Sako 75 270 WSM problems

[gei]

I bought a Sako 75 years ago and just shot it for first time this year. Went to range with 3 types factory ammo, shot terrible 2 to 3" with all 3. Changed the scope mounts to old pair of Sako mounts I have & back to range, same thing.

Changed scope & back again, same thing. Tried handloads that shoot good in other rifles, same thing. Tried torquing stock to different settings with inch # torque wrench, still no shoot. It is very consistent, will not shoot better then 2". would not attempt a 200 yard shot. All my other Sako rifles shoot under 1" with almost anything.

Checked with Beretta, it is one of the rifles within the "bad serial # range but is not a bad one"

Sending to Beretta tomorrow, I have a feeling they will shoot rifle @ 50 yards & say it is OK. If that happens I have two options, it is stainless gun with "tupperware" stock. Acculfile says they can put Kevlar stock on rifle & cure it, but it will cost $800.00. Second option is re-barrel rifle, was thinking about Broughton (spelling) 5R barrel. Don't know what to do.


opinions welcomed

 

[wmumma]

I recently purchased the same rifle, and was wondering what Beretta did for you. I have not shot it yet, but have heard of similar problems, now I'm worried.

 

[25-06 Lilja]

I have a Sako Finnlight in 270 Win. It would shoot 1" to 1.5" groups with any ammo. I talked to John Gallahger (gun builder from Jasper, Alabama) and he told me that it probably needed a pressure point under the barrel. That fixed my problem. Now it will shoot a dime size group with most factory ammo.

 

[Kiwi Nate]

I had problems accurizing a clients 75, 7mm08. I bedded the stock, free floatred the barrel and also found pinching within the magazine well/ stock. After it was all done, the rifle still shot poorly. I finally got it worked out, this particular rifle had a welter weight fluted barrel. If I waited 30 seconds to a minute between shots, it shot sub MOA. To this end, if you have the same contour barrel, try and shoot it with big rests between shots. If it shoots well, you will know that the barrel is the problem and needs to be unscrewed and thrown away. Please have a go at this, it would be good to see if it is a universal problem. Sako never use to make welter weight barrels or rifles, its sort of new ground for them. Federal ammo should be the most accurate play around ammo for the above test.
Nathan.

 

[azsugarbear]

With some of these pencil barrels, quite often the best approach is not to free-float, but rather bed the barrel for the entire length of the stock. Thin barrels often produce too much "whip". I learned this tidbit from a guy over at Stocky's rifle stocks.

 

[Kiwi Nate]

Thats quite a good idea. Might have to give it a go on a synthetic stocked welter weight one day. Would be a cheaper alternative to re-barreling for hunters on a tight budget.

I don't really like pressure point barrel bedding to allieviate whip as the verticle stringing gets pretty bad. The Rem Model 7 can be like this. Full length bedding would be different, a basic means of dampening whip.

Unfortunately, it would be impossible to full length bed a fluted barrel rifle like some of the Sako rifles without running into other problems.

On that line of thinking, other options would be a rubber barrel deresenator or clamp on brake. There really isn't enough meat to cut a brake thread on the barrel. This and the flutes also make it impossible to fit a supressor (which would be the best dampener).

 

[MontanaRifleman]

I have actually thinking about this with my problem child Finnlight 300 WSM. Bedding the barrel is not an option, but what I am thinking of doing is taking electrical tape and wrapping it around the barrel at the sling stud to provide a constant pressure point. I hoping ot give this a go in the next few weeks and will report back on the results.

-Mark

 

[Boss Hoss]

Sell it at a gun show and build a good one. That is what I did many years ago and have never thought twice about it plus it is fun to have a "project" in the works.

Just find the best Smith you can afford and you will never regret it.

 

[wmumma]

I believe this was a problem with the fluted barrels only. Has anyone had the same problem with a standard stainless barrel with synthetic stock?

 

[gei]

Beretta wanted to charge me $75.00 to just look at the gun, I told them to send it back, I am having a kevlar stock installed, Accuflite in Pennsylvania is doing it, they have done quite a few like that.

Will post how it shoots when I get it back

 

[Kiwi Nate]

No, I haven't seen or heard of any problems with the standard stainless barrels- all problems have been with the fluted barrels.

 

[stace]

I have a Sako 85 finnlite (25/06) that had similar issues with factory ammo.....1.5-2 inches......got one of those hornady tools to work out OAL and found that the rifle liked .10 off the lands yet factory stuff was running .40 off. Groups tightened to 1/4 inch at 100m. Another mate who has the finnlite in 270 runs his .15 off the lands...perhaps your factory stuff isn't close enough to the lands for the sakos liking????

 

[Drchad]

Boss Hoss, instead of selling why not just get another barrel for it. The reason I am asking is because I just experienced the barrel on my 75 finnlight loss. I had been having flyers, etc. The gun is only 5 years old, and maybe 100 rounds thru it. I can send it back and get it reseated, however I think I am going to by a custome barrel for it, and maybe get a McMillan stock. Any suggestion?