Sako 90 Reviews/experiences

[MtnHawker]

Hi all,

Was hoping to hear from Sako 90 owners about your experiences with the rifle. I'm considering ordering a 223 through Eurooptic/Sako select and I'm trying to figure out if it's worth the wait or if I should just grab a Tikka now and be done with it. I've always wanted a Sako and now have the opportunity if I can find the patience.

I've read/watched a few reviews where the rifles were picky in regards to ammo preferences with some rifles having accuracy issues (1.5-2moa which would be unacceptable to me for the cost of the rifle). Would love to hear personal experiences from owners on here on how their rifles shoot.

It appears the ejection issues the 85 suffered have been resolved, however some owners are experiencing feeding issues. Have any of you had feeding issues? If so, which model/caliber is it occurring on?

Appreciate any feedback! Feel free to post pics! They're a good looking rifle!

 

[eLightfoot]

I have two of them. Unfortunately I haven’t shot them enough to give an informed analysis. I really like the action and magazines. Only issue I’ve had is loading 5 rounds in the mag and having a difficult time opening the bolt. It cycles but takes a little umpff to get that first one.
I have a 243 I haven’t shot yet and a 6.5creed that I am changing to a 6dasher. Building new stocks for both and probably changing the 243 to a 22creed. They take tikka barrels

 

[MtnHawker]

I have two of them. Unfortunately I haven’t shot them enough to give an informed analysis. I really like the action and magazines. Only issue I’ve had is loading 5 rounds in the mag and having a difficult time opening the bolt. It cycles but takes a little umpff to get that first one.
I have a 243 I haven’t shot yet and a 6.5creed that I am changing to a 6dasher. Building new stocks for both and probably changing the 243 to a 22creed. They take tikka barrels

Does it dent the casings if you force it? I saw a pic on here of one that did, but can't remember where I saw it. I think that was a 6.5cm too.

Building your own stocks sounds cool. Are you going to bed the actions?

I'm glad the barrels are interchangeable with the Tikka's. I think that was a smart move for multiple reasons.

 

[eLightfoot]

Does it dent the casings if you force it? I saw a pic on here of one that did, but can't remember where I saw it. I think that was a 6.5cm too.

Building your own stocks sounds cool. Are you going to bed the actions?

I'm glad the barrels are interchangeable with the Tikka's. I think that was a smart move for multiple reasons.

No, definitely not denting cases.
Will definitely bed the actions.

Need to glue this up tomorrow. 5 piece English walnut/maple laminate

 

[MtnHawker]

No, definitely not denting cases.
Will definitely bed the actions.

Need to glue this up tomorrow. 5 piece English walnut/maple laminate

Would love to see the finished project! That's pretty slick

 

[ddd-shooter]

No, definitely not denting cases.
Will definitely bed the actions.

Need to glue this up tomorrow. 5 piece English walnut/maple laminate

That’s gonna be gorgeous!

 

[JohnsIsl]

Zero feeding issues on a .308 Win.

 

[MtnHawker]

Zero feeding issues on a .308 Win.

Are you happy with the accuracy?

 

[mwoolsey5]

I had a Sako 90 Adventure in 300 WM.

Pro:
Shot fantastic
Action was phenomenal
Magazine was exceptional. Double stack and flush. Fed with zero issues.

Cons:
Adventure stock was terrible for spotting impacts. Quest looks decent but you’re going to pay a huge premium.

Some don’t come threaded 5/8x24. They include an adapter but it was still annoying.

It’s annoying not having QD flush cups at this price point.



I did ultimately sell it at the end of last year though. Mostly because of the bigger cartridge. I didn’t enjoy shooting it and didn’t want to take it to the range to practice with.

 

[MtnHawker]

I had a Sako 90 Adventure in 300 WM.

Pro:
Shot fantastic
Action was phenomenal
Magazine was exceptional. Double stack and flush. Fed with zero issues.

Cons:
Adventure stock was terrible for spotting impacts. Quest looks decent but you’re going to pay a huge premium.

Some don’t come threaded 5/8x24. They include an adapter but it was still annoying.

It’s annoying not having QD flush cups at this price point.



I did ultimately sell it at the end of last year though. Mostly because of the bigger cartridge. I didn’t enjoy shooting it and didn’t want to take it to the range to practice with.

Appreciate the response! Glad to hear it shot+fed well. Sounds like Sako have some things they could still do better

 

[nm.otter]

S20 and 90 Finnlight II both came later and are equipped with QD cups. I'd expect the to show up on on other models over time.

 

[JohnsIsl]

Yep, my grizzly has QD cups.

I’m very happy with accuracy.

 

[MtnHawker]

Yep, my grizzly has QD cups.

I’m very happy with accuracy.

I love the look of the grizzly, but I really want a 223 this time around so Hunter it is. Might be in my future though. Glad they shoot as well as they look

 

[JohnsIsl]

.308 Grizzly
.243 Hunter

 

[WBT]

I picked up a Grizzly in 6.5 CM and am very pleased with it.

 

[jaredg]

I can help, I have both in 223.

Tikka 20" 1:8 SS, Peak 44 Bastion, NF rings, SB Exos, That is my wife's rifle, built in response to shooting my Sako 85 243 after her Howa mini.

Sako 90 Peak 20" 1:8 fluted SS, OEM carbon stock, NF rings, SB Exos. This is my rifle. I bought the first one EO got in.

Both have factory 2.5lb triggers, both shoot 77TMK at 2675-ish. The Sako feeds much better then the Tikka. Tikkas have known issues with 223 mags. Can be upgraded though. But the Sako feeds so smooth you will often find yourself doubly checking to see if the bolt picked up a round.

The fit and finish is the same, despite what some claim. I own 3 Sako rifles. Carbonlite 85 243, ditto 22-250 & the 90 223. Finish is very nice but utilitarian. I own more Tikkas than I can count. The finish is very nice but utilitarian.

Triggers are the same. Crisp breaks at 2.5lbs. They break like glass. Felt recoil is a different matter. The carbon stocks of the Sako vs the Tikka, not really a fair fight. The carbon feels much better in shape and recoil transfer, but in 223, not a big deal. The Peak 44 Bastion is a more apples to apples comparison. The Tikka in the Peak 44 equals or betters the Sako OEM carbon. Great upgrade, 90 wait time.

Accuracy... the same. These are solid 1.5 - 2 MOA rifles. Both shoot 77TMK well, both shoot Sako 50gr Speedhead well. I know that you said 1.5 -2 MOA is unacceptable. To me, 20-30 round groups shot one right after the other at 1.5 to 2 MOA is all the accuracy I need. I can say that I have heated both 243 & the 22-250 barrels up to smoking (suppressors turned ash-white) more than once (hunting rock-chucks) and haven't lost any measurable accuracy yet. So yeah, boringly reliable accuracy from both guns.

These are boringly the same rifle with the same barrels made by the same company. I want the Sakos to be more accurate, I really do. Just to justify the cost of them vs a Tikka. But at the end of the day you can't shoot the difference...

 

[MtnHawker]

I can help, I have both in 223.

Tikka 20" 1:8 SS, Peak 44 Bastion, NF rings, SB Exos, That is my wife's rifle, built in response to shooting my Sako 85 243 after her Howa mini.

Sako 90 Peak 20" 1:8 fluted SS, OEM carbon stock, NF rings, SB Exos. This is my rifle. I bought the first one EO got in.

Both have factory 2.5lb triggers, both shoot 77TMK at 2675-ish. The Sako feeds much better then the Tikka. Tikkas have known issues with 223 mags. Can be upgraded though. But the Sako feeds so smooth you will often find yourself doubly checking to see if the bolt picked up a round.

The fit and finish is the same, despite what some claim. I own 3 Sako rifles. Carbonlite 85 243, ditto 22-250 & the 90 223. Finish is very nice but utilitarian. I own more Tikkas than I can count. The finish is very nice but utilitarian.

Triggers are the same. Crisp breaks at 2.5lbs. They break like glass. Felt recoil is a different matter. The carbon stocks of the Sako vs the Tikka, not really a fair fight. The carbon feels much better in shape and recoil transfer, but in 223, not a big deal. The Peak 44 Bastion is a more apples to apples comparison. The Tikka in the Peak 44 equals or betters the Sako OEM carbon. Great upgrade, 90 wait time.

Accuracy... the same. These are solid 1.5 - 2 MOA rifles. Both shoot 77TMK well, both shoot Sako 50gr Speedhead well. I know that you said 1.5 -2 MOA is unacceptable. To me, 20-30 round groups shot one right after the other at 1.5 to 2 MOA is all the accuracy I need. I can say that I have heated both 243 & the 22-250 barrels up to smoking (suppressors turned ash-white) more than once (hunting rock-chucks) and haven't lost any measurable accuracy yet. So yeah, boringly reliable accuracy from both guns.

These are boringly the same rifle with the same barrels made by the same company. I want the Sakos to be more accurate, I really do. Just to justify the cost of them vs a Tikka. But at the end of the day you can't shoot the difference...

Appreciate the response! That's pretty much the conclusion I've come to regarding accuracy. In reality that accuracy will be fine for everything I plan to do with it (hunting everything east coast sub 400yds). I just want the extra $$ to be justified with a bit better accuracy. I was looking/reading about the bedding system on the 90's. Kind of an odd duck. Seems like some folks revert to a Tikka style lug and bed that and see an accuracy improvement.

 

[MtnHawker]

.308 Grizzly
.243 Hunter
View attachment 1005974

I'm a sucker for wood and steel! Cool seeing those side by side. I didn't realize the grizz had a fluted barrel

 

[JohnsIsl]

I have a few tikka rifles too and I will say that one thing people don’t talk about much is scope fitment on these with the shorter action length. It is possible to get a lower bore height with shorter/modern scopes. Given that these wood stocks are pretty “traditional” shape, that lower bore height helps with cheek weld. At least for me it does.

 

[MtnHawker]

I have a few tikka rifles too and I will say that one thing people don’t talk about much is scope fitment on these with the shorter action length. It is possible to get a lower bore height with shorter/modern scopes. Given that these wood stocks are pretty “traditional” shape, that lower bore height helps with cheek weld. At least for me it does.

Speaking of scopes, what rings/height are on your 243? UM? Is that a 44 or 50mm objective? On their site as we speak and lows are sold out but backorderable.