Sako

[Stubaby]

I just sold my .30-06 and I'm looking into getting a 7-08 or a 25-06 for deer and light weight stuff down the road. Right now I'm looking for something in a bigger cartridge. Cabelas has the A7 Big Game rifles on sale for $999 from $1199. Narrowed it down to the 7mag or the 300 win mag. These rifles come with a B&C stock, fluted stainless barrels in 24".

Any thoughts as to which of these two cartridges, or good and bad about the sako?

This model is only available in .270, .308, 30-06, 7mag and 300wm.

 

[noharleyyet]

Looks like a Tecomate in long action calibers made for Cabelas. Think the Tecomates chambers 270 and 300 WSM and MSRP circa 1400. My choice of the Cabelas offerings would be one of the mags.

Nice rifles, decent price IMO.

 

[wapiti11]

I have been looking at the A7 also, and the Tikka T3 superlight, made by sako (cabelas offering only) this would be a great Mtn. rifle. Camo stock with fluted barrel. under 6 pounds.
Also, that 7mm-08 cal. is very underrated. I have seen a lot of one shot kills with that cal. including elk. Thinking about getting another 7mm-08 for me. My wife and son shoot that cal. now. It is a very fun caliber to shoot all day long. We use hornady 139gr sst. bullets. Good luck..

 

[bigeasygator]

I love the rifle. Bought one over a year ago in .308 and topped it with a Swarovski Z5. It's my favorite rifle now. I've taken a mule deer and an elk with it.

 

[Redwood]

Awesome guns, I own way to many sako's. Hell my dogs name is sako, I have a bitch named tikka. She prefers Katie though. I would get the 7 over the 300. I also love the 7-08, I killed a huge bull last year as did my buddy out of a bachelor group of 15-20 bulls on public, and we both had our 08's.

 

[wapiti11]

Redwood, what bullets did you and your buddy use out of the 7mm-08's? and barrel length? Thanks.
Really thinking about another 7mm-08 now...

 

[MattK]

I think BuzzH has had really good luck with his 7-08 this year...I borrowed it to shoot a 6 pt bull elk at 486 yards...the elk only went about 50 yards and died. I saw him shoot a 5 pt bull with it also. It didn't get far either. My dad also got an elk using the same rifle this year and again...it was quite lethal. I believe he shot a 5 pt bull in Wyoming and a cow in wyoming with it also this year. I know some antelope and deer this year met their demise with the same rifle this year also.

 

[Redwood]

Kimber 84 with a 22" pipe. Loaded 140 Barnes tsx with 48.5 h4350. Buddy was loading a Speer bullet. I won't use the Barnes anymore though, killed the bull in his bed but shot him twice. Recovered one bullet in opposite shoulder that had no mushroom, just slightly bent the tip over. 200 yrd shots.

 

[MKotur325]

Haven't played with the A-7's yet, but I trust anything Sako!

One of my hunting rifles is a Sako 85 varmint in .308. When I do my part, it is a sub 1/2 MOA rifle with factory ammo. With Federal GMM I've had that rifle on steel reliably out to 1186yds.

If I had to have a beef with Sako, It'd be 2 things. Replacement mags are Expensive, $60-80 each, and the Sako Optilock rings are not up to par. The shim system they use creates difficulty mounting the scope level, and the screws in the rings are too soft. That being said... I believe the A-7 uses a different set of rings w/o Shims. That will help.

If you have the chance to buy the Sako, but the Sako. As far as Cartridge recommendations, it is my growing feeling that anything .260 rem or larger is more than sufficient for game up through elk with proper bullet selection and shot placement. My personal preference is to go larger.

 

[Stubaby]

Thanks for the replies. Went with the 7mag. I've been researching ballistics and it's seems to pack a good deal of punch down range with manageable recoil. Topped it of with a Voertex HS-LR 4-16x50. Should be a good rig for deer, elk, and such. Anybody have any suggestions on a sling that stands out above the rest?

 

[Stubaby]

Another view. Is it just me or do iPads only let you upload 1 pic at a time?

 

[Sawtooth]

As far as slings go, I am partial to the "Quake Claw Contour sling". Stays firmly in place, even over a backpack shoulder strap, and is comfortable on the shoulder. Bought one a few years back and now own a couple more.

 

[deer_shooter]

Nice looking set up

 

[1_pointer]

Nice rig! With the right bullets, that'll cover a lot of different types of hunting.

The next sling I purchase will be a Montana Sling. Guy that makes them posts here occasionally and they look like they'll work quite well.
http://www.montanagunslings.com/Gun-Slings/

 

[noharleyyet]

Darn good looking rifle. Montana sling in black. I like the 1 1/4"

 

[Redwood]

^^^^ +1

 

[MKotur325]

Every Rifle I own wears a Montana Sling. Just for the love of everything good... Buy the slings that have the Chicago Screws, after a couple years hunting in the rain/snow, the swivels start squeaking. If you have the Chicago screws its quite simple to replace the swivels. the stitched slings... No such luck... Other than that... Love-em!

 

[Redwood]

I put liquid graphite on the swivels to stop the squeak, perhaps white lightning or some other paste would also work.

 

[Stubaby]

I can see puting a leather sling on a gun with a wood stock, but do you guys put one of these on a gun with synthetic stocks? Does it look really weird?

How well do these leather slings stay on your shoulder while wearing a backpack?

 

[1_pointer]

I can see puting a leather sling on a gun with a wood stock, but do you guys put one of these on a gun with synthetic stocks? Does it look really weird?

How well do these leather slings stay on your shoulder while wearing a backpack?

They also come in black, which wouldn't look enough different than nylon/cordura to matter...unless it clashes with your purse. If I'm wearing a backpack, I do not put the sling over my shoulder, its in my Gun Bearer.