Found a Special Sako, What To Do?

[Spike A]

The Vixen L461 is a gorgeous and very accurate rifle. I see them occasionally for around $2000+.
Would you mind telling me what auction site you found it on~?

It was on a local gun action called ssl firearms… I did end up with it for 1060, with a 36x leupold br scope, match dies , Wilson case gauge , only down side is it has a cracked stock…

 

[COLT45SA]

It was on a local gun action called ssl firearms… I did end up with it for 1060, with a 36x leupold br scope, match dies , Wilson case gauge , only down side is it has a cracked stock…

Depending on the size of the crack, repair shouldn't be the end of the world. You got a really good deal on the price. Now let's hope that you find the weight of the rifle acceptable~!

 

[Spike A]

Depending on the size of the crack, repair shouldn't be the end of the world. You got a really good deal on the price. Now let's hope that you find the weight of the rifle acceptable~!

As far as heavy or too lite?

 

[wildcatter]

FINALLY! I picked the rifle up last evening. I had the gentleman in Idaho wait till after the holiday to ship it, then it took 4 working days arriving Monday, but my dealer is closed on Mondays, so delivery was late yesterday afternoon.

I was very anxious waiting 2 weeks after paying for it, but was pleasantly surprised when we uncovered it from the factory box.

The wood is nicer and darker than the pictures he had. Then this morning, undressing it, bore scoping the six groove hammer forged barrel, it only got better after running some wet patches thru the barrel. Truly still in the cosmanine protectant from the factory. Then an absolutely gorgeous bore appeared.

Then after wiping down all the metal and lightly rehydrating the stock lightly cleaning it with some boild linseed oil, and dry rubbing it down. I am happy to say this is way better than my expectation!

So attaching the new bases and Pickatiney rail, I set the Burris signature rings up to accept the new 8-32X56 Sightron with an 1/8moa dot for my target needs. I decided it was time for some picks from archery targets.



Then in the man cave to do some chamber analysis. Things stil getting better, no problem reaching the rifling with the 64 grain Bib 790 jacket bullets I plan on shooting in it! So plan B will no problem as the 68 grain fb Denoffs with an even longer base to ogive will definitely work.

So now i have some 6ppc USA Norma brass loaded with 28.5, 28.7, and 28.9 grn of N-133 and getting ready to put some shots down range to bust its cherry, my first ever 35 year old Virgin! If that goes well and everything looks mild I'll work from there and take it to 29.2, a sweet spot for many of my 6ppc'

 

[COLT45SA]

As far as heavy or too lite?

Too heavy~!

 

[wildcatter]

I love the wieght, light recoil and perfect in my opinion for field use out to 400 to 500 yards. Light rifles of shooting sticks or bipods on tiny targets, don't do it for me.

I make that little extra wieght work for me, it's there for a reason, increased hits.

 

[Murray Brook]

Looks almost as good as mine.

 

[Spike A]

FINALLY! I picked the rifle up last evening. I had the gentleman in Idaho wait till after the holiday to ship it, then it took 4 working days arriving Monday, but my dealer is closed on Mondays, so delivery was late yesterday afternoon.

I was very anxious waiting 2 weeks after paying for it, but was pleasantly surprised when we uncovered it from the factory box.

The wood is nicer and darker than the pictures he had. Then this morning, undressing it, bore scoping the six groove hammer forged barrel, it only got better after running some wet patches thru the barrel. Truly still in the cosmanine protectant from the factory. Then an absolutely gorgeous bore appeared.

Then after wiping down all the metal and lightly rehydrating the stock lightly cleaning it with some boild linseed oil, and dry rubbing it down. I am happy to say this is way better than my expectation!

So attaching the new bases and Pickatiney rail, I set the Burris signature rings up to accept the new 8-32X56 Sightron with an 1/8moa dot for my target needs. I decided it was time for some picks from archery targets.

View attachment 1474834
View attachment 1474833
Then in the man cave to do some chamber analysis. Things stil getting better, no problem reaching the rifling with the 64 grain Bib 790 jacket bullets I plan on shooting in it! So plan B will no problem as the 68 grain fb Denoffs with an even longer base to ogive will definitely work.

So now i have some 6ppc USA Norma brass loaded with 28.5, 28.7, and 28.9 grn of N-133 and getting ready to put some shots down range to bust its cherry, my first ever 35 year old Virgin! If that goes well and everything looks mild I'll work from there and take it to 29.2, a sweet spot for many of my 6ppc'

Is that a single shot?

 

[Spike A]

Too heavy~!

It doesn’t seem heavy to me, I always like heavy barrels and this thing seems perfect

 

[SWRS]

Enjoy it! I was able to land one of my grail rifles this year and had the same struggle. Sako 75 in 22ppc repeater LNIB
Im going to shoot it, kill coyotes with it, and give it to my son someday to do the same thing. Enjoy!

 

[Tesoro]

That 80's era of Sakos are the quintessential rifles for fine old school gunsmithing. A few years back I found the same as OP, new in box old stock, but in 223 with sporter barrel and sweet mini action.I actually wanted a ppc but nope. Field wood like his. Made a load and it shot ones holers all day long. Boring. I free floated it and re-finished to satin to get get rid of the 80's bowling ball finish. Trigger is as good any any jewel triggertech etc. Nothing to do to to improve! I dont shoot it anymore because I am into my 6br field gun long range. If anyone wants a classic non-plasitc fun coyote rifle can pm me. It is gathering dust in the safe.

 

[Murray Brook]

This is the one I purchased a few months back

 

[wildcatter]

Is that a single shot?

Yep Spike, it's the oil rubbed finish, with hand cut checkering, single shot, with the externally adjustable 2 stage target trigger, with the heavy contour Bofors hammer forged barrel, and these rifle barrels are free floated from the factory.

 

[wildcatter]

Took Al's advice, starting at 28.5 gr 133 using 7.5 Remington small rifle primers with Randy Robinetts 65 grain in them new Norma cases, one shot on the square box on the sighter @ 100 yards to foul the Virgin barrel. Well the cherry is popped!

Then a second to see where it would go from the fowler. Then held on the target and walked the windage turret over between the first two shots. Then fired the third round @ 28.5 and it went jut right.

So up to the NBRSA logo on the left side center of the target, and shot both of the rounds I had loaded with 28.7 grains of 133. I didnt want to change the poi yet to see if this 8-32x56 Sightron would hold that initial adustment. With both bullets hitting about the same amount to the right as that round did with the initial adjustment with the beginning load, I'm building faith in this, my first Sightron scope. Just wish I had 1/8 moa adjustments.

Getting better, so I again held on the emblem, and again walk the dot in the scope over between those two 28.7 grain shots.

Then came the last 2 rounds i had loaded with 28.9 grains were sent down range holding center of the emblem. AL said by the time you shoot the last two, I should be starting to grin! Dang, hit the nail on the head!


I'm quite happy with the scope, 2 adjustments from setup, and zero'd @ 100 yards, don't get much better than that with ant scope, and about a perfect match for this gun.

You nailed it AL! Tomorrow I'll load 3 each of 28.9, 29.0, 29.1, and 29.2, and see what that produces. But right now I'm a grinning, just as thought I should be!

Once these next 4 loads show me where the sweet spot is going to be, and I'll start backing out of the riflings. Right now my initial seating depth is about .005" into the lands. But for now, I'm pretty happy with my decision to grab this sweet little rifle.

Thanks Al, for sharing your experience with this old model Sako, saved me a lot of guess work, and did exactly what you predicted.

 

[AlNyhus]

Thanks Al, for sharing your experience with this old model Sako, saved me a lot of guess work, and did exactly what you predicted

Very nice! Every one of those Sako 6PPCs I've worked with have responded well to that combo. They also respond to inline arbor press seaters if you're not using one. The Wilson 'OS' (over size) model is a perfect fit for the Sako chambers.

Keep us updated. -Al

 

[wildcatter]

That's what I'm seating with Al, using a Redding 6ppc USA body die for my full length resizing. I will be decapping with a wilson neck die.

I had all these including a Redding 6ppc USA Deluxe die set from an attempt with an Encore, using an MGM Shilen Select Match that was a flop!

Thanks Again for your information!

Just got done with it's first barrel cleaning after it's initial removal of the factory protectant, getting ready to load Test one of the three the three shot preliminaries.

Fingers crossed!

 

[DumpHollow]

It was on a local gun action called ssl firearms… I did end up with it for 1060, with a 36x leupold br scope, match dies , Wilson case gauge , only down side is it has a cracked stock…

McMillan makes Sako pattern stocks for replacement. Their Sako classic pattern IS my favorite hunting rifle stock. I have two on L-579’s and have had one on an AV. Accuflite may be able to supply a factory replacement or McMillan.

 

[Spike A]

Yep Spike, it's the oil rubbed finish, with hand cut checkering, single shot, with the externally adjustable 2 stage target trigger, with the heavy contour Bofors hammer forged barrel, and these rifle barrels are free floated from the factory.

I picked up the exact same rifle yesterday, you answered my question about 2 stage trigger …

 

[jackieschmidt]

We do not let that rifle, the REM 40x, the Savage F class, or other such Rifles shoot in our Factory Class at Tomball. They shoot in the Modified Class.

 

[wildcatter]

We do not let that rifle, the REM 40x, the Savage F class, or other such Rifles shoot in our Factory Class at Tomball. They shoot in the Modified Class.

The 40X and Savage F class are very understandable Jackie, and we do as well here! One is a custom shop only production, key word CUSTOM, same as a Dakota Arms, not at all a factory production rifle.

The other is built purposely for target shooting not varmint hunting. The exact same Savage is made as an LRPV model with the only differance, an HS Precision varmint stock and is legal in factory class here.

Around here we understand the differance between factory production varmint models, and target or custom models, thankfully.

But I have heard of other localities that struggle with factory varmint, and factory Target or Custom. This is a production line varmint rifle in every sense of the name, the box even stats Varmint right on it from the factory. In this case the dealer wrote his inventory number, and wrote in with the same marker target. But it is a factory Varmint rifle.