How strong is a SAKO AI action?

[baboonstalker]

Hi Guys,

I am about to pick up a little used SAKO Ai in .223 rem. I will use it "as
is" at first, but hope to re-barrel with a varmint barrel and re-stock in
the not too distant future.

Are these actions capable of supporting a fairly heavy barrel?

What is the factory trigger like on these rifles and what are the options for
trigger upgrades?

Your opinions much appreciated

 

[hayseed51]

I wonder if you wouldn't be better off to just wait for a nice HB Sako to come along? Sako's HB is about 3/4" at the muzzle with a nice semi-beavertail forend. Not sure just what you're expecting out of the rifle, but factory Sakos often shoot better than the guy doing the driving.

Sako triggers are pretty danged good for factory triggers. Will usually adjust down to a little over/under 2lbs. Overtravel adjustment as well. Canjar are great aftermarket triggers, but are out of production, and usually expensive when you do find them. I think Wookie had some pretty good luck with the Timney Lightweight, but I believe it took a little inletting work.

While Sakos make a fine platform for a custom rifle, many here think them to be pretty excellent right out of the box. Certainly your decision, but at around $450 for a first class barrel fitted, and a superior stock running anywhere from a little more to a lot more, it bears consideration. Another thing to keep in mind is that in the event you want to sell the rifle down the road, you likely won't even come close to getting your money back on a custom. Keep a Sako original and in nice shape, and it should be a different story.

Anyway, good luck and welcome to the club. Dick

 

[baboonstalker]

Thank you for the reply Dick, Only time will tell and if the two of us get on well the mods might be forgotten in no time at all!
I will return with some feedback once i received the rifle and done some shooting with it.
Best regards
Pieter

 

[baboonstalker]

Got some photo's of the rifle - Real thing will only arrive in about 2 weeks.
.223 (in a AI Hunter from what i could deduct). Current owner bought it new in 1985 and the serial no. is 1681xx
Can any of you see if that is right from the photo's available? or tell me more about the rifle from what can be seen in the pictures?- quality of the pics is bad but it's all i've got at the moment.
Thanks
Pieter

 

[hayseed51]

Pieter -

Waiting for a new rifle is tough. Life seems to fly by so fast now I guess the thing to do would be to always have a new rifle on order (I wish)...

Can't tell anything additional from pics, however a 168xxx s/n would seem likely to have been made in '81. Wouldn't be too uncommon for it to have sat a couple years before sale. Dick

 

[baboonstalker]

Hi Dick, You have no idea... days feel like years and i must have seen every related post and sako pic on this and other sites by now. I am just not thinking of anything else at the moment.
It is so bad that i even sorted out months worth of cobwebs and junk in my reloading room.Unfortunately the worst is yet to come. Once i get the rifle here i need to apply for a license and that can take up to two or more years (i have been waiting for 11 months now for just the renewal of my other licences and the cops hav'nt even processed my competancy certificate yet) I'm sitting with another new aquisition i bought 10 months ago and i only have it on a storage permit and am not allowed to use it.
I sincerely hope that your gunlaws never go the way ours did - but we push on and will never give up the fight for our rights!
Best regards
Pieter

 

[hayseed51]

Geez, that sounds grim Pieter. Where are you at?

 

[L61R]

Yeah Pieter ! Where are you at? Sounds grim to me!!!

Good Luck and welcome to the Club!

Jim

 

[baboonstalker]

It's only our gunlaws- more the administration thereof- thats GRIMM. Once you've got your firearms licenced we are in one of the best places if you like hunting, sunshine and beatifull nature.
...South Africa

 

[sakotex]

Hi Pieter. That's a nice A1. L461's and A1's with both front AND rear sights seem pretty rare in the USA. In my old age, I've come to appreciate the simplicity and handling qualities of these "mini express rifles". It's probably a pipe dream, given the export/import gun regulations between SA and USA, but if you decide to go with a heavy barrel rifle, I have an unused/little-used A1 Varmint in 6PPC that I would gladly trade if we can work out terms and how to do the transaction. If not, good luck with your new acquisition.
All th best,
Bill.

 

[baboonstalker]

Hi Bill,
In principle that does sound like an option.
I would have to investigate the permits though as at present i have no knowledge of this.
Would you mind posting a picture of your A1 Varmint?
Best regards
Pieter

 

[sakotex]

Pieter, I can take the pictures, but I do not know how to post the pictures on this forum. Bill.

 

[baboonstalker]

Hi Bill,
I load them up on photobucket.com and then just copy the link into a post.
If you want i can write it up in step-by-step detail?
My rifle should get here by Friday and then i must convince my local firearms officer to grant me a storage permit while i wait for the lisence. Please hold your thumbs... I was told that this rifle has fired less than 10 shots over the past 8-10 years so i hope it was well cared for.
Pieter

 

[sakotex]

Pieter- Thanks for the photo input. I'll check the photobucket site to see if I can understand how to do this. If I can't, I may take you up on your generous offer to write up a procedure. What jpeg resolution and image size should I use? My camera has choices of small, medium, or large image size...and x-fine, fine, and standard image quality. I have no idea what those categories mean in terms of file size or resolution...Bill.

 

[baboonstalker]

Hi Bill,
Your guess is as good as mine... Photobucket is not fussy about image size and i think if you go for medium size and standard quality you should be just fine.
I received the storage permit and rifle this morning and i will put some pictures up as soon as i have a chance. Just from a quick look (nothing you could call an inspection) it seems like the rifle was not used much. There is a couple of small bumps on the wood but nothing serious. It is sure to make a good hunting/ working rifle in it's current form. The scope mounts i got with the rifle looks like crappy things more suited to air rifles, but i can attend to that once i start working with the rifle.
More to follow.
Pieter

 

[cmjr]

After reading this thread boy am I thankful I can jump in my truck, drive 10 minutes to a sporting goods store or gunshop and walk out 30 minutes later the legal owner of a rifle or pistol! I would agree with what has been said about it being a shame to change a rifle of that pedigree. The 223 Sporters are pretty difficult to come by compared to the 222's, but considering your circumstances as to gun ownership I can understand why.
I have several small action customs but to answer your question about action strength in regards to barrel support my opinion is probably not based on fact as much as experience. Obviously the action will support a 24" med heavy varmint barrel as it comes from Sako. I do have a 223AI on a AI repeater that is a #6 taper and is 26" long. I've had no problem with barrel droop over the years I've had it but it is bedded the first 1.5" past the recoil lug and then floated. I've also got a L491 with a 26" Heavy #7, about .920 at the muzzle that has not been a problem either, again bedded right in front of the squirrely recoil lug they come with. I do realize the L491 is substantially larger in diameter than the L461/AI. Both of these are in aftermarket synthetic stocks but not pillared, just bedded. As for the trigger I've had good success with working the factory trigger down but have come across a few Canjars for the L461 at pretty reasonable prices (sub 100.00, not the set trigger).

 

[sakotex]

Pieter--Regarding A-1 action strength, I have an A-1 6ppc varmint that doesn't exhibit any problems supporting its factory heavy barrel. And while it may not be a one-to-one comparison, I also have a model 75-I 223 varmint that has no problem supporting it's factory heavy barrel. I hope this helps. Bill.

 

[baboonstalker]

Thank you for answering CMJR and Bill
I have decided to test it "as is" first and if it shoots, i will just leave it like that.
Like i said before, i just got the rifle today on a storage permit and i am not supposed to use it untill a license is issued in ....anything up to a couple of years?? well we would just see if i can keep myself in or if i will start posting groupings and load data under some alias:evil2:
I am normally quite happy with what i've got, but i must admit that i yearn for the freedom you guys have in terms of 1. choice, 2. Price and 3. no bullshit and timewasting when it comes to licensing etc. The law provides for us to own firearms, but the government is completely incompetent and unable to do so in good (or even reasonably bad) time. And if you ask too many questions and hasstle them about it they will come back with a reply like "sorry we seem to have lost your application, please resubmit" and you start all over again.
At least we have great weather, lots of game, mountains, deserts forests and oceans all within a couple hours drive - what more can a man ask for?.... (other than a competent police force)
P

 

[baboonstalker]

While on the topic of actions, i aquired a 579 action of which the barrel was destroyed and i want to build a 6mm XC on it. I will be making a custom stock for this rifle from scratch (i mean ply and resin and time)
I bought a rather heavy braughton barrel and suspect i would have to bed part of the barrel as well. Would you mind comenting on that as well?
https://www.safariandoutdoor.co.za/broughton-2436mm-twist-inch-safari-contour-pi-2389.html

 

[sakotex]

Pieter--I just re-read this thread and I didn't see any response to your question about the A-1's trigger. In my limited experience the #4 trigger that should be in your newly acquired rifle should be very nice and it is user adjustable. If needed, just follow the directions in the manual. If you need a manual, you can access one on the Sako website. I also drooled again over your new find...it's really neat. I can only come up with a lesser imitation. I found an L461 Colt Coltsman in 223 that has a hooded front sight and is drilled and tapped for the rear sight. A former owner probably removed the rear sight and lost it or failed to pass it along to subsequent owner(s). I'm hopeful I can find a dovetail base that will fit my hole spacing and barrel radius. An adjustable single leaf dovetail insert should be relatively easy to come by. Bill.