Gully Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 I'm off shopping for a Sako 85 at the CLA Game Fair next weekend. I'm torn between the regular Stainless Synthetic and the Finnlight. I'm looking for some opinions. I know I want as light a rifle as possible but with a scope and moderator is the weight saving worth it? Will the Finnlight be less accurate with its shorter barrel? Will a Finnlight be too top-heavy with a mod on the end (can't afford one of those nice titanium ones at the moment. What are the pro's and con's of each? Rifle will be in 6.5x55, mainly for lowland stalking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 The Finnlight's shorter barrel will be equally accurate, but it won't generate as high a muzzle velocity as the S/S's longer barrel. That's of minimal concern with woodland stalking, however. I would be inclined to save as much weight as possible, and therefore opt for the Finnlight. Were you opting for a punchier calibre where added weight would minimise perceived recoil, the regular 85 would probably be a better choice. The Finnlight's stumpy barrel would marry up beautifully with a muzzle-mounted ASE Jet-Z Compact moderator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted July 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Thanks Baldrick. Is it about 50 fps per inch reduction for a shorter barrel? I'd like the rifle to be legal for Scotland with 140gr ammo. I'll have to look into this a bit more. I like the idea of the Finnlight and the ASE is on my list... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 IMO I wouldn't bother with a mod, even a little one, for lowland staking but agree who heartedly with the 'less is more' on the weight front. My mate has a Sauer 202 outback(?) the ultalight one anyway in 6.5, and that isn't unpleasant to shoot at all, and it weighs about as much as a rimfire Compare and contrast that to say a .308 Blaser R93, ouch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRDS Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 I agree, I use a Remmy 700 Mountain Rifle for Stalking with no Mod. No need to worry about the barrel heating up when you are Stalking and a joy to carry with a small 6 x 42 scope on board. Pencil thin barrel though so takes time to zero but once done its done with a quality scope on board. I would go Finnlite too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moses Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 I have a 75 finnlite in 6.5x55 mine has a 19" barrel. It's a nice light rifle even with a mod and it doesn't feel overly top heavy, I always shoot off sticks or a rest of some kind if you were shooting a lot free hand you might notice it more. Without a mod and bipod on it it's very light as the short barrel is fluted and the magazine and bottom metal is aluminium. I would recommend the finnlite it's a nice rifle, I'm home loading 120grain noslers for mine at 2900 fps. I cant imagine you would have much of a problem with the 140grainers being legal north of the border the factory 85 synth stainless has a 22" barrel and the 85 finnlite 20" I'd be surprised if that cost you 100fps the 50 fps per inch is only a rule of thumb as it were. ATB Moses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted July 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Cheers Gents, some interesting info there. It looks like the Finnlight is the way to go, I only want to buy once this time, so will be checking out the GMK stand carefully. It also looks like factory 6.5x55 ammo underperforms the modern rifles a bit. Looks like I am going to be loading my own before long. Land to test loads over will be a problem though. Anyone know any ranges near Herts/Bucks/Beds corner where I can test stuff out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wannabefisher Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 Cheers Gents, some interesting info there. It looks like the Finnlight is the way to go, I only want to buy once this time, so will be checking out the GMK stand carefully. It also looks like factory 6.5x55 ammo underperforms the modern rifles a bit. Looks like I am going to be loading my own before long. Land to test loads over will be a problem though. Anyone know any ranges near Herts/Bucks/Beds corner where I can test stuff out? good luck with that at the GMK stand... I know someone who ordered an 85 finnlight in .308 from them last September and they still haven't had any guns from Finland as of yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 Anyone know any ranges near Herts/Bucks/Beds corner where I can test stuff out? It isn't in any of those counties but Bisley isn't a million miles from you, unfortunately you will need to take the MOD noddy test to shoot there now though. Oh and it costs over £30 for half a day, another hidden cost of reloading I wouldn't dismiss factory ammo until you have tested some in your gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnab Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 (edited) I have the Sako 85 Finnlight in 6.5 x 55 with an Ase Utra Jet Z can. It comes out at about 50 inches in length and tricky to get a good slip in that length without a (noisy) zip. I don't have big experience of stalking rifles of my own as have used estate rifles for years, but have had this one for just over a year now. Was out with it the other night testing Federal, Norma and RWS rounds for the coming stalking season. It easily shoots 1 inch groups with all of them at 100 yds but seems to slightly prefer the 140 grainers over 120 or 127. There are wizzened old timers on here who will **** on for hours about why this rifle is better than that rifle but this one suits me and is easy to shoot with good accuracy and I could shoot it all day long. Popped off 35 rounds when I took it out testing and it got very hot but the recoil was minimal and a few rounds were clover leafing the paper and I am no marksman. Unless you want to shoot the ticks off the animals I would say this is a very good set up. Mine is mainly for red stags in Scotland but the occasional roe down South. Perfectly well inside the requirements for reds. Only thing to watch is that from memory the weight 'saving' is only about 200 g, which I'm not sure I would notice once you have scope, bipod and mod on there. Also if I am brutally honest the weight of the mod seems to make it feel a little top heavy. It's fine once you are down on the bipod and the barrel still floats without a problem. M Edited July 22, 2009 by Macnab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnab Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 Have just checked the Sako website again and on the 2009 model database it says that the 85 Finnlight weighs in at 2.90 kgs (570 mm barrel), whereas the Synthetic Stainless has a long barrel (570 mm barrel) and short barrel version (510 mm barrel) weighing in at 3.00 kgs and 2.90 kgs respectively (all in 6.5 x 55). So in fact minimal weight saving and no shortening of barrel by going Finnlight - still gets my vote. M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 ...Anyone know any ranges near Herts/Bucks/Beds corner where I can test stuff out? Bisley in Surrey Or a suitable permission that's cleared to that calibre :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted July 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 Have just checked the Sako website again and on the 2009 model database it says that the 85 Finnlight weighs in at 2.90 kgs (570 mm barrel), whereas the Synthetic Stainless has a long barrel (570 mm barrel) and short barrel version (510 mm barrel) weighing in at 3.00 kgs and 2.90 kgs respectively (all in 6.5 x 55). So in fact minimal weight saving and no shortening of barrel by going Finnlight - still gets my vote. M The specs on their website don't seem to make sense, I assumed they'd mixed up the two rifles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAULT Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 i waited 6 months for my sako ss varmint in 243 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytie Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 Another vote for the finnlight here. Mines a 75, 49 & 1/2" long with T8 on it and will shoot 3/4" groups off the bi-pod, probably better with someone who really knows what they are doing. I have been using 140gn Federal Powershok and it has dropped everything it has been fired at. I too have read about it being only just legal in Scotland ballistically, but the deer don't seem to know, just keep falling over and not getting up again. If you do start to reload you can get astonishing accuracy out of these factory rifles, I am having tuition in reloading at the moment and it is fascinating. There are people on this site much more qualified to talk about reloading, I definately have L plates on. Have a look in Gun Mart for new rifles that are in stock at dealers, there are some good deals to be had. Atb, ft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted July 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Well I phoned GMK about availability of the finnlight in 6.5 and they have 5 on back order and have no indication of delivery yet, so it will be December earliest. Even the regular stainless synthetic isn't available until October. However they do have finnlights in .243. Hmmm. My FAC hasn't been printed yet so I'm sure a change would be OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 I would change make/type not calibre, but that is just me.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted July 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Looking at Guntrader, there are a few Steyr Mannlicher's around in 6.5. I do like the build quality of the Sako though and they do seem to shoot straight (for me!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 However they do have finnlights in .243. Hmmm. My FAC hasn't been printed yet so I'm sure a change would be OK. If you are shooting fallow bucks and woodland reds, stick with the 6.5x55, or opt for a larger calibre altogether. You want a calibre that delivers abundant knock-down power, to compensate for slight errors in bullet placement. I bet GMK has stockpiles of the 85 in the less mainstream calibres like .270, 7mm-08, 7x57 etc. I use a .270, a .308 and a .30-06 for deer work, as the fallow and reds in East Anglia are notoriously hefty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moses Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Mcleods in Tain have an 85 stainless synth in 6.5x55 on the shelf, I'd go for that. http://www.rmacleod.co.uk/shooting.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted July 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Thanks Moses, and only a mere £300 more than I've been quoted for late september delivery. Why is life so bloody difficult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Gully, Gregor Macleod is a decent and respected fellow, and usually willing to negotiate on price. You won't save £300, but it may take the sting out of things slightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted July 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 I'd already called him and got a similar deal. I'll have to weigh it up - my local RFD will give me some extras if I get it from him, and GMK say they're in in September. I'm definitely not waiting 6 months for the Finnlight. I'll leave my application as 6.5 for now and have a look around at the game fair at the weekend. Thanks for all the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 you may be surprised how fast the variation gets back mine was 2 days from the visit with herts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted July 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Yes, I've had the interview and been told I'm good to go, but just waiting for a last piece of paperwork. Hopefully I'll have the cert next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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