Sako A1 re barrel options

[tharchamois]

New to the forum- helow from NZ TAHR country.
I have just brought a near mint sako A1 varmint in 6mm PPC,
has orignal stock and also came with a mcmillan stock.
I'm wanting to put another barel on it and stick it in the mcmillan stock.
what are my options for a better long range preformer on deer sized game?
I'd like to go 6.5mm or 7mm with as big a case capacity as I can fit in the action. Any thoughts?

 

[kitsap]

You can think about the 6.5 Grendel based on the bolt face size on your action. You will be limited to 100/120 grain bullets due to magazine length.

How many yards do you consider for 'long range performer' on deer sized game ??

 

[tharchamois]

Oh about 2000yards should do, na just want to make the rifle more suitable for mountain hunting so I'm replacing the heavy barrel for a slightly trimmer fluted job. I'd like to be able to drop a stag at 600 yards. Not worried about fitting them in the mag, should have time to feed them in 1 by 1 for long shots.

 

[Ackman]

If you want to shoot a stag at 600yds and know it's gonna drop, you should have something biggger than what can be used with a small Sako action.

 

[tharchamois]

.264 123 gr lapua scenar @ 2500fps still has 696.6 ft/lbs @ 600yards, with accurate shots on fallow deer and chamois I think it would do the job. not ideal tho.

 

[cliffy]

A .264 Winnie Pooh Magnum should be at the top of any heap, even surpassing my sustantial .243 Loads. I'm considering a massive-recoiling .264 Winchester as my next rifle. To date, my .243 fury loads cannot surpass 2205 ft/lbs of muzzle energy. Talk me into what I really want: horsepowerwise. cliffy

 

[ChuckMiller]

Your sure going to a lot of trouble and expense to turn a 1000.00+ collectable into a utilatarian singleshot deer rifle. You have a PPC boltface which will need to be altered unless you stick with the grendel which is a mediocre hunting round at best unless your talking sub 30lb critters. You could easily trade with someone for a 473 bolt face and then the whole range of larger cartridges opens up to you and then you've turned that Sako into a 6-700.00 rifle 'after' you incur all the expenses. If your intent on using this rifle as a donor I would suggest trading the bolt for the 473 size and chamber in 7-08 or a 260, you could also go with the Ackley versions if your going to shoot it singleshot and want a little more horsepower. My direction would be to sell that 6PPC for about 1000-1200,it's mint right?), Keep the McMillan stock, buy a L579 donor for 5-600 and build a custom in one of the larger cartridges I mentioned, even the 6.5x47L would drive the 123 Scenar close to 3000fps. You would have a nice custom that would feed from the magazine and you would stop all the muttering going on by the various Sako collectors on this board. And of course this advice is worth exactly what your paying for it.

 

[cliffy]

My .243 Winnie Pooh slides in TIGHT: 100 yards at 3/4 M.O.A. and this is something I can work with as my daily shooter. I'm not as accurate as my rifle on my best day, but changing my neck taper from from 30 degree to 40 degree won't change my short-comings. My $565 Burris 6-24 scope set at 20x vexes me NOT! Lesser scopes I've used are LESS than adequate, in my opinion. Hodgdon H4350 seems to have NO short-comings regarding tack-driving performance. To date, coming across CCI 250 primers seems the real task regarding my loadings. Is CCI basically out-of-business? cliffy

 

[Ackman]

My .243 Winnie Pooh slides in TIGHT: 100 yards at 3/4 M.O.A. and this is something I can work with as my daily shooter.

You call 3/4 MOA 'TIGHT'? You should either sell that thing and get something accurate, or learn to shoot better.

 

[cliffy]

Would a 6.5 Grendal necked to 6mm,.243) be a bit more potent than a .243 Winchester round at its max power of 2205 ft/lbs of muzzle energy regarding 90-100 grain fare and extreme accuracy? I'm convinced that a 6mm ANYTHING is more accurate than any other caliber shoulder-pounder. 6mm is the best I've ever shouldered: ACCURACY-ADEQUATE POWER-RECOILWISE. Bucking wind is not as severe a problem as often indicated when the bullet reached its target in 3ths of a second. Ludicrous ranges of PLUS 300 yards should not even be within a hunter's vocabulary. cliffy

 

[cliffy]

Hi Ackman, of course I mean for hunting purposes. A 1 1/2 inch group at 200 yards equals a deadly-accurate load. I expect to never compete against people better than me for sheer accuracy from a benchrest. BUT consider than many hunters go afield with rifles that can't hit the side of the proverbial barn. While safe-guarding IDPA and other sanctioned matches as a RSO, I duly note that I could not beat many super-shooters. I'm 66 years old, so I realize my best times have passed me by. I shoot for enjoyment, not to set world records. After my cataract surgery on both eyes, I enjoy shooting again. My main consternation regards people with good eyes who are too lazy to practice regularly before the fall hunting season. If you are young, be thankful, but someday you will find yourself old and wondering where all your past precision went. Practice is the only key to retaining a huge degree of accuracy. cliffy