L461 Rebarrel?

[Glenn Powell]

I want to have a new barrel screwed on because the factory barrel is done, finished, kaput and of no practical use. The rifle is is OK shape, a couple dings and a nasty scratch on the floor plate(tried getting my AR out of the safe). I absolutely love this action and want to keep her shooting, but is the rifle worth too much for a barrel job? I have read that any alterations will severely degrade resale price for Sako's. I am no collector, and have had a sako AIII rebarreled, I just really like their older actions. The L461 is in 223, a pretty common round, and I know this effects the collector price. Should I just say screw it and have a barrel screwed on, sit on it, or try and sell it? Dose anyone know a good smith that really likes Sako's with a triple duce reamer on hand?

 

[butchlambert]

Mike Bryant did one for me in 222 a few years ago. Mine was an L46. You can always screw the original barrel back on.

 

[Glenn Powell]

Forgot to say I still have the original box for this rifle if it helps with resale value. Thanks Butch, I will have to shoot him an email and see if he will do it, his website says he only works on custom actions and Remingtons. He is currently screwing a couple barrels on for me right now.

 

[armistemjim]

i rebarreled mine to 6-223 and have had a blast withit, my grandchildren both started with it for hi-power breakin rifle. now they are argueing who gets it when i am gone. granddaughter has first dibbs on it.
Preacher

 

[wapiti25]

As mentioned keep the old barrel. Tell the gunsmith to not damage the barrel when taking it off. Since the old barrel does not shoot put a new barrel on. I do not recomend cutting the barrel channel bigger if it is the original stock. You can put the rifle back into the orginal configuration if needed.

 

[LCazador]

It's very difficult to remove the barrels on those old Sakos . I've done two projects with L-461 actions , and both had to have the barrels lathe cut just in front of the action in order to remove the barrel . Sako must put some sort of thread locking compound on them and then really torque the barrel on . Ultimately it is almost impossible to remove and reinstall the barrel without harming it's appearance in some way and then a reblue would further destroy the value of the rifle .The value of your rifle has diminished considerably because the barrel is shot out , so rebarreling it will restore some of it's value as long as you use a caliber that the original rifle was chambered in . It makes sense since you have the box for it . One other option you should consider , is to have the original barrel relined . This will keep the rifle original and restore it's shooting qualities . Redman in Oregon does an excellent job . While I haven't had a Sako relined , I have had several old Winchester lever actions relined and you couldn't tell the reline had been done . I've been collecting Sakos for over 40 years and know the market well .

 

[Hal]

LC

Thanks for the info. on the Sako actions. I have a 461 that I need to remove the old barrel.

I have picked up a couple of take offs that the finish was good on. I'm not sure how they were removed. I'll look again but I didn't notice any old thread locker in the threads.

Hal

 

[Glenn Powell]

LCazador
Thanks for the input
Would it make that much of a difference if it was a stainless barrel? Or should I go all out with a blued barrel? The barrel I screw on will only last 2 or 3 years and be ready for another one. I really enjoy shooting this rifle : I am also thinking of refinishing the stock, there is a lot of figure under that stain, and 10 or so coats of oil would really get that stock to pop. The original finish is dull and sparse, and I know I can improve the overall appearance. Thanks, Glenn.

 

[Hal]

Glenn

If your going to use up a barrel in 2-3 years and like the stainless look, go with stainless and save the cost of bluing a barrel.

Hal

 

[LCazador]

Glenn

If your going to use up a barrel in 2-3 years and like the stainless look, go with stainless and save the cost of bluing a barrel.

Hal

Ten four on that ! Why waste money on bluing it ?

 

[butchlambert]

I much prefer the blued look myself.

 

[ChuckMiller]

If that rifle's barrel is a goner then rebarrel it, there is no collectability in a Sako L461 with a bad barrel. As for the 223 chambering that is pretty rare in the L461's and brings a hefty premium over the 222, too bad your barrel is toast. There are actually more 222Mags in L461 than 223's since they were not introduced until well into the model run. At last count I have 9 L461/A1's with aftermarket barrels and all came back with the originals in good shape. Half of those were done by Kevin Weaver so obiviously he didn't have a problem with them. Shame that barrel isn't in good shape.

 

[butchlambert]

It is collectable if as mentioned above. Drill it and put a new .223 liner in it.

 

[Glenn Powell]

Well I say its toast, it will still shoot MOA, I just get flyers, it will put 4 inside half inch or better and throw one out. There are lots of rounds down the barrel, 4000+, and I got it used. Its is nice to know its on the rare side, and I need to treat it as such.

Butch, I love blued rifles in pretty wood. I haven't ordered a barrel for this one yet, so I might just have to keep this rifle true to form. Stainless is a hell of a lot easier though. I have a couple other projects in the works right now so I have a little time before I have to make the decision. Liner, barrel, blued, stainless...,..., decisions decisions.

 

[butchlambert]

Glenn, You being from Juneau, your starting to have spring weather. Just kidding. When I lived in Anchorage and Fairbanks we sure looked forward to break up, but it sure was nasty. Go ahead and rebarrel and save the old one. You can always put it back on or reline it.

 

[Glenn Powell]

Butch, believe it or not it feels a whole lot like spring, rain, wind, rain, wind, a little snow, some more rain, wind, you get the picture. Its been pretty mild this year, looks like it will be an early spring though.

 

[gzig5]

I'd say re-barrel and shoot it, blued or stainless. I don't think collectors value a shot out barrel much and it would have to be in pristine shape otherwise to make a difference for the somewhat rare caliber. I've got a .222 single shot with SS Hart barrel and Canjar trigger and a .222 Mag with a custom stock . Great little rifles. I also do not think that lining a .223 was possible due to the high pressure of that round. Re-barreling a shot out rifle should only enhance the value if done with quality components, especially if original taper and blue are retained.

Another option would be to re-bore to 6-223 (6x45?).

 

[butchlambert]

Do what?

 

[Dvldawg]

I rebarreled a Sako L461 to a 20 VarTarg, using a #2 Lilja, turn the shank down and there was very light stock work to do, almost dropped in the original barrel channel.

 

[shortgrass]

I don't think anyone makes a barrel liner suitable for a center fire .224. Check Redmans' site, only .22 rim fires and low pressure center fire cartridges (.25/20, 32/20, ect.). Liability restricts lining high pressure center fires, these days. It was comonly done in the past, before the lawyers convinced everyone that "it's someone elses fault". Re-bore it or re-barrel it. Most all the custom barrel makers will duplicate an existing contour. Might have to send it (the barrel) to the barrel maker for ease of duplication.