Thread: brand new sako 85 204 ruger problems

I am helping a mate with getting a load to go in the above. We have tried alot of combos but basically average groups then with a flyer when shooting 4 shot groups.
We were expecting at least 1/2 moa or better but more consistently 1 1/4 or bigger.
On trying to seat out to the lands we then found the 40g blitz kings would fall out of the case before touching the lands and worked out that with a magazine fit they would be 7mm of the lands.
Any body got one the same to compare info.
berretta have now got it to see what the story with the long throat and see if they can shed some light

Know a guy who brought a sako varmit 204 no matter what he did it wouldn't group 40 grainers he went to 39g sierras grouped much better.

Originally Posted by optio

Know a guy who brought a sako varmit 204 no matter what he did it wouldn't group 40 grainers he went to 39g sierras grouped much better.

we tried hornady factory and 40 vmax and 39 g seirra to no avail so not to happy!

Arse, they got a 5 shot moa guarantee with factory ammo so one would think berreta would see you right.

Throw the Sako in the bin and buy a Norinco

Obviously you have eliminated loose action screws,scope mounts,scope and poor shooter as possible causes?

stop it toby..

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Obviously you have eliminated loose action screws,scope mounts,scope and poor shooter as possible causes?

yep vc,probably 55 years of reloading and shooting experience gone into this baby.we reckon the 7mm of jump to the lands from mag length might have something to do with it!

7mm is a fair ol jump. Id guess the pill may well have nothing supporting it once it leaves the neck and is getting into the rifling. Have you tried any flat base pills? Don't even know of they are made in 20cal.

Hi Andy,

I'm sure you'll know the basics better than I but I'll list a couple to be systematic:
.204 will be very susceptible to wind so a puff or two that you can handle when hunting might just open up a paper group to unacceptable.
A comparison by the same shooters on the same day with a known accurate .223, another .204 or .17HMR would add credibility that the gun itself is unsatisfactory.
MOA at 100m is 29mm so 1.25" may be quite close to it. Depending on the exact range used, Beretta could send it back with a few true MOA on paper.
Remount the scope in case the inserts aren't spot on aligned as recommended. Try a known good scope.

Observations on the sako 85 (I have one in 7mm08 and get most groups around 1.25" at 100m)
The foreend is very close to the barrel and needs a gentle sand out to be clearly floating. I'm not sure how it would go with a bipod until cleared out.
There's a web immediately in front of the bedding block that's ambiguous I think as to whether it should be contacting the first part of the chamber/ barrel
My one also has a very long unreachable throat which may not be such an issue with 7mm. I think its designed that way to prevent any possibility of seating into the lands with big round nose bullets.
The alloy bedding block needs care in seating in place. Also, care in taking it out so you don't burr the recoil bearing surface as I did.
The sako 85 has many excellent features. It's forte is as a rough tough easy to use hunting rifle which the non technical ordinary bloke can set up and use reliably. It's not a specialist varmint or target rifle.It's not designed to be tuned and tinkered and primped up and you pay not to have to do that.

I think it's a good approach not to poof around too much with it but send it back to Beretta early on.

Regards,

The thing that pisses us of is that between us it would be the least accurate rifle that we own.the shooting has also been done under good conditions with plenty of rounds down the barrel now.
It is now back in berreta's hands so will be interesting to see what happens

Wow thought it was just mine that was not grouping.... Have tried many things to see if the barrel would shoot at all with different loads and weights of bullets.
I am really just pissed now because the more i search the more problems that are being posted everywhere about this problem. A mate just brought a 204 in the tikka T3 and used some of my hand loads with 25grn of benchmark 2 with 40gr v-max WOW. This is amazing that a 3 shot group can go through the same hole at 150mtr and that anyone with a steady hand can do the same results. Why wont my beautifly little sako do the same.... I love the little rifle the way it feels to shoot and the way it handles but it really puts a dent in your confidance when it just wont put that little pill where it should be going. I have found that it likes the 32gr v-max loaded really hot with benchmark 2. My crony is showing just under 4000ft. I thought i was getting flyers until a walk down range showed that 4 of the 5 made a nice little hole and the 5th one was an inch from where it should have been. This happened 4 out of 4 times... What the hell is it with this gun..... I'm at the point of no return with this gun as it now is a personal matter of pride and honnour that it will not beat me. If a rebarrel is needed then thats what's going to happen. It wears a leupold VX-3L 6.5-20x56mm in sako optilock mounts and rings. This is a great scope that is sits well on this rifle... If you get an answer back that helps please post it..