Sako 85 accuracy - poor / help?

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GSP84

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I have tried multiple different manufacturer at 50m and settle on Sako Superhammerhead 150g factory ammo. At 50m the groups are good.

The problem comes when at 100m.

The first shot on a cold barrel is always bang on, the second two are always 1" high. It just won't group nicely. Certainly not meeting the 5 shot sub MOA guarantee.

The test today was with experienced people, and bench rested.

Not sure where to go with it now :-(

Added a picture but it's upside down. If all the first cold barrel shots were a group I'd be very happy. If the two second shots from all targets were a group I'd be happy to. Ignore the middle target
 

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I wouldn't be unhappy. It's a stalking rifle, not a heavy barrelled target rifle. It's round hit is bang on and in a small group, 2nd round is also there.

As the barrel is shot it warms up and no barrel is perfectly concentric thus as the metal expands it will warp slightly. Add the heat making pressure rise, it's not surprising bullets wander a wee bit.

Assuming that you have shot those groups quickly then for a light barrelled stalking rifle they are pretty good. They look to be just over an inch. As you say they are much better when from a cold barrel.

If you want really tight groups in a shot string then stick a 15lb and high cost target barrel on your rifle. Otherwise just go stalking.
 
Using optilocks on a swaro z6i with a Stalon moderator.

For reference the middle group group was a test without the mod.
 
IMO its very likely to be the rifle.
The 85 has a ridiculous recoil lug/plate assembly.

cold bore and follow up shot POI variance is almost exclusively physical interference between action/barrel and stock (except where a fouling shot following deep cleaning is concerned.

is this a new rifle or has the rifle suddenly started doing this?
anything changed recently? cleaning?
was this off a bipod?
what stock material?

first check you action screws are tight
then barrel clearance, is the barrel centred (sounds a stupid question but if you tighten the action screws on a factory stock with the barrel hard up against one side of the barrel channel its possible to induce this)
pull it apart and check for anything loose.
The inner plate can act like a demented tuning fork if its not tight in the stock

what other ammo have you tried?
I have very variable results with sako ammo in sakos
from ragged holes to 5" groups
 
I had a Sako 85 Finnlight in .243 a few years ago that shot worse than that! Tried all sorts and gave up in the end using it as a donor action and was advised by the rifle smith that there was more than acceptable amount of play in the bolt which I then had sleeved and the action now sits in my favorite 7-08 which is a tack driver.

I have a Sako 85 s/s in 30-06 which is fine and my conclusion is that even Sako make the odd lemon. I should have pursued it with Sako and got my money back but the conversion was already underway when the problem was diagnosed.

As has been said, your groups aren't disastrous but it should shoot better than that and we all want accuracy for confidence.
 
Edinburgh Rifles said:
IMO its very likely to be the rifle.
The 85 has a ridiculous recoil lug/plate assembly.

cold bore and follow up shot POI variance is almost exclusively physical interference between action/barrel and stock (except where a fouling shot following deep cleaning is concerned.

is this a new rifle or has the rifle suddenly started doing this?
anything changed recently? cleaning?
was this off a bipod?
what stock material?

first check you action screws are tight
then barrel clearance, is the barrel centred (sounds a stupid question but if you tighten the action screws on a factory stock with the barrel hard up against one side of the barrel channel its possible to induce this)
pull it apart and check for anything loose.
The inner plate can act like a demented tuning fork if its not tight in the stock

what other ammo have you tried?
I have very variable results with sako ammo in sakos
from ragged holes to 5" groups
Click to expand...

Im not particularly mechanically minded, so I'd probably not know how to check half the stuff you have listed :-(
To answer some of your questions:-

Its was a new rifle when I purchased it.
I have fired around 80 shots through it when testing different ammunition.
Nothing has changed recently, this is how it has performed from the start and I have been trying different things before getting upset with it.
This was shot off a bipod and rear rest, couldn't have been any stabler.
Stock is carbon.
I have tried various federal / Winchester / Sako through it. So tried a few different brands.

Cheers for the input
 
Just had a similar problem with my Tikka 222. It seems that Tikka recommend torquing the action screws to between 5&6 NM. The actual torque setting should be 3.9nm. If the action screws are over tight the rifle throws rounds all over the place.


Ian
 
My 85 just doesn't like any 150gr .. Loves SAKO 123gr gameheads 1/2-3/4" 100yds ...
PPU 168gr will shoot bang on 1"
Amax 165gr sub 1"
 
I suppose the irony is if i overlapped the 3 main targets... the first shots would all form one hole... and the 2nd and 3rd shots would also all form one hole.

How long do they wait between shots on a 5 shot group test.

ive contacted the supplying dealer and they will contact GMK Monday. It's never a good time to be without a rifle though if they do want it back for testing :-( waiting on a farmer giving me the nod for a small cull.
 
GSP84 said:
I suppose the irony is if i overlapped the 3 main targets... the first shots would all form one hole... and the 2nd and 3rd shots would also all form one hole.

How long do they wait between shots on a 5 shot group test.

ive contacted the supplying dealer and they will contact GMK Monday. It's never a good time to be without a rifle though if they do want it back for testing :-( waiting on a farmer giving me the nod for a small cull.
Click to expand...

Feel the barrel before first shot for temp. Shoot, leave bolt open, give two or three min, feel barrel - is it cool, fire another one. If it's a hot day you may have to wait a bit longer.

Be realistic - first round counts. Your 2nd and third in your groups are all good enough to kill cleanly.
 
I'd take the mod off and try zeroing again see if it makes a difference.

I had a very similar problem with my Sako 85 in 308 one minute it would group then it wouldn't the problem was the rear mount it had become loose on the base ( Opti lock ). I'd strip the rifle down and re build making sure all the screws are tight.
 
It amazes me that people buy a "stalking rifle" light barrel etc, then expect to get groups that would be expected from a "target" set up ie heavy barrel unsuitable for stalking with for the normal person, as has been mentioned here by yourself and others, first shot is spot on and thats what counts when stalking, but if you are waiting on gmk getting back to you, there may well be a problem, so just wait and see, I have a sako 85 in 22-250 which i use for rabbits foxes and roe deer, and it has always been accurate with sako factory ammo, but as i reload i have improved the accuracy a lot, i can head shoot a rabbit comfortably, wind in my favour, out to 250yds no probs, and it is repeatable, i get 1/2 inch groups at 100 yds, so if your rifle is ok you may want to think of getting into the black art of reloading, or just settle for being spot on with your first shot
good luck
Ray
 
Thanks all, the calibre is .308. The first shot is always spot on I suppose, and if left to cool completely, like 3 minutes between shots like has been suggested, I'm sure I would have one single hole.

Maybe I am expecting to much.
 
GSP84 said:
Im not particularly mechanically minded, so I'd probably not know how to check half the stuff you have listed :-(
To answer some of your questions:-

Its was a new rifle when I purchased it.
I have fired around 80 shots through it when testing different ammunition.
Nothing has changed recently, this is how it has performed from the start and I have been trying different things before getting upset with it.
This was shot off a bipod and rear rest, couldn't have been any stabler.
Stock is carbon.
I have tried various federal / Winchester / Sako through it. So tried a few different brands.

Cheers for the input
Click to expand...

Quite possible it's still shooting in?
 
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