Forrester 22-250. Trigger adjustment & your pet loads.

[model70hunter]

In the early 70's I had matching Finnbear's in .270 and 30-06. Beautiful, very well made and both shot very well. I made my first 400 yard game shot with the 06 on a good rest. The only problem was they were pretty heavy for still hunting and I sold them.

At that same time a friend bought a Forrester 22-250 sporter barrel, I fell in love with that one and have looked for one for a long time. A few months ago I found one in a gun shop that had sit for quite a while. They wanted $899.00. I waited, visited them once a week and looked at other guns, today they just seemed to be in a lets deal or I need to move something mood and I was able to purchase it for $750.00. Just so you know, I was estatic and also very happy. YEEHAW!

I need to lighten the trigger any ideas? Any web sites on this job?

Does anyone have any pet loads? It does not have to be bbl melting 220 Swift velocities. I am thinking I want to use 55 gr on yotes and other assorted vermin in the midwest.

Thanks, D.

P.S. A thought just ran by me, are there others on this site that remember the early 70's? For me I suddenly remember that the 60's and 70's were a long time ago and where I spent my youth just as I start dragging out a deer.

 

[misako50]

Welcome to the Sako Forum, D.- I also picked up a 22-250 earlier this year and was very happy with the way it shoots. I needed to build up some brass numbers so I bought a 40 rd. "value pak" of Winchesters w/45 grn. JHPs. The accuracy was astounding (to me anyway) and I can't wait to get some time to start loading for it. The trigger adjustment should not be too complex for you. There are Web Links on the right hand side low that should take you to downloads on the Forrester and the trigger mechanism adjustment. As for pet loads, I would prefer to find my own using some input on good powders for accurate performance and likewise with bullets that perform well with those powders. It doesn't look too hard to put a 55grn "plunkinblaster" out at over 3600 fps with the round so finding a pet load can be all up to us and our individual rifles. Mine is a "like new" Bofors sporter from around 1968. The chamber is a bit "tight", as are many sako chambers. Got to trim the cases more often because of it.---------------The 70's? Hell, most of us can remember the 40s and 50s.

Best, Misako

 

[stonecreek]

Congratulations on your .22-250. I own both a sporter and a HB Sako L579 22-250, and have owned other .22-250's in the past. I have always had excellent results from approximately 35 grains of either H-4895 or IMR 4895 with the 55 grain bullet of your choice. I've never needed to go above 35.5 grains, and never below 34.5 grains, but each rifle is an individual, so start about 34 grains and see how yours does.

 

[model70hunter]

I remember the 50's too, that was my 22 and 410 age.

I bought a Rem 788 22-250 in about 1969 and used it on ground squirrels, crows, groundhogs, some feral dogs, foxes and some yotes on Dad's farm. I had more fun with that gun than any other one, damned shame I was also afflicted with trading fever.

A pack of wild dogs were killing my brothers sheep and goats. He went to get his horse one morning and was treed for an hour. They acted like he was meat to be eaten. He came flying home after they left. I grabbed the 788 and we came up behind them on a clear ridge. They saw us and growled, they took about one step towards us. The big alpha dog took a direct hit in the chest and died in his tracks. I cranked in another and shot the 2nd in line. I emptied the gun, 2 were gut shot as they went down the ridge into the brush we know I hit 4 of 5. We never saw them again. Dad had a 204 acre farm close to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. GI's on orders dumped dogs and cats off on farm lanes all the time. This bunch had been out long enough to go wild.
I love dogs and always thought the people who dropped them off at farms were pretty sick in the head for making other folks their executioner.

In 1970 a friend bought a Sako sporter barrel 22-250, I fell in love with that gun, he still won't sell it to me, he hasn't shot it since 1980. I ran across the twin to it in Cabelas. It has a few small dings in the wood and a couple of small rust pits on the bolt handle. I let it set for 6 or 8 weeks. I went by and finally offered money. I can live with the marks, the bolt does not show much use, the barrel is pit free. I hope it shots better than me. I am going to put a 4-16 power scope on it. Look out 1969 here I come.

 

[model70hunter]

Thanks, I will try this load. I have some 4895. All I need is dies.

 

[stonecreek]

Model 70hunter: I also grew up in the country in an area where all of the "townfolk" came to dump their unwanted animals. As a child, the concept of "getting a dog" was totally foreign to me since the former house pets would immediately come to our house looking for food and companionship. I always had a dog or three, furnished by the nearby highway, which I assumed were sent by god as a gift to a little country boy. However, the big, surly, unruly dogs which were dumped because they were exactly that frequently became nuisances in the countryside, killing livestock and raiding watermelon patches. I remember losing several baby calves to a particularly viscious pack until I was able to "roll" the huge shepard pack leader with an 85 grainer out of a .243 as he ran from a still steaming freshly killed carcass of a Hereford calf.

It is shameful how inhumanely many "tender hearted" people will treat both the unwanted pet and the environment by dumping them instead of spending a few bucks to drop them off at the animal "shelter" to be euthanized. As feral animals, dogs are an invasive species that, regardless of how you feel about "pets", should be eliminated.

 

[misako50]

It never ceases to amaze me how much in common the Sako fans have with one another and the close parallels in our experiences that have shaped our lives. Some of this thread is like reading my personal "bio". Never thought I would be in a conversation with two others that share the same bad experiences with feral dogs. You really have to live in the country to understand what needs to be done to survive total ignorance when it comes to dumped pets. I also came along as a youngster thru the 22 and 410 days. Have to throw in the old Daisy as another tool that got me here. Regards, Misako

 

[model70hunter]

Stonecreek and Misako50. Gentlemen, this is my 2nd day here and it feels like home. Thanks.

Misako50, my first gun was a Daisy model 25. It was a powerful pump. Any squirrel that stopped 1/2 way up a tree developed an anurysm.

I have spent time on other forums where the guns made before 64 are famous. Seems all the friendly ones have passed on or traded for Sakos. The M70 is now being gutted and sold on ebay or guns list by the screw. If the SOB's could figure out how to pull the blue off they'd sell it too. Even at gun shows one always gets the feeling that you are standing under desending vultures when at their tables. I came about my like of that gun from my dad who only had one. I have a few, all are hunting guns. I love the guns but the folks who loved them for hunting guns are gone, replaced by salvage crews and bankers.

This is my 4th Sako, I've looked for one like this for a long time. I always was seriously impressed by the quality of the older Sakos I had. Beautiful and deadly. I did not have any trading stuff with me at the last few gun shows but I did see some nice Sako's, they are few and far between and not cheap. I guess I might start taking a duplicate 30-06 M70 to some gun shows and look for some Finnish quality, I'm thinking a light 308 would be nice. What's that Manlicher model? Have a good evening folks.

 

[stonecreek]

Model70hunter:

You'll like a .308 if you can come by one. It is built on the same action as your .22-250, but since it has a bigger hole in the same barrel, it is a bit lighter. The sporter is nice, and the Mannlicher is superb. I own both and am not in the market to get rid of either. You can find them in either the L579 or the successor A-II. There are a few very subtle differences in the guns, but both are nice rifles. I've never owned a later Sako, and while I have nothing against the current production models, I just don't find them as interesting as the older ones.

By the way, I'm off to the Texas Panhandle this weekend to harass some prairie dogs with my grown son and several friends. My son and I will be taking four Sako heavy barrels (one of which is actually a Browning-Sako), one Sako sporter (which is actually an H&R), and the bastard stepchild of the crew, a Kimber .22 Hornet (nice bastard, eh?) A friend will bring three more Sakos, all HB models. The only thing more delightful than owning Sakos is shooting Sakos!

 

[model70hunter]

Lots of HB Sako's in your closet. I hear you on the older ones being more interesting. Sounds like you guys will have lots of fun.

I've got to go to Kansas city and help one of my sons paint and whatever on his new house. I won't get to shoot the Sako until the following weekend, which is not very delightful.

I bought my wife a new Kimber 84 in 7mm-08 Christmas before last. She bagged her biggest buck with it last year, a real wall hanger. It's taking the taxidermist forever. I liked it so well I traded one of my pre 64 M70 FW's in 264 for me a Kimber in 7mm-08. It is scoped, zeroed and ready. I will use it this year.

We've got a little 162 acre retirement farm we are trying to get to in SE KS. We hear and see coyotes there all the time. This is where the Sako will go to work. My wife has already killed 3 or 4 while I was working on fences.

Have a safe trip and fill us in when you get back.

 

[weshowe]

70Hunter and all,

Congrats on your new .22/250. Can't vouch much for that caliber in Sako's, but I can in Rem 700 Varmints and some others. Great varmint cartridge and one that is not finicky about loading. I'd try 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips and about 38.0 gr. of IMR-4350, Winch brass, and a federal 210 Match primer. You should get about 3,600 FPS. 39.0 grains is a max load according to the Nosler manuals, so start around 35.0 grains and work up from there.

Wes

 

[stonecreek]

Model70:

Re, Kimbers: I bought a Kimber 8400 (walnut) in .300 WSM a little over a year ago off of an individual who just had it priced too low to resist. I didn't need it and don't think that much of the caliber, but too cheap is too cheap, so I grabbed it. It was scoped with one of those clownish 50mm objectives that neophytes are so taken with -- an abysmal choice for an otherwise trim, light sporter. I sold the scope off of it -- to a neophyte -- for a lot more money than it was worth and replaced it with a Leupold VX-II 2-7 matte that I happened to have unattached to anything. Bottom line: I'm very impressed with the current crop of Kimber centerfires. They appear to be well-made, have classic lines, are efficiently light in weight, and judging from the performance of this one, can be very accurate. I haven't worked with it that much, but when a gun will shoot three factory loads (loaded so hot that the bolt has to be hammered open) into overlapping holes, the manufacturer is doing something right. Not to take anything away from Sakos, but if I were in the market for a current-production rifle, I would first consider the Kimber.

 

[model70hunter]

Stonecreek, are you peeking over my shoulder? I put a new Leupold VXII 2x7 matt on my wife's Kimber. It looks perfect on the rifle. You are right on, they are nice rifles.

 

[model70hunter]

Thanks weshowe, I'll try that load. I had a sporter ADL in 22-250 for a short while, it shot very well. It was lights out on coyotes. I filled a bonus doe tag with a shot behind the shoulder. She wobbled like a bad drunk for about 10 yards and dropped. Her lungs were jellied. The fella that bought it uses it on every thing.

 

[weshowe]

Gents,

This is scary...I have a brand new matte finish Luppie Vari-X III 1.5 x 6 power that may be perfect for the Sako Carbine. Although I would prefer no front objective. Heck, it's paid for...and just sitting there.

That's about perfect for the.308 Winchester and conditions that we have here in Western Oregon.

Wes

 

[model70hunter]

The smaller scopes on the smaller Kimbers and your carbine to me look proportionate. If western Oregon is like the thick timber in the southern 1/2 of Missouri 2 power would work great. I have two 1.5x5's, two 2x7's and one 2.5x8. I never feel like 2 power is hampering me. I have lots of 3x9's and I carry them on 3 power. I also feel 2 power is an asset when deer are running. We have fields that open to 1/4 to 1/2 mile. I've had time to twist up to higher power for shooting across fields, for me this would be the 1/4 mile ones.
If you are going to hunt with the gun on a regular basis the scope you have would be excellent, if it is going to be an ocassional use hunter look for a VXII in 1.5x5.