Sako III (75??) 243 ammo

[bicykillgaz]

Hi,
I've just picked up a Sako III am I right in thinking this is the same as a 75?

Just curious to know what bullet weights people are having the most success with?

The shop exchanged my spare 223 ammo for Hornady 'whitetail' 100gr sp's to get me going but just wondered what factory ammo other people are having success with. Obviously I know every rifle is different but just seeing if there are any common preferences worth a try.

It's going to be used primarily for Deer and also Fox.

Regards

Gary

 

[75]

III refers to the length of the action - see lower down this page: Sako 75 - Wikipedia

I think that only the 75 used that numbering system but I'm sure others will confirm. My 75 doesn't obviously say "75" on it anywhere, just "Sako III" on the side of the action. I would have been asking the shop for sure what model I was buying before parting with my cash though...

When mine had the original factory 243 stainless barrel it shot Norma 100gn soft points well. Federal powershock were ok but not brilliant and Geco 105gn were awful. I probably tried some other brands too but all that detail is long lost in the mists of time! If you're just shooting factory and the Hornady doesn't work then I'd be looking at Sako ammunition if you can find it locally - gamehead 90gn would be my starting point (if you are sticking with lead). That will almost certainly group ok and probably a similar price to Whitetail.

Mine really came into its own when handloaded with 90gn bullets though. Loved Nosler 90gn BTs on top of Hodgdon 414 powder (which you'll not get over here now I doubt). I lucked into a load that shot a 5 shot group at 0.2" very quickly and gave up messing around after that! Shot a lot of deer with that rifle and always regretted pulling the 243 barrel off it!

 

[.25-06]

95grn noslers are magical on deer where legal.
90FMJ very accurate and have same zero as 95 &70grn
70grn noslers spectacular on small furries.
55grn hits a clay target at 300m before the trigger clicks.
My 243 not fond of 100grn works, but just off the boil compared to the others

 

[Fiadh]

III refers to the length of the action - see lower down this page: Sako 75 - Wikipedia

I think that only the 75 used that numbering system but I'm sure others will confirm. My 75 doesn't obviously say "75" on it anywhere, just "Sako III" on the side of the action. I would have been asking the shop for sure what model I was buying before parting with my cash though...

When mine had the original factory 243 stainless barrel it shot Norma 100gn soft points well. Federal powershock were ok but not brilliant and Geco 105gn were awful. I probably tried some other brands too but all that detail is long lost in the mists of time! If you're just shooting factory and the Hornady doesn't work then I'd be looking at Sako ammunition if you can find it locally - gamehead 90gn would be my starting point (if you are sticking with lead). That will almost certainly group ok and probably a similar price to Whitetail.

Mine really came into its own when handloaded with 90gn bullets though. Loved Nosler 90gn BTs on top of Hodgdon 414 powder (which you'll not get over here now I doubt). I lucked into a load that shot a 5 shot group at 0.2" very quickly and gave up messing around after that! Shot a lot of deer with that rifle and always regretted pulling the 243 barrel off it!

Likewise, I have a Sako 75 finlight in .243 that also shoots bug hole groups with the Nosler 90 grain ballistic tips but over Viht 150 powder, stopped experimenting after I found this combo.

 

[bicykillgaz]

III refers to the length of the action - see lower down this page: Sako 75 - Wikipedia

I think that only the 75 used that numbering system but I'm sure others will confirm. My 75 doesn't obviously say "75" on it anywhere, just "Sako III" on the side of the action. I would have been asking the shop for sure what model I was buying before parting with my cash though...

When mine had the original factory 243 stainless barrel it shot Norma 100gn soft points well. Federal powershock were ok but not brilliant and Geco 105gn were awful. I probably tried some other brands too but all that detail is long lost in the mists of time! If you're just shooting factory and the Hornady doesn't work then I'd be looking at Sako ammunition if you can find it locally - gamehead 90gn would be my starting point (if you are sticking with lead). That will almost certainly group ok and probably a similar price to Whitetail.

Mine really came into its own when handloaded with 90gn bullets though. Loved Nosler 90gn BTs on top of Hodgdon 414 powder (which you'll not get over here now I doubt). I lucked into a load that shot a 5 shot group at 0.2" very quickly and gave up messing around after that! Shot a lot of deer with that rifle and always regretted pulling the 243 barrel off it!

The guy in the shop said it was a 75 but like yours it just says Sako III on the barrel.

I shot Sako 50gr Gamehead through my 223 which shot great and certainly did the job, the guy in the shop suggested the Hornady as that's what he runs through both his 243.

 

[McKenzie]

Best ammo I found for my sako 75 was sako 100 followed by Geko 105. It was also very good with 75 varmint rounds but I had no use for them.

 

[wytonpjs]

Likewise, I have a Sako 75 finlight in .243 that also shoots bug hole groups with the Nosler 90 grain ballistic tips but over Viht 150 powder, stopped experimenting after I found this combo.

Same excellent Nosler round before I went to NLA (except it was IMR4350) but now using 80g Barnes TTSX over Vhit 145 (identical in performance to factory VOR-TX). Had the barrel shortened to 20” and recrowned by Brock and Norris and fell in love with my 75 .243 all over again - great rifle.

 

[Bigstep]

Federal powershok 100g

 

[long_range_rob]

I always found better results with 90gn or lighter bullets in my Sako 75 III action

 

[Mungo]

I always found better results with 90gn or lighter bullets in my Sako 75 III action

Exactly this.

Anything over 90gr was terrible in mine.

 

[Bowland blades]

shot a 243 win sako 75 for a very long while before re-barreling it with a fast twist 260 rem. It will ballance the lightest to the heaviest of 243 hunting rounds basically 55-100 grain . Only exeption to this is 100 copper or the extra low drag / VLD stuff and copper unless your into the lighter bullets ( stability twist rates are about length of the bullet)
You will only get so much in an action 3 mag but there are plenty that will fit that you wont stabilize . Easy tell if its a 75 is if its a box mag ( some ltd edition early ones had a higher finish and a floor plate ) The mag will pop out just on clicking the catch , no upwards pressure required at same time .
Brilliant design before Berretta cost accountants "cheapinised" it

 

[6.5-06 TIKKA]

87gr Hornady vmax were terrific in my 243 home loads.
Federal 80gr Power shock brilliant from the box...then use the brass to reload with.

 

[Bowland blades]

if you want a good bit of data i can look it up as i shot one from the launch till around the first covid lockdown . favourite bullets where 70 grain nosler BT for long range foxes 600 plus they still expand just fine ! not bad for the small deer but be careful on placement because close up ie up to 200 they might not exit
The seirra 100 grain Pro hunter as a general deer bullet unlike its boat tail brother the gameking it will stabilize just fine
55 grn nosler BT are proper crow fixers tit for tat the 243 becomes a 22-250 but i woulnt shoot deer with them personally though i know guy that have , dont do it close though .
the old type 100 Hornady interlocks round old nose the "old ones that look Action mans wife's sex toy" hornady interlocks where good on large deer ( not sure you can still get those
N160 for all the 85 -100 grain , varget equivelent for the 70 grain range , cant just remember what i used on the 55s /58's but it was certainly faster than varget and of course has been banned but there are a lot of safe legal better ones now in the ball type powders from Hogdens and winchester with the same burn rates

 

[Brownhare]

Hi, I’ve had my sako 75 for about

 

[Brownhare]

6 years and another mate has had one for 4. He shoots 95g SST very well in superperformance factory loads.

I found that as long as the loads weren’t 100g, and were below, it would shoot 85-95 well. Never tried anything lighter.

I’ve been using 90g nosler ballistic tip with excellent results but will try SST once these are used up as they seem more impressive in action stalking.

 

[Bowland blades]

6 years and another mate has had one for 4. He shoots 95g SST very well in superperformance factory loads.

I found that as long as the loads weren’t 100g, and were below, it would shoot 85-95 well. Never tried anything lighter.

I’ve been using 90g nosler ballistic tip with excellent results but will try SST once these are used up as they seem more impressive in action stalking.

use a flat base bullet in the 100 grain lead stuff , length makes a big difference , its the sleeker nosed and boat tails that create issues because they are longer - not the weight

 

[6.5-06 TIKKA]

My sako 75 is the action size IV.
The 243 I'd the size III.
You have a good piece of kit.

 

[bicykillgaz]

Quick update. I picked up some 58gr V-max and 90gr Sako Gameheads. Sako shot moa at 100yrds but the 58gr are even better.

Decided to go for a walk round after I'd zeroed it. Saw some crows down the far end of one of our cover crops, steadied myself on the top of a pheasant feeder and let one fly. When I picked it up I got my range finder out and pinged the feeder I was leant on, 226yrds point and shoot!

Thanks for all the suggestions

 

[6.5-06 TIKKA]

I use the 58gr vmax for my 6ppc....great accuracy. Sierra 60gr hp are great too.