17 Mach 4 in Sako 85 XS action?

[JustinP]

G'day gents

I've recently convinced myself that I need to build a 17M4 (notice the word 'need' not 'want'...)

I'm very keen on building it on a Sako 85 XS action (the 222/223 baby size one), as I love the Sako 3-lug actions. I had a 75 action in A1 size, which is the same as the XS, chambered in 222 and I can't for the life of me figure out why I sold it.. Anyway, I also want to do a mag-fed rifle, as I like a quick follow up shot, since I frequently miss...

Does anyone have a view on whether I could successfully feed the 17M4 from the XS Sako 85 mags? They're a double stack design. I ran 222s through said 75 A1 equivalent without any problems.

If it can't be done, I might look at a CZ527 - not that keen though. I could order a Cooper but they cost a bomb to land down here in Australia.

Any advice/views welcomed and appreciated.

Cheers

Justin

 

[Phil]

Not a clue about the Sako actions, other than people love them....

Keep us posted on your findings, it sounds like a great project....

Phil.

 

[JustinP]

Unfortunately, I think it's a bust. The Sako mags would require extensive modification to feed the small 17 case and even then there's no guarantees. I've also considered a CZ527 in 221FB (which comes with FB length mags) then re-barreled to 17M4 - but they don't stock the 221FB or even 221FB mags down here. This is turning into hard work...

 

[swd]

The CZ mags are single stack. Any mag from a 223 based case will feed fine. I built a Mach IV off a 527 Hornet action that I opened the bolt face. The Hornet mag worked fine after I ground the guide ribs out of it.
Another Mach IV I built was off a 527 in 17 Rem. The 17 Rem mags (which I'm sure are the same as 223) fed fine.

I don't know what the Sako mag looks like, but I doubt it be difficult to make it feed. See if you can locate a piece of 221 Fire Ball brass and see how it feeds. It may not need anything.

 

[JustinP]

Thanks SWD - glad that you've been able to get things working. Opinion and experience of various shooters during research indicates about a 50/50 split between those who have had luck with 223 size mags in the CZ527 platform with the small 17s and the other 50% not so much - needing to modify mag followers and put in spacers, etc. The Sako 75 and 85 mags are double stack and often won't pick up the shorter cases reliably, as it turns out.

I can get the 221FB brass and see how it feeds in the 527 223 magazine but it means I need to commit to buying the rifle. Down here in Australia, you can't find these rifles in shops that much - people generally have to order them in. You can't get the 527 American in 221FB down here - and the distributor doesn't even stock the FB size mags.

Don't think I'll go to the trouble of modifying a 527 in 17 Hornet. If it comes to that, I'll probably just go with a single shot build.

 

[DOGCAPPER]

I have a 17/222mag on a small action Sako, magazine feed.Works great.

 

[JustinP]

The 17/222mag has got a bit of length on the 17m4 - but I know what you mean. I ran a 222 on the small 75 actions and it was brilliant.

 

[MissedItByThatMuch]

I have a Sako 85 XS, Laminated Stainless Varmint in .17 Mach IV and it feeds perfectly.
The magazines are spot on.

It's a very handy little gun pushing 25gr Bergers at 3861fps from a 580mm barrel. I use 18.6gr X ADI 2219 (Hodgdon H322).

It's got a nice March 3-24x42 on it and the groups are itty bitty with minimal recoil.
I might put a brake on it to annoy people who think that sort of thing is overkill.

 

[Phil]

I might put a brake on it to annoy people who think that sort of thing is overkill.

LOL..................................

 

[swd]

I have a friend who put a muzzle break on a 17 Fireball just for a joke. The joke was on him when it went from something he could shoot coyotes with without ear protection to one that was pretty damn noisy!