New Sako S20 Hunter in 6.5CM + Precision stock - what now?

[fwafwow]

Great pictures @swavescatter and @JGRaider but I'm trying to see if anyone with the S20 has needed the Optilock or Contessa to get more eye relief. Looks like the new Maven 1.2 is a tad longer than my SWFAs, so that won't help me. I will first try to tweak the LOP, but here's my rifle now and I still need to push it forward.

 

[swavescatter]

Is that a banish suppressor adapter? Do you find it doesn’t matter if it’s timed or not? Looks like yours is at 3 o’clock

 

[Lando]

I think I jinxed myself. I was thinking "hey, my rings are fine - who needs an Optilock rail." Well, it turns out I might. After having switched to shooting square to the rifle, I think I need more eye relief, which may mean I have to move the scope farther forward than the stock rail allows... I don't think I need any more elevation, but maybe it can't hurt to get that while I'm at it.

Have any of you with the S20 needed the Optilock or Contessa for the eye relief?

I have not. I use the integrated pic rail and pic rings with the SWFA 3-9 and haven't had any problems.

 

[fwafwow]

Is that a banish suppressor adapter? Do you find it doesn’t matter if it’s timed or not? Looks like yours is at 3 o’clock

It’s a ThunderBeast. I only shoot suppressed, and I’m thinking of cutting the barrel, so I haven’t bothered to time it. Good eye!

 

[fwafwow]

I have not. I use the integrated pic rail and pic rings with the SWFA 3-9 and haven't had any problems.

It could easily be user error on my part then. Richard Near of Near Precision told me he’s never had anyone ask to move forward on an S20. He guessed I must be 6’8”, but that’s a half a foot I don’t have. Guess I need to buy some spacers first for an extra 1cm of LOP.

 

[fwafwow]

Update. I shot the S20 today with the new TBAC Magnus. I only shot S&B FMJ BTs from 100 yards. When I shot the same ammo in December (it was slightly colder) using a TBAC Ultra 9 (gen 1) - the results were 2653 fps (avg), with a spread of 43.9 and a SD of 13.2 with 10 shots. Today the results were 2678 fps (avg), with a spread of 76.8 and SD of 16.7.



I also did some flinch drills and determined not all dummy rounds are as robust.


Finally, the shooting above isn't great, but I did much worse when I subsequently shot the 223 Tikka RSS (M855).

 

[Hnthrdr]

Update. I shot the S20 today with the new TBAC Magnus. I only shot S&B FMJ BTs from 100 yards. When I shot the same ammo in December (it was slightly colder) using a TBAC Ultra 9 (gen 1) - the results were 2653 fps (avg), with a spread of 43.9 and a SD of 13.2 with 10 shots. Today the results were 2678 fps (avg), with a spread of 76.8 and SD of 16.7.

View attachment 706463

I also did some flinch drills and determined not all dummy rounds are as robust.
View attachment 706464

Finally, the shooting above isn't great, but I did much worse when I subsequently shot the 223 Tikka RSS (M855).
View attachment 706465

Good shooting with the sako, for what it’s worth my .223 rss shoots 55 grain in a 3 inch group but will have 75 grain touching

 

[fwafwow]

Good shooting with the sako, for what it’s worth my .223 rss shoots 55 grain in a 3 inch group but will have 75 grain touching

Thanks. Lots of room for improvement. In looking at it more, I probably need to change my zero.

I also now need to spend some more time with my apps. I've not even figured out yet how to calculate the MOA from a picture of a target, or if my current software (Shooter, Hornady) is capable of doing so. BTW, I believe I tried but failed before to find an app that not only covers my needs, but ideally also has a real website/desktop interface option. If I'm going to nerd out, I'd rather do it properly - in my basement, at a desk.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

I haven't been able to get the Hornady app to give the measurements I care about, ie mil adjustments for proper zero. Ballistic x does that great, but doesn't do ballistic solutions.

 

[fwafwow]

I haven't been able to get the Hornady app to give the measurements I care about, ie mil adjustments for proper zero. Ballistic x does that great, but doesn't do ballistic solutions.

Thanks.

 

[Tunsei]

View attachment 622165
I’m starting to feel Finnish.

Can you tell me about the tripod? What kind… do you like it, what situations?

 

[fwafwow]

Can you tell me about the tripod? What kind… do you like it, what situations?

It's a Spartan Sentinel (Gen 1). I think that and the Gen 2 have been phased out, but you may still be able to find them. I really like it, but so far I haven't used it in many situations.

 

[fwafwow]

Update to my OP. I've still not cut the barrel, but I'm back to thinking of doing so (https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/sako-s20-small-transport-case.408172/). Does anyone have pictures of the S20 with a cut barrel? I am still waffling on whether to do it (I'm at 90%+), and then how short. I admit that the length question is in part aesthetics with the fluting, hence the request for a picture.

 

[Dbevans]

Update to my OP. I've still not cut the barrel, but I'm back to thinking of doing so (https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/sako-s20-small-transport-case.408172/). Does anyone have pictures of the S20 with a cut barrel? I am still waffling on whether to do it (I'm at 90%+), and then how short. I admit that the length question is in part aesthetics with the fluting, hence the request for a picture.

I have a tikka cut to the flutes and it still looks good.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TreeDog]

Update to my OP. I've still not cut the barrel, but I'm back to thinking of doing so (https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/sako-s20-small-transport-case.408172/). Does anyone have pictures of the S20 with a cut barrel? I am still waffling on whether to do it (I'm at 90%+), and then how short. I admit that the length question is in part aesthetics with the fluting, hence the request for a picture.

Not a s20, but a tikka super lite with an adapter.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

 

[fwafwow]

View attachment 890862

Awesome - thanks! How short did you go? How does it look and handle with a giant can on it? (I'm just curious - I sent mine off on Friday). Now I can finally follow through on comparing speeds before and after.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

It's my brother in laws, he cut it at 18" for a scythe. I haven't handled it since the chop

 

[fwafwow]

View attachment 619205

Before ^^ vs after


I hope to shoot and chrono this week to check velocity.

 

[fwafwow]

I shot the S20 today cut down to 16.5". Using S&B 140gr FMJ, here are the results using the full lenght barrel (24") compared to the current barrel - both times with the TBAC Ultra 9 (Gen 1):

1. Average speed - 2653/2468 fps
2. Max speed - 2669/2511 fps
3. Min speed - 2625/2442 fps
4. Spread - 43.9/70.5
5. SD - 13.2/16.6

Today's session was quite a few more shots than before the barrel was cut. Doing the math, the shorter barrel cost me between 21fps/inch (max speed) to ~25 fps (average speed), so consistent with what Form and others have posted previously.

I will also post this to the 6.5 thread, but I also shot for the first time the 6.5CM Federal LE Tactical 140gr TMK. The results were 2475 fps (average), 54.6 spread and 18.9 SD.