not have any experience of the S20, but many in this forum do and will be able to offer invaluable advice.

 

[Dtharvester]

Welcome from Herefordshire. Keen to learn about hunting in Oregon. My son lives in GA so I’m up to speed on hunting in the SE not so much in the NW.

I‘ve owned Sako 85s in the past and found them really accurate, I have a Tikka T3x in .223 at the moment also very accurate.

I do not have any experience of the S20, but many in this forum do and will be able to offer invaluable advice.

I think the big difference in the West when compared to Europe or the eastern US, and whether it’s falconry or other forms of hunting or fishing, is that we have huge tracts of public land for multiple use purposes that aren’t part of a park system, so you can just take a road, trail or cut brush and go till you hit private. Oregon is somewhere around 60% public land between federal and state properties?

I’ve yet to do more than some surface browsing of the forums but I’m hoping to make some time to dig in for more info that might be available on the S20 mag problem. Once that’s resolved the rifle is all I could want in a hunting rifle..though we never stop looking eh?