Small Sako 222s

[AWS]

In "Dust off your deuce" 222 Rem Sako's came up. I have one that I really like, they have their warts, the biggest is that you can't mount a modern scope low due to the bolt handle and unlike the CZ-527 there isn't much of a fix, even Leupolds and Weavers with their smaller ocular lens housing are too large. The only scope I've found are the old Leupold compacts and luckily, I have one.

So let's see some pictures of those old Sako 222's, beauty pics and working pics.

Mine is one of my favorite coyote getters, light, compact and accurate.

Shot as seen with the 2-7 Compact.

Tried it with the Leupold 1-4 but had to mount it in mediums but had to lift my head off the stock even with the pad on the stock. It still worked but wasn't optimum.

Went back to the low mounted Leupold compact, dressed up and took her to the ball, she shines.

Made a sleave to protect the wood and break up the shiny finish.

 

[Ackman]

Love the old Sako actions. That small action feeds a .221 case perfectly. These are both .221 fireball.

Ugly green one is a pieced together junkyard dog. L461 action came from a blown up H&R 17-223, gunshow, with the super skinny barrel that would be hot after one or two rounds. Extractor bent, floorplate bent, stock cracked at wrist, barrel toast, action unharmed. Someone left a round to cook in an already hot barrel. Now has an Apex, was 27" 222 from the gunshow cut to 23". Stock was a beat up $30 special off Gun List. Built in '90, still love it. Not pretty but very accurate with 40BT's @ 3450 and 2230 powder.

Pretty one is from gunshow, A1 action with 461 bolt. Had a throwaway 17 barrel screwed on. I wanted the stock and action. Hart barrel was near new and with Vais brake installed, shortened to 23", .221 chamber .250nk 0 freebore. Luckily it's also very accurate with same loads as the other one, ammo is interchangeable. A pleasant surprise.

 

[nakneker]

One of my all time favorite actions are the small Sakos, 222s are my favorite chambering in those rifles. I have a couple I’ll share when I get home. Fun!

 

[Pawnee Bill]

Back in the old days, the Sako 222 was the cat's meow, if you could afford one.

 

[RCE1]

I have two L46 Riihimaki Vixens in .222. One has a single set Canjar trigger, which is pretty cool...they've both been rebarreled with Lilja blanks and just love the 40gr VMax. I still have the the original Bofors steel barrel for one of them, as well. I even have the spare magazines and the removable iron rear sights.

 

[GoWyo!]

AI’s are my Jam- a .17 Rem was my first Sako. .223 in ltwt and std hunter, 22PPC AI BR, 6PPC hunter. Get yourself some medium or high oem’s, or Optilocks…lots of mounts to modernize your optics needs.

 

[GoWyo!]

Some more…my ltwt is 2nd down.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Some more…my ltwt is 2nd down.

nice collection of Sako rifles! those A1s are really special IMO.

 

[TheCZKid]

My old Sako rifles are a 20 Vartarg 1954, and a 222 from 1957

 

[swd]

A mid 60’s L461 originally in 222 and a shot out sewer pipe when I got it. I contoured a barrel to match the original now a 6x45. I’ve taken a few local deer with it. Incredibly fun to shoot!

 

[jepp2]

. I have one that I really like, they have their warts, the biggest is that you can't mount a modern scope low due to the bolt handle and unlike the CZ-527 there isn't much of a fix, even Leupolds and Weavers with their smaller ocular lens housing are too large

I don't have any issue using a 30mm Leupold with a 50mm objective on mine. Started life as a 222 Rem Mag, now it it is a 20 Bobcat. Just the perfect action for that round.

 

[TheCZKid]

I ended up getting a Leupold with 30mm tube, 50mm objective to fit on my 222, had to get the "Super High" Leupold rings, and it just clears enough to be okay.

 

[nakneker]

I ended up getting a Leupold with 30mm tube, 50mm objective to fit on my 222, had to get the "Super High" Leupold rings, and it just clears enough to be okay.
View attachment 1461370

Looks great, I use those rings on the majority of my Sakos anymore. Work great and solve a lot of issues. I like the luster blue original Sako rings but they don’t work well with a lot of big objective optics. Never have been a fan of the Optilocks.

 

[dgeesaman]

AI’s are my Jam- a .17 Rem was my first Sako. .223 in ltwt and std hunter, 22PPC AI BR, 6PPC hunter. Get yourself some medium or high Optilocks…

Beware of Optilock bases!

I’ve owned several A1s and bought brand new Optilock bases and rings for them. None of the Optilock bases aligned correctly with the original taper dovetails. The aim was off by several feet at 100y, which vastly exceeded the scope, dovetail, and ring adjustments combined.

I eliminated those problems by buying new old stock Redfield SDT bases and fitting Burris Signature rings with Leupold style turn-in attachments.

I don’t know when Optilock bases changed, but Beretta is useless and as far as I’m concerned, so are all new Optilock bases on the older tapered rails. If anyone wants a box of Optilock parts you can have them for very cheap.

 

[GoWyo!]

Beware of Optilock bases!

I’ve owned several A1s and bought brand new Optilock bases and rings for them. None of the Optilock bases aligned correctly with the original taper dovetails. The aim was off by several feet at 100y, which vastly exceeded the scope, dovetail, and ring adjustments combined.

I eliminated those problems by buying new old stock Redfield SDT bases and fitting Burris Signature rings with Leupold style turn-in attachments.

I don’t know when Optilock bases changed, but Beretta is useless and as far as I’m concerned, so are all new Optilock bases on the older tapered rails. If anyone wants a box of Optilock parts you can have them for very cheap.

Dang! I’ll have to check my rifles! I think I have three wearing OL’s. I havent seen accuracy issues with those. Only AI in OL’s is my 6PPC. I do know that warne Premier rings were the last to fit the A series guns.

 

[CT10ring]

A Sako Vixen .222 HB. Pretty good shooter. 12X scope.

 

[dgeesaman]

Dang! I’ll have to check my rifles! I think I have three wearing OL’s. I havent seen accuracy issues with those. Only AI in OL’s is my 6PPC. I do know that warne Premier rings were the last to fit the A series guns.

If you found a zero using Optilock bases then the problem doesn’t affect you.

My new Optilock bases (3 sets?) all aimed four feet to the left of poi at 100y. The problem went away when I changed bases.

 

[RGRobinett]

Here's a link to a Sako L461 (HB 222 Rem. Mag) thread from a couple weeks ago - the parts are now in competent hands, for a professional [inconspicuous] pillar bedding job, so as to assure that yours truly does not ruin the original stock finish . . . upon it's return to the dungeon, photos, testing and "full disclosure" will follow.
The expectation is that following a proper bedding job, at 100 Yd., the AVERAGE [5-shot] group size will be <3/8th" - anything over 5/8th" being, a "wreck", and likely due to misreading the wind flag(s). RG

< https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/heretical-sako-butchery.4098485 >

​

 

[nakneker]

Here's a link to a Sako L461 (HB 222 Rem. Mag) thread from a couple weeks ago - the parts are now in competent hands, for a professional [inconspicuous] pillar bedding job, so as to assure that yours truly does not ruin the original stock finish . . . upon it's return to the dungeon, photos, testing and "full disclosure" will follow.
The expectation is that following a proper bedding job, at 100 Yd., the AVERAGE [5-shot] group size will be <3/8th" - anything over 5/8th" being, a "wreck", and likely due to misreading the wind flag(s). RG

< https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/heretical-sako-butchery.4098485 >

​

Fun, I’ll be interested in the final result, thanks for sharing. It’s getting harder and harder to find the right guy to do that.

 

[Rocky Mt High]

A cupla L 46 s. Regular length one is from1958.
i had never seen a carbine version like the bottom one so had to buy it….

other two are L 461s as you so very well know. All four are safe dwellers for now as I have four other deuces to play with…