Help. What Sako do I have?

[KMart]

I have a Sako rifle in 222 Rem. It has a detachable magazine, a trigger that similar to a mod 70 win, and a safety on the bolt (ala Mauser) that swings back to front. On the receiver it says SAKO RIIHMAKI. It gives no mod number that I can find. I am guessing that it is a 1950's/60's mfg.
I checked the Sako website under OLD rifles and could find nothing that had a safety on the bolt or a Mod 70 type trigger. I don't have a camera for pictures.

 

[Hal]

You have a Model 46.

Hal

 

[KMart]

Thanks.

 

[fdshuster]

KMart: Yes, sounds like my 2, L46 models. Both with 3 round detachable magazines, serial #'s 36xxx and 48xxx, made in the early 1960's. The L461 followed, had a fixed, non removable magazine and slightly longer to better handle the 222 Rem. Magnum and the 223 Rem. ctg's. Bad news about the L46 is there are no replacement triggers available for it, as there are for the redesigned L461's. If not for the trigger skills of my gunsmith I would have been in big trouble when the trigger on my 222 failed. Also if your's has the original Bofors steel barrel, it may be subject to pitting from the high sulphur content in the steel used.

 

[KMart]

FD
This one has a 32xxx sn. It doesn't belong to me but to a lifelong friend. He wants me to clean it. he says he has put a couple of thousand rounds through it and has never cleaned it. I do not have a borescope but shining a light in the end of the barrel I can't see any pits.
You mentioned Bofors steel. Will that be stamped on the barrel anywhere?

 

[338Lapua]

L-46 action rectangular shaped bolt shroud with the safety on the Right side of the shroud that blocks the firing pin, stamped trigger guard, detachable single stack magazine. beech wood classic style stock which was stained to resemble walnut. Its trigger was a copy of the Winchester M70 trigger.

 

[fdshuster]

KMart: Yes, both the original barrels, one in 222 Rem. (36xxx#) and the 222 Rem Mag. (48xxx#) are stamped Bofors Steel on the right side, just in front of the receiver. I have a Hawkeye borescope and when I bought the 222 used from the original owner about 7 yrs. ago saw the barrel was heavily pitted. Thought he may have been mixing solvents to cause the severe damage. Re-barreled with a Hart. Then bought the 222 Rem. Mag and saw it was also pitted although not as severe as the 222. mentioned this to one of the older, very knowledgable members at one of my clubs, and he related the Bofors Steel/ high sulphur content steel as being the cause. Have since looked at several others and they are also pitted at various degrees of severity. The trigger contact areas on the #48xxx became rounded off from normal use and the firing pin would drop when closing the bolt. My gunsmith discovered that the parts were never hardened causing them to round off. he was able to recut the proper 90 degree angles and case hardened, so with that, was able to save the original trigger.

 

[KMart]

FD
I did a double check on the barrel markings and I can find nothing to indicate Bofors steel. Only thing marked on the barrel is what appears to be a proof mark and Cal 222 on the top. On the underside is the # 48. It could be a 46 as the last number may have been struck twice.
I had to order a rod guide from Sinclair, so it will be a few days before I clean it. I have a friend close that has a bore scope so I will check out the condition after it is clean.

 

[fdshuster]

KMart: You may also want to check the barrel twist rate. Both my original factory barrels have 1-16 twists. A disappointment for me since I could not get anything heavier than 40 gr. to shoot. The 222 Magnum was especially bad since it had a very deep throat and I could not get the bullets within 1/4" of the rifling and keep them in the case necks. At the time these rifles were being made, they were also chambering them in 22 Hornet and 218 Bee, so they must have kept it simple (for them) and did all their 22 centerfires in 1-16. The 222 now has a Hart 1-14 and the 222 Magnum has a Hart 1-9 in 223 Rem. Both are extremely accurate. Both nice rifles, but like a lot of other things, not without their problems.

 

[KMart]

FD
I will definately check the twist rate. The owner told me that under no circumstances will it shoot a boat tail bullet. He said it slings them from one side of the target to the other. Could be the 1x16 twist.
Thanks for the help
Ken

 

[BBTC48]

A wealth of info on everything Sako is Jim Bartol (JB) at Accuflite Arms, 724-327-0100. Lifelong Sako dealer and full of knowledge and a building full of rifles. Also 800-666-SAKO.

 

[LCazador]

Keep that old Sako intact . Anything like glass bedding , replacement barrels , sling swivels , replacing the butt plate , stock refinish , metal refinish and trigger jobs greatly reduce the overall value accordingly . Right now an L-46 in 90% condition with a bofors barrel is in the $900 range depending on caliber . And yes 90% condition includes a 90% bore .

 

[SS427]

For those of you interested, here is a photo of one of these old Sako rifles. My sister has this now, but I have shot it a lot. Very accurate rifle and enjoyable to shoot. The scope (I think) is a Weaver, variable power 2-4X, and I'm pretty sure it was sold as a package deal. You take off the rear side cap to change the power. Not sure where my Dad bought it, but it might have been a Western Auto or Coast to Coast store.

 

[fdshuster]

LCazador: How much is a Sako (or any rifle for that matter) worth when it cannot be fired without the fear of unintentional discharges every time the bolt is closed? Great idea if you're into wallhangers. I'm not: I shoot 'em!

 

[tenring]

Quote: " and he related the Bofors Steel/ high sulphur content steel as being the cause. Have since looked at several others and they are also pitted at various degrees of severity."

I have collected and shot Sako rifles for nearly 50 years, and never heard this theory - and that is just what it is. I own several L46 rifles and none of them have pitted barrels. Pitting comes from improper cleaning, and exposure to high humidity and moisture. Small rust spots become pitted. Prompt cleaning and protective lubrication prevents this occurence. I would like to see any available scientific evidence to support the sulphur theory. BTW, any metal surface can become pitted - its not limited to Sakos.

 

[KMart]

I checked the twist last night and it a 1x16 for sure. Do you think I will be able to get the 52 Speer fb hp varmit bullet to stabilize or will I have to go lighter?

 

[fdshuster]

tenring: I'm not disagreeing with your thoughts, and obvious experience ( 50 yrs. vs my 7 or 8), but I have to compare these 2 Sako/Bofors steel barrels with other chrome moly barrels on several of my much older rifles. One is an all original 1922-M2 Springfield, with the original barrel date of 1928. Another is an all original 03-A4, barrel date 6-43, Remington 2 groove. The third example is a 1940 MI Garand. As seen with my Hawkeye borescope, all 3 barrels are completely free of any pitting, rust or any other type of damage. I cannot prove the original owner of the 222 did not cause the damage thru poor cleaning, mixing solvents, etc., just as the previous owner of the 222 Rem. Magnum did the same with his. The 3 others that I've since inspected with the borescope must have also been subjected to the same abuse by their owners. Seems like a high ratio of pitted Sako barrels when compared to others, and the theory ( I agree that's all it may be), about the high sulphur content sounds reasonable, at least to me.

 

[fdshuster]

KMart: I was not able to do any serious accuracy testing with the original 222 Rem. Sako barrel since it was in such bad shape when I bought the rifle. Extreme copper fouling, and "groups" that would not even hold moa. It was quickly changed out with the 1-14 Hart. Since the 222 Rem. Magnum barrel was in better condition, I did spend more time with it, trying to get it to shoot. With that measured twist of 1-16 I could not get anything heavier than 40 gr. to group, and even at that, just barely moa with 5 shots at 200 yds. Tried 45 gr. and groups opened up noticably. Attempts with 50 gr. were in the class of clusters/ 3" to 4" at 200 yds. That barrels main problem was caused by the very deep throat with the short 40 gr. bullets having to jump 1/4", so it was also changed to the Hart 223 Rem. 9 twist. I've kept both those barrels, so when the day comes for them to be sold, for someone who's main interest is collecting/ 100% original they may have some value to them.

 

[Rustystud]

50 years ago MH Canjar made a set trigger for the model 46 and the L-461. I have 2 oz set Canjars on 3 of my Sako rifles. To bad Mary Canjar could not have found someone with the know how and resouces to keep the MH Canjar Trigger company alive.
With CNC EDM technology it would have been muche easier to make the trigger parts.
Nat Lambeth

 

[fdshuster]

Nate: When the trigger failures occurred I took it to my very qualified local gunsmith, and with a small jewelers file he cut a small "V" in a non critical area of the trigger (with very little effort) showing me that the contact surface's had never been case hardened from the day the rifle left the Sako factory. He said he thought he would be able to repair it, using the existing parts. I then searched high and low for a replacement trigger, and that's when I learned there are none available for the older L46's. If not for my 'smith's skills, the rifle may have been a "wallhanger". He was able to recut the contact surfaces from the worn, rounded-off contour's to the proper 90 degree angles, and then case hardened all the parts. Almost 350 rds. fired now and the trigger is a perfect 1 1/2#.