L-579 action

[Guest]

I recently had the good fortune to purchase two new Sako actions from a retired custom gunmaker.
One is an A1 and the other is an L579, Both had a fine walnut stock that he had 95% inletted by Fajan.
The A1 is at Shaw having a .204 barrel fitted.
Originally I wanted to chamber the L579 in 257 Roberts, but it appears the magizine is too short. Looking at other calibers it seems that 22-250 and 243 are most likely the best choice.
What calibers did Sako chamber this action in their rifles.
These are my first Sakos so I dont know a lot but I want to build two special custom rifles with them.

 

[Guest]

Sako chambered the .22-250, .243, .308, and .244 in the L579. Browning used the same action for the .284. The .244 and .257 cases are identical in length. It is true that the magazine crowds those cartridges, but if your intent is to use 100 grain or lighter bullets in a .257, then it is not a problem. Longer bullets like 120's or those made from monometals will require deep seating that will be a bit more limiting than if you built a Roberts on a longer action.

I once saw a custom rifle offered at a gun show that purportedly was built for one of the Hunts (the Texas oil billionaires) that was a .257 Roberts on an L579 action. The magazine is as long as the Remington 722 on which many Roberts were built, so as I say, it will be crowded but will work. If you want a .25 caliber that does not crowd the action, .250 Savage would be a great choice. Of course the .260 Remington, 7mm/08, .358 Winchester, and new .338 Federal are all made on the .308 case and fit the L579 like a glove.

Suffice it to say that just about everyone who reads this board will agree that a Sako is about the finest platform for a high quality custom gun you can find.

Just curious: Some very late L579's had the shrouded cocking piece similar to the one on your A-1. How is your's equipped?

 

[Guest]

How about 260 Remington? Should be fairly close to the 257.

I believe the 579 was chambered in only 22.250, 243, 308, 220 swift.

Dave

 

[Guest]

I believe I have one of the late models, It is a Stoeger import Serial #324xxx.
I am new to Sako's but have a lot of good about them. I have a 30-06 built on a 98 Mauser action that I wouldn't part with for any money and this action seems to be similar.
Thanks for the info on calibers, the 257 Roberts is my first choice

 

[Guest]

Yes, if it is a Stoeger import then it would be one of the very last of the L579 actions before the changeover to A-II. Your A-I is almost certainly a Stoeger import, also.

I have two factory Sako L579's in .244 Remington, which is essentially the same 57mm case as the .257 Roberts, save and except a small alteration to the shoulder angle.

One is a varmint-weight barrel in which I shoot only 70 grain bullets. The magazine length is no issue for it.

The other is a sporter, but the 1-11.7" twist will not stabilize the 100 grain bullets that I would normally use for deer-sized game in this cartridge. I use a 90 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip in it. The B.Tip with its hollow nose and plastic tip makes for a rather long for weight bullet which does have to be seated a bit more deeply into the case than I would otherwise prefer. However, my loading notes show that I seat it to an overall length of 2.81" and get 3300 fps out of it, so the short magazine isn't much of a handicap here. 100 grain bullets in a .25 caliber would be shorter than these bullets, so I don't think you would have any trouble using them in a .257 Roberts.

Good luck with your great acquisitions!