What Sako .22?

[kripton]

When variations are again being made I want to apply for a .22lr or magnum.
I have always liked Sakos (have 3 at present) and if used, the condition of the stock is irrelevant as I will restock (walnut blank ready and waiting). Can someone therefore please tell me what are the differences between the P94S, the Finnfire and the Finnfire II - and which is preferable (given similar condition) and why.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Doric]

When variations are again being made I want to apply for a .22lr or magnum.
I have always liked Sakos (have 3 at present) and if used, the condition of the stock is irrelevant as I will restock (walnut blank ready and waiting). Can someone therefore please tell me what are the differences between the P94S, the Finnfire and the Finnfire II - and which is preferable (given similar condition) and why.
Thanks in advance.

P94 still regarded by those in the know as the finest 22 sporting gun ever made.

 

[DWH2]

The original Finnfire (the mk 1, as it were) is the P94S (the action model number) that you refer to, that was 22lr only and the one that has a strong following as one of the best sporting 22’s. That came in

1. Sporter lighter barrel and stock,
2. Varmint which had heavy barrel and a heavier beaver tail fore-end stock and,
3. Range very few of them and rare/desirable nowadays. They had the Varmint barrel but in a target style adjustable stock that was the same as Tikka MasterSporter of the 1990’s.
   
   All had the same action (P94S) using 9 round mags (in practical usage, not 10!) or 5 round flush fitting, that are a real pain to get out especially from a Range stock.
   I have had a Varmint from new, and bought a Range variant recently. They are very accurate and well made as people on SD will attest to. Quad barrels drop straight into a P94S so 17HM2 is an option - I have a cheap Sporter 17HM2 barrel on my Varmint and it mag feeds and extracts fine and adds range over the 22lr. The other Quad calibres (17hmr an 22wmr) are too long for the P94S action/mag.

I don’t know anything about the Finnfire 2 - I’m sure someone will confirm, but I got the impression it was a ‘cheaper to make/dumbed down P94S’ and didn’t last long and doesn’t have the following the original does.
Pictures attached are
1.My Range (cadet target version) but with a normal Varmint barrel in 22lr
2.My Varmint but with the Sporter Quad 17HM2
3. The rare Single Shot Cadet Rifle trial Target version of the Range (about 10-15 exist) with target sights and dual weight barrel etc. Two of these are P94S based and one Quad based.

Once lockdown is over and things easier, I intend to get an integral suppressed/moderated barrel for one/both from Richard Pope. They look like an 18” Varmint weight barrel, but internally moderated.

Hope that helps....I’m sure more people will contribute...

 

[bluesako]

like this finnfire? bs

 

[kripton]

I especially like the moderator (looks like a continuation of the barrel) and what scope is that? - what is the barrel length (with and without the moderator)?

 

[kripton]

I especially like the moderator (looks like a continuation of the barrel) and what scope is that? - what is the barrel length (with and without the moderator)?

The original Finnfire (the mk 1, as it were) is the P94S (the action model number) that you refer to, that was 22lr only and the one that has a strong following as one of the best sporting 22’s. That came in

1. Sporter lighter barrel and stock,
2. Varmint which had heavy barrel and a heavier beaver tail fore-end stock and,
3. Range very few of them and rare/desirable nowadays. They had the Varmint barrel but in a target style adjustable stock that was the same as Tikka MasterSporter of the 1990’s.
   
   All had the same action (P94S) using 9 round mags (in practical usage, not 10!) or 5 round flush fitting, that are a real pain to get out especially from a Range stock.
   I have had a Varmint from new, and bought a Range variant recently. They are very accurate and well made as people on SD will attest to. Quad barrels drop straight into a P94S so 17HM2 is an option - I have a cheap Sporter 17HM2 barrel on my Varmint and it mag feeds and extracts fine and adds range over the 22lr. The other Quad calibres (17hmr an 22wmr) are too long for the P94S action/mag.

I don’t know anything about the Finnfire 2 - I’m sure someone will confirm, but I got the impression it was a ‘cheaper to make/dumbed down P94S’ and didn’t last long and doesn’t have the following the original does.
Pictures attached are
1.My Range (cadet target version) but with a normal Varmint barrel in 22lr
2.My Varmint but with the Sporter Quad 17HM2
3. The rare Single Shot Cadet Rifle trial Target version of the Range (about 10-15 exist) with target sights and dual weight barrel etc. Two of these are P94S based and one Quad based.

Once lockdown is over and things easier, I intend to get an integral suppressed/moderated barrel for one/both from Richard Pope. They look like an 18” Varmint weight barrel, but internally moderated.

Hope that helps....I’m sure more people will contribute...

Many thanks for the information - it looks as if the P94S is the one to go for with either sporter or varmint barrel. I already have a Quad with 17HMR barrel but although the idea of swapping barrels seems attractive at first, you have to remove the scope in order to do so and this rather negates the object.
I don't understand how a quad barrel would drop into a P94S action as the quad barrel is merely clamped to the action (for easy substitution) and I thought the barrel of a P94S action was screwed into the action - I am only guessing however having not taken down a P94S version

 

[DWH2]

The P94S barrel is clamped in exactly the same way as a Quad, and the registration notches/etc are identical, so no issues with getting orientation right. The stock has to come off as it obviously doesn’t have the holes to access the clamping Allen keys, unlike the Quad. I don’t swap barrels on mine often and am very wary as I have heard some say that over tightening the clamping screws can crack the action, writing it off....!! Headspace is a sensitive subject. Some demand Go/no go gauges, others say just clamp it with gentle pressure on an empty case!
I don’t have a Quad so don’t know what headspace setting regime they recommend when swapping barrels, but presumably it’s the same. Find a good P94S and you won’t regret it (or sell it).

 

[Twodogs]

Re Quad barrel change procedure, slight deviation from the thread but raised. Copied from the Quad manual.
The barrel is changed as follows
1. Remove the bolt and the magazine.
2. Loosen the barrel screw with a T25 key.
3. Remove the barrel by lifting it upwards in the front and pulling it forward and out.
4. Install in the opposite order. Position the flat surface downwards.
5. Remove the slack by pulling the barrel forwards (parallel to the stock) and tighten the screw to 7 Nm.

FYI

 

[bluesako]

if any one knows of or has p94s v/ stock i am looking for one

 

[long_range_rob]

My two P94S’s. First with a 17Mach2 barrel and second in .22LR shortened to 14.5 inches.

 

[bluesako]

hi kripton, the barrel is 12/1/4 inch, and the mod which is made from the offcut of the barrel is 7 inch, scope is a ziess dytal c 10x36 action is bedded in a sako hunter varmint mcmillan stock work was done by richard pope of bromsgrove great gunsmith bs.

 

[kripton]

Re Quad barrel change procedure, slight deviation from the thread but raised. Copied from the Quad manual.
The barrel is changed as follows
1. Remove the bolt and the magazine.
2. Loosen the barrel screw with a T25 key.
3. Remove the barrel by lifting it upwards in the front and pulling it forward and out.
4. Install in the opposite order. Position the flat surface downwards.
5. Remove the slack by pulling the barrel forwards (parallel to the stock) and tighten the screw to 7 Nm.

FYI

Thanks for that - unfortunately there is no room to lift the front of the barrel in my case as the bell end of the scope is deliberately as close to the barrel as I could make when restocking the rifle see picture (I hope)

 

[antsa]

I have a Finnfire II in .22LR. I want to get a P94 but they are hard to find so I make do with the FFII. It's well-made and very accurate with sk Long Range Match. Clover-leafs at 50m and I can comfortably hit a diamond shaped gong (50mm across the points) at 100m. Have even hit 200m steel gongs at the range, shooting between the wind gusts. The wood is far from spectacular but in the right light a nice grain pattern is discernible.
All-in-all a neat and tidy, accurate little bugger!

Cheers

 

[cjm1066]

Lovely

As is this one A Custom .22 Rimfire - Sako P94S - Topic

 

[Donkey Basher]

In a nutshell:

1) P94S 'Finnfire' - the original & the best
2) Quad - a switch barrel rifle primarily aimed at the US market when Beretta acquired Sako, IIRC they teamed up with Burris to produce a scope that could be used with all four different cartridges using the same colour coded bands. Rifle was manufactured to a budget rather than built to an engineering standard
3) Finnfire 2 - an attempt to trade off the heritage/reputation of the original Finnfire but effectively it's a Quad & still manufactured to a price not a standard

I have a Finnfire Range & it'll only be sold when I'm pushing up daisies or am sat in a care home dribbling! Phenomenally accurate with the right ammo (RWS R50 literally makes a single hole at 50m) although on a cold barrel it does tend to throw the first round low.

Never had an issue with not being able to get 10 rounds in the 10 round mags but they are finicky about being kept clean & if gummed up with bullet lube they can & do misfeed.

They do have a habit of breaking the firing pin due to stress fracturing but you can buy pins on their own or, as I do, in a kit with new springs as well & it's a two minute job to replace them. Mine has also broken the ejector spring in the past but that was when it was 6 months old & the warranty replacement has been fine for over 20 years!

You can also get lighter springs for the triggers which are adjustable anyway & if you're very lucky you may find one that has a CG two-stage match trigger in it but those triggers are rare & no longer available new.

The P94S is the way to go but make sure you buy on condition of the rifle & not just a nice looking piece of wood!

 

[kripton]

Absolutely beautiful but metalwork way above my capabilities I'm afraid

 

[kripton]

In a nutshell:

1) P94S 'Finnfire' - the original & the best
2) Quad - a switch barrel rifle primarily aimed at the US market when Beretta acquired Sako, IIRC they teamed up with Burris to produce a scope that could be used with all four different cartridges using the same colour coded bands. Rifle was manufactured to a budget rather than built to an engineering standard
3) Finnfire 2 - an attempt to trade off the heritage/reputation of the original Finnfire but effectively it's a Quad & still manufactured to a price not a standard

I have a Finnfire Range & it'll only be sold when I'm pushing up daisies or am sat in a care home dribbling! Phenomenally accurate with the right ammo (RWS R50 literally makes a single hole at 50m) although on a cold barrel it does tend to throw the first round low.

Never had an issue with not being able to get 10 rounds in the 10 round mags but they are finicky about being kept clean & if gummed up with bullet lube they can & do misfeed.

They do have a habit of breaking the firing pin due to stress fracturing but you can buy pins on their own or, as I do, in a kit with new springs as well & it's a two minute job to replace them. Mine has also broken the ejector spring in the past but that was when it was 6 months old & the warranty replacement has been fine for over 20 years!

You can also get lighter springs for the triggers which are adjustable anyway & if you're very lucky you may find one that has a CG two-stage match trigger in it but those triggers are rare & no longer available new.

The P94S is the way to go but make sure you buy on condition of the rifle & not just a nice looking piece of wood!

Thanks Donkey Basher - All received and understood - Will ignore the wood as I will restock in any event.

 

[kripton]

Donkey Basher (or anyone else with the knowledge of Sako Finnfires) - a question please - how would I know which version of the P94S I should go for? were there any changes which affected quality or durability after a certain serial number?
I ask the question as there are a number of P94S versions on Guntrader and the serial numbers are provided.

 

[Donkey Basher]

There were only three variants - a standard barrelled Sporter (sometimes advertised as a Hunter) which normally has front & rear open sights on it, the Varmint which has a heavy barrel, no open sights & a wide forend, and, the Range which has a heavy barrel, no open sights & the adjustable stock (as an earlier poster has indicated there was/is a very rare single shot version of the Range but they are about as rare as the proverbial Rocking Horse poo!).

Anything advertised with a different name is either misadvertised by the seller with a name that wasn't attached to the Finnfire or isn't a Finnfire if that makes sense. Can't help with serial numbers I'm afraid but having bought 4 of the Sporters for my rifle club over the years (all still going strong) of various ages I can only say from experience that they're all as good as each other.

 

[DWH2]

As far as I know, there were no issues or changes to production or with specific serial number ranges. My Varmint, owned from new (1998ish??) is serial number 997xxx and from memory was relatively early on after their release. Some had tight chambers and there were extraction issues on a few, but rare - and I think some were fixed by GMK. Mine had that issue but I discovered it too late to have fixed but it’s very rarely an issue.
My Range variant, which is one of the Single Shot Cadet version, is ~16 yrs younger, having been released by GMK Tactical to MoD for testing in 2014/5, but has serial number 476xxx, so may have been produced in the main run in 1990’s and sat on a shelf at Sako for 10-15yrs!
Richard Pope has the three Cadet Single Shot Cadet Rifle target variants in my picture above and they will be for sale at some ‘post Covid point’ either ‘as issued’ to MoD for testing as single shot, with their Sako hard box/sights, slings etc, or customised/moderated as required and can easily be returned to repeater/magazine fed, with the addition of the relevant parts.