SmallCaliberCentral

I have ordered a sako stainless varmint laminate to use as a gopher gun. Can anyone see a downside to this?

Terrible, terrible rifles. They are only good for very, very small targets
Tell ya what, I`ll dispose of it for you and won`t tell anyone you once owned one.

Well mackillan, about the only downside I can predict, is that you won't be shooting your other rifles as often once the Sako lands in your gun room.

My Sako M75 Varmint SS/Lam/Fluted w/set trigger was my first 204R, and shot so well right out of the gate, it led to three other 204's, all about equally as accurate as the first. It's just an outstanding caliber, period. Put that caliber in a Sako, and you've got near perfection in the Rifle World. Mine thrives on both the Sierra 32gr and 39gr, and also shoots the Nosler BT's very well using RL-10X with Rem 7-1/2's in either Nosler or WW brass (fully prepped) for her best loads.

Here's mine in the rat patch cooling her barrel during a particulary good squirrel shoot:



Put the best scope you can afford on it, as the rifle will have excellent accuracy capabilities. You'll love yours, the barrel cleans right up, the set trigger is one of the best I've ever handled, and the accuracy.......oh the accuracy........ Be sure to post some pics when she arrives, and welcome to the forum (best to hide your wallet about now )

Parting shot on the bench:



Good luck with the new rifle, remember.....we love pics.

Thats a beautiful piece of iron right there!!

Rick in Oregon wrote:Well mackillan, about the only downside I can predict, is that you won't be shooting your other rifles as often once the Sako lands in your gun room.

My Sako M75 Varmint SS/Lam/Fluted w/set trigger was my first 204R, and shot so well right out of the gate, it led to three other 204's, all about equally as accurate as the first. It's just an outstanding caliber, period. Put that caliber in a Sako, and you've got near perfection in the Rifle World. Mine thrives on both the Sierra 32gr and 39gr, and also shoots the Nosler BT's very well using RL-10X with Rem 7-1/2's in either Nosler or WW brass (fully prepped) for her best loads.

Here's mine in the rat patch cooling her barrel during a particulary good squirrel shoot:



Put the best scope you can afford on it, as the rifle will have excellent accuracy capabilities. You'll love yours, the barrel cleans right up, the set trigger is one of the best I've ever handled, and the accuracy.......oh the accuracy........ Be sure to post some pics when she arrives, and welcome to the forum (best to hide your wallet about now )

Parting shot on the bench:



Good luck with the new rifle, remember.....we love pics.

darn you...I think I just got an erection....LOL

Pmoper wrote:darn you...I think I just got an erection....LOL

Whoa there buddy! Is that a pistol in your pocket, or are you just happy to see my rifle?

(Yes, it's a fact......we all love gun porn. )

I like my .204 Sako so much I'm thinking of buying another just like it to rotate in the field for PD shooting.

Anybody ever compare the Sako to the Cooper? I got a feeling it comes out to six of one, half a dozen of another.

I have both rifles, and at least in my two examples, the accuracy edge goes to the Cooper, but just barely, and most likely because of the single-shot solid bottom receiver of the Cooper.

In this case at least, it comes down to if you need a repeater or not. Good reason to have both, right?

The only downside I can see is having to WAIT till it gets in! Congrats........you'll be happy.

I've had the same rifle for around a year or so now, and I'm in two minds about it. While a beautifully made and looking rifle, it is a tiny bit dissapointing.

Some points I've noted, the controlled feed is not, and is false advertising IMO. It's only the last part of the feed that is controlled. The rifle is not as accurate as it's supposed to be either, but is still accurate enough. I've got a range finder verified kill at 450m standing on the back of a ute, resting on the headboard, so it's accurate enough, just not as accurate as what is stated when shooting paper. Does it matter, not really. The target animal was small and dropped instantly with a chest shot.

The magazine removal system is silly, it's too hard to push in the mag to release it. The bolt seems sloppy, but works flawlessly, so maybe it needs to be sloppy. Also the magazine is too short, if I load ammo to suit the length of my chamber, the bullets are too long to fit in the mag. Surely that's a mistake? I don't know.

Anyway, I'm not trying to put a downer on your rifle, I love mine, it is my pride and joy, I'm just trying to offer up some criticism for comment. Oh, the set trigger is great, it only needs the slightest touch to set it off!
Hope this helps.
Rick, beautiful setup.

Cactus,
What do you mean when you say it is not as accurate as it's supposed to be? What size groups does it shoot/at what distance? What loads have you tested through it? Sometimes even the best guns are persnickity about what they like to eat, so maybe you just need to do some judicious load development...just thinkin.

jrwoitalla wrote:Sometimes even the best guns are persnickity about what they like to eat, so maybe you just need to do some judicious load development...just thinkin.

That's what I was thinkin' too..... Mine shoots 32 & 39gr SBK's into bugholes, just a tad larger than my Cooper, but I'm loading them too long for the magazine, shooting single shot with a BR single shot follower.....groups in the .3's are the norm......

Rick in Oregon wrote:

jrwoitalla wrote:Sometimes even the best guns are persnickity about what they like to eat, so maybe you just need to do some judicious load development...just thinkin.

That's what I was thinkin' too..... Mine shoots 32 & 39gr SBK's into bugholes, just a tad larger than my Cooper, but I'm loading them too long for the magazine, shooting single shot with a BR single shot follower.....groups in the .3's are the norm......

Rick. Took your advise and bought some 40 grain 224's. Loaded 24.5 grains of RL10X in the old 223 Rem. Went out and do they shoot. Went for a little bunny bust and I must say they open those jacks up, big time. Will be shooting more of the 40's.. Thank you for the advice. I am going to give a few a shot in the 22-250 also. Bill K

jrwoitalla wrote:Cactus,
What do you mean when you say it is not as accurate as it's supposed to be? What size groups does it shoot/at what distance? What loads have you tested through it? Sometimes even the best guns are persnickity about what they like to eat, so maybe you just need to do some judicious load development...just thinkin.

Thanks for your answer, I just mean that I haven't found it to be quite as accurate as the manufacturer's gaurantee claims, it is still a very accurate rifle though.
Fair comment with the reloads, this is what I've done so far,

26.9gr 2208 (your Varget) with a 39gr Blitzking about 3700fps;
27gr 2206H (your H4895) 40gr VMax for about 3600fps, and a few others as well.

And I'm about to try
25gr Benchmark with a 39gr Speer TNT
30gr 748 32gr Blitzking

and I've got some Reloader 10x as well. As 99% of my shooting is hunting, extreme accuracy is not that critical for me, however I do have a 300 meter "range" at home where a few of us shoot, and I would like to get the most out of my Sako from time to time, especially after spending $2500US on the rifle alone! (things are expensive here lol)

I'll see if I can get some paper to put up to see what you guys think.
Cheers.