Norfolk Deer Search
Well-Known Member
The bread and butter for the 30-06 is the 150gn or 180gn, if it was me I would use 150gn lead or copper doesn’t really matter.
Sako 90 30.06 Bullet weight
- Thread starter jb1
- Start date
Norfolk Deer Search
Well-Known Member
Absolute BORLICKS!
Seating depth can be a little bit of a ball scratcher, but once you’ve got that right away, you go take no notice of all this twist rate jibber Jabba, the 30-06 is not an ungrateful calibre just like the 270
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2nd rifle from New.
1st sent back with no feedback as to why it would not shoot better than 1& 3/4 inch with 6 makes of factory ammo Inc 3 Sako. Discount stock and scope fixings also discount scopes and mod, shot same cal for years.
I have better groups recently (going again this morning) Test loads are 168 TTSX,140 Virtus eagle,162 Blade and 150SST. Powders today are RS60 and RS70. These have shiwed better groups of 3/4 inch. Today is testing powder weights and seating depth.
Quick post I'm going out in 10 mins to range.
1st sent back with no feedback as to why it would not shoot better than 1& 3/4 inch with 6 makes of factory ammo Inc 3 Sako. Discount stock and scope fixings also discount scopes and mod, shot same cal for years.
I have better groups recently (going again this morning) Test loads are 168 TTSX,140 Virtus eagle,162 Blade and 150SST. Powders today are RS60 and RS70. These have shiwed better groups of 3/4 inch. Today is testing powder weights and seating depth.
Quick post I'm going out in 10 mins to range.
My 90 is my fourth Sako and first £3k rifle and I'm not impressed after exactly the issue you describe. Just five stalks after initial zero and load development and I went back to Corinium for my monthly range slot to check zero and practice, to find the rifle was shooting an inch low and left. After re-zeroing and continuing to practice, groups were inexplicably widening even further. Paul and I were both scratching our heads until he checked and re-torqued the stock screws. Problem solved! Apparently, Sako's are infamous for this problem although Paul has said it should hopefully not re-occur now the screws have been properly torqued. I sincerely hope so but am also quite shocked to encounter with the most expensive of my four Sako rifles to date.
Norfolk Deer Search
Well-Known Member
In my humble opinion, at £3k I would’ve bought a Tika T3 action and had it rebarreled, an even if you put it in a McMillan stock you’ve come back with at least £1k in change and pick a flea off a dogs backside at 100 yards.
That would certainly have been a good head choice NDS. Unfortunately and very personal I know, but I've loved all my previous Sako's and have wanted the 90 ever since the 85 Synthetic Black was launched. The rifle otherwise is everything I'd hoped for, I'm just very surprised and disappointed with such an issue with such a (comparatively) expensive rifle.
Norfolk Deer Search
Well-Known Member
Personally, I never rated the 85, I personally wouldn’t buy a Tikka or Sako past 2010, Bang sticks got more expensive and made more cheaply back in the early days things were built to last!
Well not long got back from the range.
Shot allot better with 2cm at 100mtr. May tweak when I get back from Scotland but 2cm is good enough for this time. I will check stock torque setting.
Out of 7 rifles loading for all, this has to be the most difficult to get a decent round for. I can't turn back the clock, i made the decision on the purchase and if it drops some deer next week then I'll be happy. ( if I see any of course)
Shot allot better with 2cm at 100mtr. May tweak when I get back from Scotland but 2cm is good enough for this time. I will check stock torque setting.
Out of 7 rifles loading for all, this has to be the most difficult to get a decent round for. I can't turn back the clock, i made the decision on the purchase and if it drops some deer next week then I'll be happy. ( if I see any of course)
Checked the torque on the stock screws an they where less than 36inch lb, i nipped them up to 40, not sure what Sako recommend.
Norfolk Deer Search
Well-Known Member
In over 25 years the only time i have torqued action screws is after a strip down for cleaning, as for a new out of the box rifle i would not have expected 2+ inch grouping, nor to check any fixings before use. I expect a new rifle to shoot as stated 1moa with quality factory ammunition, which it did not, checking action screws was the least i could do even though i do not expect to be quality control staff for Sako.
But regardless of the problems i've had, they seem to be behind us now so moving forward hopefully should see some Deer in the chiller in the very near future.
John Gryphon
Well-Known Member
I will suggest that it is the rifle itself or you that is the reason for the poor results. After having tried so many different bullets for sfa I would seriously look at the rifle. Ask a mate that is a known very good shot with any rifle/bullet calibre combo to belt a few out of yours and compare.
Sorted now John,
I discounted me immediately cus I'm the best shot on earth 
Best grouping using 168 TTSX RS60 & 140 Virtus Eagle RS70
John Gryphon
Well-Known Member
Triumph_Dave
Well-Known Member
I purchased a Sako 85 medium action .270 Hunter from new, it was a very fussy beast ref bullet type and weight, took ages and home loading to improve groups, found the best group in the end with Sierra Gameking 140 gr, and restocked it with a GRS stock and its decent recoil lug arrangement. Shortly after re-stocking had a borescope for Christmas, took a look down the original Sako barrel and there were several long scores across the rifling, way too deep to be caused by bore cleaning etc.. I was a bit taken back, as I am careful how I clean the barrel. Anyway, had the rifle rebarrelled by Steve Kershaw and now its a tack driver.. shoots lead and copper well.
So long story short.. its worth checking your barrel condition, just because its a Sako it does not mean its A1.
So long story short.. its worth checking your barrel condition, just because its a Sako it does not mean its A1.
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