Ridiculous Accuracy

[daveFromCasper]

I own Tikka, Howa, and Bergara. I bought an S20 and put together 4 different loads in 6.5 PRC. Went to the range and shot the tightest groups I have ever shot. First time out. This is an unbelievable weapon. My Tikka UPR in 65 Creedmoor is my next best shooter, but she aint this good. Pic is attached of the groups with specs.

The bottom is 3 shots thru roughly the same hole. 58gr Hodgdon H100, 140gr Sierra GameKings. The top is the same load with Hornady SSTs 140gr. This is the tightest group I have ever shot. This was my first time shooting this gun.


This was the same GameKing bullet with Hogdon H4381, 53 grains. A super tight groups but not as tight as the H1000.

This feels like cheating.

 

[sep]

Good shooting! Enjoy your rifle.

 

[icebear]

You can't argue with success! Congratulations.

 

[Vida]

Velstand, as we say , directly translated it means wellstanding but translates now to prosperity , which you surely will have hunting with that gun , congratulations with the great shooting.
I had a similar experience with both my used 40 years old sakos , shooting the cheapest store bought ammunition. Returned and bought 1000 rounds for them and never looked back. That kind of accuracy gave me the courage to hunt with the iron sights , which I did not feel comfortable with with my previous rifles.

 

[bloorooster]

That kind of accuracy gave me the courage to hunt with the iron sights , which I did not feel comfortable with my previous rifles.

This has always been my testimony as well..Sako wasn’t just “blowing smoke” when they claimed to be World Class Hunting Rifles.

 

[Terbousa]

48 years ago I ran into a mom & pop hardware store going out business that just happened to have several Sako guns on deep discounts. I purchased a 7mm Winchester mag and a 6,5. That weekend I went to the range bore sighted the 7mm made a couple of shots, a couple of adjustments and shot store bought ammo Fell in love with how accurate this gun shot. I hit everything I shot at with precision with the exception of damn coyote quartering away at approximately 500 yards going away. Very humbling experience. I sold the 6.5 without ever shooting it for double what I paid for it. Passed on to my son and grandson. Ten years since scope was checked or gun was fired, first shot with 50 year old ammo brought down a nice Rocky Mountain muley. Had enuff bragging to the choir?

 

[Arian]

Sako rifles spoil you, any other rifle i bought since has been sold on because i made the mistake of starting with a Sako. nothing off the shelves seems to compare

 

[daveFromCasper]

Sako rifles spoil you, any other rifle i bought since has been sold on because i made the mistake of starting with a Sako. nothing off the shelves seems to compare

Why are they so accurate? My other rifles are CHF. Beyond hyperbole, what makes them so accurate? I am interested. I am a fan of the Finns, their engineering, and their persistence to the Bear from the East.

I showed some of my hunting buddies these pics and they just shrug. They own Rugers and Rems and Savages and Christensen, etc. . interesting guns but not nearly as accurate. I don't mean to come across condescending or snobby, but why the hell are Sakos nor more popular where I live (The US Rocky Mountains). I paid $1100 for the S20 ($400 cheaper than the Tikka UPR). It's a steal at this price,

I feel so lucky to have a mentor that guided me this way. What an amazing weapon and so pleasurable to shoot. Dave.

 

[daveFromCasper]

48 years ago I ran into a mom & pop hardware store going out business that just happened to have several Sako guns on deep discounts. I purchased a 7mm Winchester mag and a 6,5. That weekend I went to the range bore sighted the 7mm made a couple of shots, a couple of adjustments and shot store bought ammo Fell in love with how accurate this gun shot. I hit everything I shot at with precision with the exception of damn coyote quartering away at approximately 500 yards going away. Very humbling experience. I sold the 6.5 without ever shooting it for double what I paid for it. Passed on to my son and grandson. Ten years since scope was checked or gun was fired, first shot with 50 year old ammo brought down a nice Rocky Mountain muley. Had enuff bragging to the choir?

That's am awesome story. Makes me want to buy an old Finnbear, etc. Where in the Rockies are you? I am in Wyo.

 

[daveFromCasper]

This has always been my testimony as well..Sako wasn’t just “blowing smoke” when they claimed to be World Class Hunting Rifles.

Bloo- where is 'almost heaven'? WV? I am in Wyo and feel I'm there (here?).

 

[daveFromCasper]

Velstand, as we say , directly translated it means wellstanding but translates now to prosperity , which you surely will have hunting with that gun , congratulations with the great shooting.
I had a similar experience with both my used 40 years old sakos , shooting the cheapest store bought ammunition. Returned and bought 1000 rounds for them and never looked back. That kind of accuracy gave me the courage to hunt with the iron sights , which I did not feel comfortable with with my previous rifles.

I love your story. And 'Velstand' to you my friend.

Any tips on what to look for when buying an old Sako (that you intend to hunt with)?

 

[Arian]

I love your story. And 'Velstand' to you my friend.

Any tips on what to look for when buying an old Sako (that you intend to hunt with)?

I guess familiarize yourself a bit with the models and look for any tampering. Iam not really an expert or anything, being in Finland these rifles are all over the gunshops collecting dust. Seen plenty at the range as well. So far it seems the only thing to really look out for is wether someone else screwed it up, my Finnbear was shimmed out of its factory fit with steel plates under the action to float it, still shot around 1-1.5moa. After learning what i could on this forum i removed those shims and behold i get groups so small i cang tell the how many shots i fire becsuse they just carve a ragged hole in the target.

then got a cz527, turned out heavily tampered with, epoxy in the barrel cannal, wouldnt shoot, after alot of work i got 1moa our of it. Exchanged it for a 300 euro l461 and again someone floated it with shims and i got 1moa, removed the shims and now i get ragged holes carved oit of my target again.

Seems from my very limited experience that so long as its not actively messed with it will be fine so long as its not shot out.

 

[Vida]

Had enuff bragging to the choir?

Never enough

I love your story. And 'Velstand' to you my friend.

Any tips on what to look for when buying an old Sako (that you intend to hunt with)?

The funny part is I bought both my sakos , and indeed most of my guns , used and unseen(other than photos). Due to the distances and geography in Norway. It is ofcourse a gamble but I must say of the at least 50 guns that have passed through my hands most have been very well taken care of. Must be said that due to the limit of 8 hunting rifles/shotguns in Norway most hunters have pretty decent collections , which they naturally take care of. So unfortunately I have no good advice , other than another funny observation about used guns , which is that a "bad" looking barrel doesn't necessarily mean it has bad accuracy , the crown is where it's at.

 

[tikkasako6.5]

I own Tikka, Howa, and Bergara. I bought an S20 and put together 4 different loads in 6.5 PRC. Went to the range and shot the tightest groups I have ever shot. First time out. This is an unbelievable weapon. My Tikka UPR in 65 Creedmoor is my next best shooter, but she aint this good. Pic is attached of the groups with specs.
View attachment 36696
The bottom is 3 shots thru roughly the same hole. 58gr Hodgdon H100, 140gr Sierra GameKings. The top is the same load with Hornady SSTs 140gr. This is the tightest group I have ever shot. This was my first time shooting this gun.

View attachment 36697
This was the same GameKing bullet with Hogdon H4381, 53 grains. A super tight groups but not as tight as the H1000.

This feels like cheating.

Cheat away Dave, youve earned it! Weve been traveling parallel paths with the S20. After not much work Ive got it narrowed to <.5moa at 600y more than once, using H-ELDM 140's, 57.4 grains Superformance and Jam less 0.025". Shot it out to 1 mile on two ranges, Clinton SC and Thunder Valley OH. Total blast to shoot, but I dont worry about COAL and just drop and load. Des O'Neill, Sparta, TN.

 

[daveFromCasper]

Cheat away Dave, youve earned it! Weve been traveling parallel paths with the S20. After not much work Ive got it narrowed to <.5moa at 600y more than once, using H-ELDM 140's, 57.4 grains Superformance and Jam less 0.025". Shot it out to 1 mile on two ranges, Clinton SC and Thunder Valley OH. Total blast to shoot, but I dont worry about COAL and just drop and load. Des O'Neill, Sparta, TN.

Thanks Des. It does not seem to care about COL like you said.

I am headed out tomorrow morning to confirm elevation markings out to about 700 yards and will take it elk hunting later this week.

 

[Spaher]

So, are you prepared to shoot at elk at 700 yards?
Perhaps consider exercising woodsman/hunting skills to getting inside of 200 yards?
It may be a bigger challenge and sense of accomplishment, but then just my sense of fair chase versus long range shooting.
Good luck with that .

 

[daveFromCasper]

So, are you prepared to shoot at elk at 700 yards?
Perhaps consider exercising woodsman/hunting skills to getting inside of 200 yards?
It may be a bigger challenge and sense of accomplishment, but then just my sense of fair chase versus long range shooting.
Good luck with that .

No, that's too far for me and that cartridge. I sight certain guns in that out to that distance for range practice - because it's fun. The longest shot I've taken on big game is about 250. Ensuring a fast and ethical kill, along with a guaranteed recovery, is my primary motive.

 

[Arian]

Yea i get it, iam also constantly trying to push longer and longer in practise. I feel it makes the actual game shot that mutch easier. Iam thinking of calling my l461 the bunnyreaper, broke my 250m record for a headshot on a bunny, small acomplishments compared to many of you but i have only been shooting rifles for a year now. Sako rifles just give me confidence that no matter what, the shot is going exactly where my crosshair is.

 

[tikkasako6.5]

Why are they so accurate? My other rifles are CHF. Beyond hyperbole, what makes them so accurate? I am interested. I am a fan of the Finns, their engineering, and their persistence to the Bear from the East.

I showed some of my hunting buddies these pics and they just shrug. They own Rugers and Rems and Savages and Christensen, etc. . interesting guns but not nearly as accurate. I don't mean to come across condescending or snobby, but why the hell are Sakos nor more popular where I live (The US Rocky Mountains). I paid $1100 for the S20 ($400 cheaper than the Tikka UPR). It's a steal at this price,

I feel so lucky to have a mentor that guided me this way. What an amazing weapon and so pleasurable to shoot. Dave.

I have a suspicion re the long term, low-dispersion rep that Sako enjoys. I spent a career pouring structural concrete. There are three main types of steel used, unstressed high-tensile, pretensioned and post-tensioned. Simply put, all three require excellent QA/QC implementation at the factory/rolling mill. Tiny Finland produces roughly 20% of the world supply of stainless steel!! Sweden next door is world-renowned for its quality steels (e.g. Sandvik) for all applications. There is a leading-edge (oops), deeply-experienced culture (as in Japan) that leads to excellent selection of the raw barrel bar. Many countries have good firms with engineers and smiths producing cut, button and hammer-forged barrels to name the three main methods. Then they apply well-honed (oops again) lapping processes using tools and measurements that simply blow me away. BUT, how well-aligned and homogeneous is the crystallography of the iron, carbon, chromium, molybdenum and vanadium, etc., melted into that billet before hot-rolling? My suspicion, therefore, is that the Finns have about the best raw steel to choose from...and, as in the USA, etc., can add the best gunsmithing to barrels and triggers.....so?, just where is the raw steel made in a Krieger, a Brux, a Lilja etc ....... bet they're keeping their secrets! Does any US gunmaker advertise the origin of its steel? Can't find one.....

 

[icebear]

I have a suspicion re the long term, low-dispersion rep that Sako enjoys. I spent a career pouring structural concrete. There are three main types of steel used, unstressed high-tensile, pretensioned and post-tensioned. Simply put, all three require excellent QA/QC implementation at the factory/rolling mill. Tiny Finland produces roughly 20% of the world supply of stainless steel!! Sweden next door is world-renowned for its quality steels (e.g. Sandvik) for all applications. There is a leading-edge (oops), deeply-experienced culture (as in Japan) that leads to excellent selection of the raw barrel bar. Many countries have good firms with engineers and smiths producing cut, button and hammer-forged barrels to name the three main methods. Then they apply well-honed (oops again) lapping processes using tools and measurements that simply blow me away. BUT, how well-aligned and homogeneous is the crystallography of the iron, carbon, chromium, molybdenum and vanadium, etc., melted into that billet before hot-rolling? My suspicion, therefore, is that the Finns have about the best raw steel to choose from...and, as in the USA, etc., can add the best gunsmithing to barrels and triggers.....so?, just where is the raw steel made in a Krieger, a Brux, a Lilja etc ....... bet they're keeping their secrets! Does any US gunmaker advertise the origin of its steel? Can't find one.....

Interesting commentary on metallurgy. I remember years ago, calling a leading expert about reboring a Tikka barrel. AS best I recall, it ws LaBounty, who was the top guy at that time. He told me that he did not want to do a Tikka barrel because the steel was so hard it wore out his tools so fast that he couldn't make money on the job. Now, I think the tools have evolved a bit and that's no longer an issue, but it's an interesting sidebar.