This .270...or that .270...

[Ade8mm]

I have several "rusty relics" (walnut and blued steel etc) that I enjoy using immensely but when the rain, mud and shite are flying I reach for the plastic fantastic every time.




"Rusty relics" for the nice dry Summer evenings

 

[angusb1]

New Tikka has lots of options for aftermarket stocks and has detachable box mags. If you think you would like a plastic stock get the Tikka, if you prefer wood and blued steel with a blind magazine get the L61R

 

[Navarone]

I have several "rusty relics" (walnut and blued steel etc) that I enjoy using immensely but when the rain, mud and shite are flying I reach for the plastic fantastic every time.


View attachment 361755

"Rusty relics" for the nice dry Summer evenings
View attachment 361756

What chambering is the double?!

 

[VSS]

Glad you have moved into the fast lane....
The op is not commercial stalking but wanting a reliable tool for the job which like your digital scales settle back to 0000 each time with no guess work.

The way I read it, the OP is not commercial stalking, but wanting something that's going to give him pleasure and enjoyment, which like my old Parker-Hale, settles perfectly into my shoulder each time with no guess work.

 

[Heym SR20]

For many of us stalking and shooting are recreational activities, and a rifle or shotgun are part of this. I get very little pleasure out of using a plastic Franchi Affinity on the foreshore, I get much more pleasure out of using my Alex Martin sidelock on a decent day, I now have a Webley 16 for rough shooting. Deer stalking, I love using my combination gun.

If you have an opportunity on a nice rifle, which has a bit of history and associations built into it, then why not use it.

Wood and blued rifles are not fragile. Make sure the metal work is well oiled, and give it a good dry and wipe over when you have finished.

Here is an old gun I am restoring. Built 1880’s.

Woodwork completely black with age and dirt. A bit of time with some boiled linseed oil and fine wire wool.

 

[sy247]

I have several "rusty relics" (walnut and blued steel etc) that I enjoy using immensely but when the rain, mud and shite are flying I reach for the plastic fantastic every time.


View attachment 361755

"Rusty relics" for the nice dry Summer evenings
View attachment 361756

That's a beautiful rifle. What is it?

 

[Ade8mm]

What chambering is the double?!

.323 Nitro Express

 

[Ade8mm]

That's a beautiful rifle. What is it?

Thank you.

G Merkel, Model XXVII (1926)

 

[Acm]

Unpopular opinion here, but without wishing any offence to anyone, that old sako is only actually worth about £400 in my opinion, maybe £500 on a good day, but no one else would achieve £750 for it. Just look on gun trader

 

[angusb1]

Unpopular opinion here, but without wishing any offence to anyone, that old sako is only actually worth about £400 in my opinion, maybe £500 on a good day, but no one else would achieve £750 for it. Just look on gun trader

There are two Sako L61Rs on gun trader, both scoped with older scopes of similar vintage to the rifles by the looks of things. The .270 they are asking £600 for and the 7mm Rem Mag £895.

 

[Acm]

There are two Sako L61Rs on gun trader, both scoped with older scopes of similar vintage to the rifles by the looks of things. The .270 they are asking £600 for and the 7mm Rem Mag £895.

Sold: - Sako L61 Finnbear .270

Very clean L61 Finnbear Chambered in .270 Complete with all original furniture, rear sight, fore-sights 24" Bofors Steel Barrel with Deep gloss bluing in place throughout Nice tidy walnut stock with Pachmayer decelerator pad recently fitted Clean bore, rifle has been test fired with Sako ammo...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

 

[Mr. Gain]

If the old rifles are that good why did the makers bother to change?

Seriously?
1. to cut costs
2. to cope with a dearth of skilled gunmakers
3. because consumerism demands novelty
That doesn't mean a new gun isn't more accurate or reliable than an old one (it probably is), just that these benefits arise from the aforementioned pressures.
As for the rifles one likes best, I find classic vs. modern about as meaningful as blondes vs. brunettes.

 

[sy247]

Unfortunately once the bean counters get involved quality usually suffers.

 

[alberta boy]

Both are good rifles , but I'd take the Sako . The Tikka is newer , but it isn't necessarily better than the Finnbear , in fact , I don't think it is . I'll temper this by saying that I really like older model Sakos like the Finnbear , so I am definitely biased .

AB

 

[sy247]

Go vintage but try and negotiate a bit off the price

 

[Alhamander]

Unpopular opinion here, but without wishing any offence to anyone, that old sako is only actually worth about £400 in my opinion, maybe £500 on a good day, but no one else would achieve £750 for it. Just look on gun trader

Yes I did think that also, not unpopular at all I think...although it is immaculate and is a one of a kind due to various things done to it...however, if the price had been £500 this thread would probably not be here

 

[Alhamander]

I’ll almost certainly get eviscerated for this on here but no, rifles are not like cars in that the basic mechanical action/workings of them has moved on very little since what 1900 or so (albeit ballistics etc have). Where as a model t Ford vs a brand new bmw are so far removed aside from an internal combustion engine and wheels as to be totally separate.

Also as VSS says sub moa groups etc have little relevance to killing a deer in the field.

I’d go old…and romantic….%

Having recently used the Sako in question and also tried a brand new Sako S20 (handled but not fired), there is no question in my mind as to which action felt better (not the S20) - this kind of thing prompted my question, and I appreciate your answer. And yes, if it shoots 1" off versus a new Tikka that is probably less than my aiming.

 

[Alhamander]

The way I read it, the OP is not commercial stalking, but wanting something that's going to give him pleasure and enjoyment, which like my old Parker-Hale, settles perfectly into my shoulder each time with no guess work.

Not commercial no, although Tim.243 is correct that I do want reliable gun (who doesn't...). My main worry is whether it'd be daft to buy an older rifle rather than a new one. Pleasure & enjoyment are paramount however! General opinion seems to be that - with caution - that would not be daft...this is all I really need to know.

 

[Tim.243]

Not commercial no, although Tim.243 is correct that I do want reliable gun (who doesn't...). My main worry is whether it'd be daft to buy an older rifle rather than a new one. Pleasure & enjoyment are paramount however! General opinion seems to be that - with caution - that would not be daft...this is all I really need to know.

SD is well versed in giving people advice on what they would do but they won't be there to help you fix it, with the new more expensive rifle you will have a warranty also easy to source parts off the shelf.
My Rem 700 was new 13 years ago at £600 not missed a beat and lost count in what it has done so far.
That is 89p a week with out going back to the gunsmiths.

 

[VSS]

SD is well versed in giving people advice on what they would do but they won't be there to help you fix it, with the new more expensive rifle you will have a warranty also easy to source parts off the shelf.
My Rem 700 was new 13 years ago at £600 not missed a beat and lost count in what it has done so far.
That is 89p a week with out going back to the gunsmiths.

But sometimes the old stuff is worth hanging onto, eh Tim?
(Post #23)

Oldest bit of kit you still regularly use

A keyring made from Russian reindeer hide, sank on a ship in 1786 (ish), raised in 1986, I got given the keyring in 1987 and it's been in daily use ever since!! A wonderful neighbour gifted me a set of place mats from the same wreck.

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk