Question about SAKO 85 Base and Ring Options

[FeMan]

A buddy asked me to help him get a rifle scope set up for longer range shooting. The scope is a Huskenaw 5-20 with a 30mm tube. The rifle appears to be a Sako 85 with the receiver machined for tapered rings/bases. The receiver is not tapped for a screw-on base.

He has Leupold rings now. They mount directly to the dove tail with no base. They are fine, except they make the scope set high in the front and steel much of the vertical come ups. instead of a theoretical 40 moa (half of the available 80 moa supposedly in the scope) he has only about 15 moa available.

I looked briefly and didn't find many options. I did see one set of bases that looked like they may work and allow rings to be added that might help, but this rifle is not familiar to me so I thought I would ask and see if anyone pout there had some suggestions.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

George

 

[akajun]

Sako optilock rings is what you want

 

[RWO]

Weaver makes top mount bases ( 65, 67) for the tapered dovetails. Then you could use Burris Signature Zee Rings with the Pos-align eccentric ring inserts to get the scope off-set you need. Off-sets of 5 to 40 MOA can be made by selecting the appropriate inserts.

RWO

 

[FeMan]

Sako optilock rings is what you want

I found these and they look like they will work great; https://www.sako.fi/scope-mounts I am not sure if the ring inserts have eccentrics like the Burris but I will read and see.

Thanks!

 

[FeMan]

Weaver makes top mount bases ( 65, 67) for the tapered dovetails. Then you could use Burris Signature Zee Rings with the Pos-align eccentric ring inserts to get the scope off-set you need. Off-sets of 5 to 40 MOA can be made by selecting the appropriate inserts.

RWO

Thanks for the tip. I have used the Burris rings and the eccentric inserts and loved them. The Weaver site doesn't list the Sako 85. It might be the same as another model but I am not at all familiar with Sako......

 

[akajun]

I found these and they look like they will work great; https://www.sako.fi/scope-mounts I am not sure if the ring inserts have eccentrics like the Burris but I will read and see.

Thanks!

Iirc they have with and without
Sako and Burris have some kinda partnership

 

[M995]

Beretta owns both of them. All my Sako inserts are straight. BURRIS inserts are a different OD. Sako bases have windage built-in. To get added elevation with the optilocks , remove the front ring, machine the top of the front base & reinstall the ring

 

[FeMan]

Beretta owns both of them. All my Sako inserts are straight. BURRIS inserts are a different OD. Sako bases have windage built-in. To get added elevation with the optilocks , remove the front ring, machine the top of the front base & reinstall the ring

Thanks for the information. Machining the base if required is a great idea!

 

[M995]

If you decide to mill the base, Mark where the ring edge is & mill only to the line. The lip it creates will hold the ring square for tightening, don’t forget to chamfer the locating hole. It’s actually a great design once you realize what you can do with it

 

[RWO]

Thanks for the tip. I have used the Burris rings and the eccentric inserts and loved them. The Weaver site doesn't list the Sako 85. It might be the same as another model but I am not at all familiar with Sako......

I am assuming the Weaver bases are the same for all the various Sako rifles because otherwise different rifles would require different Sako rings. I doubt Sako would do that as it makes no sense. The Weaver bases are cheap so even if they can't be made to work, you aren't out much money.

According to the Midwayusa site, the Weaver bases do fit the Sako 85: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1009219988?pid=413012 Scroll down to the user comments.

RWO

 

[FeMan]

Thanks. The Weaver catalog lists the same model number for front and rear rings on some models and different numbers for front and rears on others. That lead me to the assumption that some receivers had a different front and rear taper (like my buddies rifle) and others were the same F&R. Maybe not though.

After looking at this for a while, we decided to try machining 0.030" off of the front Leupold ring. If that leaves enough meat on the ring dovetail and works, we will cerekote them and call if good. If not, we will try the Optilock or Weaver.

Thanks for all the help!