Sako 85 accuracy - poor / help?

I hope it comes back capabale of shooting 5p sized groups at 100m like my .17hmr Sako that has been used and abused and cost 1/4 the price :-)

Not asking for much haha
 
When evaluating a rifle with problems like that.

1st check to see if there is clearance between the barrel and the stock especially if and when using a bipod as it's possible to put some Flex into the stock through the bipod. Test it on sand bags.

2nd check the action bolts are tight.

3rd check the scope mount screws, especially on Optilocks check the screw which secures the base to the ring.

4th if possible try another scope.

5th send it back to the supplier.

Sounds like you've done everything you could reasonably be expected. Let us know how you get on.
I tore my hair out for about three years, with a rifle which was purchased new. It was eventually ascertained that one of the lands in the throat area was just about non existent, the likely cause, a fault in the hammer forging proces apparently.
The barrelled action was replaced by the supplier.
 
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Will not get any kind of update before next week :-( no definitive time scales

Hope you get the response you crave but do reflect on where those shots from a cold barrel are printing. As in everyone through the eye of a beast!
IMG_3265.webp
There are countless members on here who would love to know their first shot (at a deer) could be relied upon to be such a V Bull.

K
 
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I’ve had to bite the bullet on mine (25-06 finlight) and opt for it being rebarrelled. Right from the word go (brand new) it’s been problematic, not helped by me having it threaded before shooting it. Never been able to get the group consistently below 1.5 MOA, and more often than not, more like 2MOA+. At times also produces split groups. Each time I think I’ve solved the issue, it starts again. With a Harris Bipod, home loads and a PMII scope, there should be no excuse for not getting a sub 1MOA group. Unfortunately, having the barrel threaded removed any possibility of me sending it back. So after 18 months of fighting I’ve given up and got a Smith to order a new varmint barrel. Knowing that I can keyhole at 100m, I know that it’s not the nut behind the butt and I’ll only be happy with a rifle that’s capable of outperforming me.
 
The Jury is in :-(

GMK have tried everything and can't get it shooting straight either. Exact same results so they want to replace it.

Going to have to stick a variation in now and go through that nightmare.

Almost guaranteed to not have it back and ammo tested before Scotland next month but a fix is a fix at least :-(
 
Why a "Variation" if you're simply replacing the rifle and in the same calibre?


K

You will need a variation because your authority to acquire is only for the rifle that is specified on your FAC, and once you have acquired it then the serial number etc. is recorded and you only have the authority for that particular rifle.

Because this rifle is going back and will be replaced by another similar, but not identical - it will have a different serial number, then you need a one for one variation to swap the rifles.

Now some Police authorities will do a one for one by return. Others won't.

This also makes it to all intents and purposes impossible for you to borrow a rifle in the intervening period.
 
You will need a variation because your authority to acquire is only for the rifle that is specified on your FAC, and once you have acquired it then the serial number etc. is recorded and you only have the authority for that particular rifle.

Because this rifle is going back and will be replaced by another similar, but not identical - it will have a different serial number, then you need a one for one variation to swap the rifles.

Now some Police authorities will do a one for one by return. Others won't.

This also makes it to all intents and purposes impossible for you to borrow a rifle in the intervening period.

Now that I didn't know!

K
 
The Jury is in :-(

GMK have tried everything and can't get it shooting straight either. Exact same results so they want to replace it.

Going to have to stick a variation in now and go through that nightmare.

Almost guaranteed to not have it back and ammo tested before Scotland next month but a fix is a fix at least :-(


Speak to you FEO
replacement under warranty with no change should not be a full variation nor require one
they are updating a serial number

same as it would be if a moderator failed and was replaced, its not a 141 variation
 
The Jury is in :-(

GMK have tried everything and can't get it shooting straight either. Exact same results so they want to replace it.

Going to have to stick a variation in now and go through that nightmare.

Almost guaranteed to not have it back and ammo tested before Scotland next month but a fix is a fix at least :-(

Good to hear, this sort of problem can be frustrating ( understatement ).
On the variation, I know every constabulary's different, but I'd give your firearms department a ring. Under similar circumstances recently, I made an appointment with Durham Constabulary to take my certificate in and they did the variation in about twenty minutes whilst I waited, an excellent service.
 
In order to acquire a different firearm (including moderators) one needs an 'Authority to Acquire' otherwise known as a 'slot'.
One would need to notify disposal of the (in this case defective) firearm and apply for a 1 for 1 variation, at no cost.

If the firearms unit is helpful and pragmatic, they can take the old firearm off, authorise acquisition of a replacement and fill it with the details of the new replacement firearm, show it as possessed and issue a replacement firearms certificate, job done. Such action short-circuits the whole, otherwise drawn out, process and everyone is happy. To comply with the letter of the law, they should have received a 1 for 1 variation application though.

In other words change the serial number as Edinburgh Rifles suggests. Having said all that, if you are dealing by post or someone is sticking strictly to the law, one must do a 1 for 1 variation application.

Anyone who tells you that you can simply 'swap' a firearm, without an 'authority to acquire' is mistaken and such actions, no matter how unwitting, have caused several people grief, when their error comes to light.
 
I spoke to an FEO today, turn around is 2 days for a variation in my force they have said today. So may not be so much of a drama.

im fairly confident it will require a variation, they won't just change the serial number but I plan to speak to my normal FEO tomorrow before submitting my forms.
 
Hope GMK find their way to replacing the ammunition you wasted trying to zero the rifle and some compensation. Good that you have a solution though frustrating its not an answer!

Richard
 
Hope GMK find their way to replacing the ammunition you wasted trying to zero the rifle and some compensation. Good that you have a solution though frustrating its not an answer!

Richard

yeah I don't think there is much hope of that, would be nice customer service though if they supplied a few boxes to the RFD for me to run through it but extremely unlikely I suspect
 
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