Sako 75 or L61r (Finnbear)

[Frank Alc]

Hi All,

I am looking for a Sako in 7mm rem mag.

I know that presently a new Tikka T3x with a synthetic stock is the right tool for almost any job. But I like the old timers, blued/walnut and I have a thing for Sakos.

So I would like to hear what experts here have to say about the Sako 75 and the L61r. Pros and cons. Which one would be the better choice.

Thank you for your advice,

Frank

 

[Border]

You get a 60 degree bolt lift and a great detachable magazine with the M75, at least the standard models. I think that the 75 deluxes are hinged floorplate.
Both are quality firearms, the 75 being slightly more modern than the L61.

 

[Mack243]

I can’t comment on the Finnbear, having not owned one. However my Sako 75 Synthetic Stainless is sub 1/2 MOA (cloverleaf), a pleasure to shoot. No magazine feeding issues, silky smooth action and crisp trigger, top loading capability with the double stack mag. The only downside (depending on your shooting discipline or intentions) are the lack of aftermarket stocks or chassis, and magazines beyond the factory 5 stack, compared to the T3/T3X. But if traditional wooden Monte Carlo stock is your style, you won’t find anything better.

 

[Stevie/P]

I’ve owned both albeit the Sako AV later version of the L61R. Nothing between them as a casual user build quality is excellent as is accuracy great actions on both rifles going forward only concern would be if looking at buying one or the other is condition as these guns are now quite dated some would be more or less unused others more likely well used and abused condition is the key not model variant.

 

[Frank Alc]

Thanks, I see.

To be honest I own (owned) a Finnbear in 7 mag.
I ruined it (long story you probably don't want to read). Hence my looking for a replacement.

Very nice rifles if traditional is what you enjoy as Mack says above. But it is true that nice units are increasingly difficult to come by due to age (Steve/P). So perhaps 75s are easier to find in good condition.

Is there any issue with the ejection in 75s ? I also own a M85 and it suffers from the cursed ejection problem. I think both models share the same 3 lug and extractor arrangement (albeit bolts are different).

I am planning to keep it stock no need for aftermarket stocks/chassis.

 

[Border]

75 and 85 have different ejection angles. 75 have less issues from what I have heard.

 

[long_range_rob]

75.

 

[Bowland blades]

Thanks, I see.

To be honest I own (owned) a Finnbear in 7 mag.
I ruined it (long story you probably don't want to read). Hence my looking for a replacement.

Very nice rifles if traditional is what you enjoy as Mack says above. But it is true that nice units are increasingly difficult to come by due to age (Steve/P). So perhaps 75s are easier to find in good condition.

Is there any issue with the ejection in 75s ? I also own a M85 and it suffers from the cursed ejection problem. I think both models share the same 3 lug and extractor arrangement (albeit bolts are different).

I am planning to keep it stock no need for aftermarket stocks/chassis.

I don't know about the 7mm mag but the sako 75 is problem free as regards ejection . Run it fast and you will struggle to find your cases and run it real slow and so long as you bring it fully back the case will pop out fine . I have never had an issue in any of my sako 75 Rifles , besides me working the bolt too fast and hitting folks on the noggin with my cases at the right of me !

 

[Milk no sugar please]

You would need to prize my 75’s from my cold dead fingers. I think there is a reason they still command the price they do.

 

[Zephyrjim]

I can't comment on the l61r but having 2 x 75s neither of which has had any issues I know what I'd be looking for. They are just good effective tools

 

[Mungo]

Hi All,

I am looking for a Sako in 7mm rem mag.

I know that presently a new Tikka T3x with a synthetic stock is the right tool for almost any job. But I like the old timers, blued/walnut and I have a thing for Sakos.

So I would like to hear what experts here have to say about the Sako 75 and the L61r. Pros and cons. Which one would be the better choice.

Thank you for your advice,

Frank

I’ve had both.

L61r is now very old. I think you’d most likely need to rebarrel it if you got one. And put in a new stock - the original stocks have a tendency to split now. It’s a simple and hefty action.

75 is newer, though even the newest are getting on for 15 odd years old. There are still relatively unused ones around, though you’d need to be picky and wait for a good one if you didn’t want to rebarrel. A more refined action than the l61r, and I think capable of better accuracy. However, I don’t think it’s quite as wonderful as people make out - I much prefer the T3. One thing that doesn’t really get talked about is that the 75 can be tricky to bed properly.

If it was me, there are enough things to worry about with the older actions that I’d just go with a T3. Boring and unromantic, but removes the hassle of dealing with age related problems.

 

[Frank Alc]

As much as I love old timers the more I read and think about it the more I am convinced on the T3X route to replace my ruined L61r.
They also offer a wood/blued model named T3X Hunter. Not a classic looking rifle but ...
Are all Tikka models comparably accurate ?
Any owner of the "Hunter" model hanging around here to comment on their experience ?

Thx

 

[HonestJohn]

Get a nice Schultz Larsen wood and blued

 

[Mungo]

As much as I love old timers the more I read and think about it the more I am convinced on the T3X route to replace my ruined L61r.
They also offer a wood/blued model named T3X Hunter. Not a classic looking rifle but ...
Are all Tikka models comparably accurate ?
Any owner of the "Hunter" model hanging around here to comment on their experience ?

Thx

All Tikka t3x use the same barrel and action.

There is some discussion about whether the wood stock is as accurate, simply because wood is a less stable substrate than plastic/carbon.

I’ve had T3s with wood, plastic and carbon stocks. Once bedded, they’re all equally accurate. I would like to still have a wood stock, but they get trashed too quickly on a working gun in Scottish conditions.

 

[HonestJohn]

All Tikka t3x use the same barrel and action.

There is some discussion about whether the wood stock is as accurate, simply because wood is a less stable substrate than plastic/carbon.

I’ve had T3s with wood, plastic and carbon stocks. Once bedded, they’re all equally accurate. I would like to still have a wood stock, but they get trashed too quickly on a working gun in Scottish conditions.

Usage adds memories and character. Wouldn’t you rather have a stock that looks great, and as it fades with age, gets a weathered look, and can still be refinished if desired. I don’t see anything wrong with a wood stock getting ‘trashed’, and having both, I’ve realised that I don’t treat them any differently after they’ve been soaked, in fact, I’m more inclined to take the synthetic rifle apart to dry the cavities in the forend, which is a ball ache.
On a personal basis, I’d rather have a good looking stock that weathers with age, than one that starts looking like shjite, and ends looking like shjite

 

[Mungo]

Wouldn’t you rather have a stock that looks great, and as it fades with age, gets a weathered look, and can still be refinished if desired.

Not really fussed. I don’t have particularly emotional attachments to rifles - they’re in the same category as shovels for me.

Now knives… very different!

 

[Frank Alc]

All Tikka t3x use the same barrel and action.

There is some discussion about whether the wood stock is as accurate, simply because wood is a less stable substrate than plastic/carbon.

I’ve had T3s with wood, plastic and carbon stocks. Once bedded, they’re all equally accurate. I would like to still have a wood stock, but they get trashed too quickly on a working gun in Scottish conditions.

Thanks for the replies.
Do you consider bedding a necessity ? Put in other words do you bed all you rifles ? I have never had it done but wonder if the result is worth a try.
Another issue is finding someone capable of doing a good job. I do not consider the shops where I buy my rifles actual gunsmiths but more gun dealers.

 

[dropmdead]

A stainless Tikka T3 was an eye opener years ago to my view on the rifles.
After owning finnbears and all the other models of sako up to the 85 you start to see the differences.

I think if I had a choice of them all from new including tikka I would have an original Bofors steel early sako (earlier the better), a Sako 75 and TRG/s (in the world of sporting rifles).
Would I sell up my Sako 75's for a something special? Yes, but only if I knew I could always get a fairly fresh sako 75 again at a later date.
Have I found a "something special"? Kinda, but not very special to sell ALL of mine....

Would I buy a Tikka T3?
Not for Scottish weather...

 

[Mungo]

Thanks for the replies.
Do you consider bedding a necessity ? Put in other words do you bed all you rifles ? I have never had it done but wonder if the result is worth a try.
Another issue is finding someone capable of doing a good job. I do not consider the shops where I buy my rifles actual gunsmiths but more gun dealers.

I get all my rifles bedded.

Of all the things you can do, it seems to have the largest and most consistent effect.

 

[Frank Alc]

A stainless Tikka T3 was an eye opener years ago to my view on the rifles.
After owning finnbears and all the other models of sako up to the 85 you start to see the differences.

I think if I had a choice of them all from new including tikka I would have an original Bofors steel early sako (earlier the better), a Sako 75 and TRG/s (in the world of sporting rifles).
Would I sell up my Sako 75's for a something special? Yes, but only if I knew I could always get a fairly fresh sako 75 again at a later date.
Have I found a "something special"? Kinda, but not very special to sell ALL of mine....

Would I buy a Tikka T3?
Not for Scottish weather...

Thank you for your input, but sometimes I find it difficult to catch the nuances. When you say "an eye opener" you mean it for the good or the bad ? From the rest of your writing it seems that for the bad.
So I understand that you prefer the older models and Sako over Tikka right ?
Then regarding my dilemma you would go first for a Finnbear (if could find one), then the 75, then an 85, then the Tikka.
I hope I got it straight ...