Thread: Sako L461 in .20-222

I had this rifle built as a dedicated spotlighting (foxes, cats) or 'longer' range bunny buster. By longer range I don't mean using ballistic apps, dialling up and down or any of that caper. Basically something that will shoot flat enough within normal spotlighting range - out to 250m or so - that it can be basically point and shoot. A lot of the time you only get a second or so to take the shot when foxes are cagey.

I picked up a second hand L461 in .222 for AUD$650. Worn blueing with surface rust on the barrel, floor plate, rings and scope tube, 6x Weaver scope, Hillver bridge mount, worn finish on the stock. Perfect as a donor.



Once I got it home and pulled it apart I found that Bubba had been at work, not that it was going to affect the build.





I had already purchased a PacNor barrel in 20 cal, so bundled up the parts and sent them to Jerome Zeirsch in South Australia. He chambered the barrel in .20-222 and finished it at 26".





I dropped the barrelled action into my old Factory varmint stock and developed up some loads.







After a while I ordered a machined blank from Hatcher Rifle Stocks





More to come.

Marcus

It came together really nicely





Along the way it's worn a few different scopes, including a Sightron Big Sky 4.5-14x50, a Zeiss HD5 5-25x50, a beautiful Swarovski Nova 3-12x56 which I loved except being FFP, and now has a Swarovski Z6 2.5-15x56 which is perfect - stunningly clear under the spotlight.

Another aspect that makes it beautiful to shoot is the Maddco 3 lever trigger. Not many of these were made, and I was fortunate enough to pick up two through friend and fellow member here L461. These triggers can be adjusted down to mere ounces and are incredibly crisp. I have this one adjusted so it has some feel before breaking.





For loading I just use Winchester .222 brass that I have prepped (ream primer pockets, flashover deburring, skim neck turn) and size down using a Redding S type bushing die in .222 with a .20 cal bushing. Seating I just use my old Super Simplex press and .222 seating die.

All in all I've been very happy with how it has turned out and performs.













Marcus

Very nice indeed.strangly I have only seen one other rifle in similar chambering,that too was a Sako with an oh so sexy full length wooden stock.

Labour of love. Podium. Remember reading an article in the aussie gun mag in 70's about pro fox hunter using a .17 Remington to avoid pelt damage.

Originally Posted by TeRei

Labour of love. Podium. Remember reading an article in the aussie gun mag in 70's about pro fox hunter using a .17 Remington to avoid pelt damage.

Yeah was a big industry back in the day. Lots of fellas put food on the table with fox skins. A Sako, Remington or Tikka in .17 Rem with a Kahles 8x56 scope was the sign of a serious pro fox shooter. I think I've read on the Sako Collectors Club forum that more Sako .17 Rems went to Australia than anywhere else.

Marcus

I realised that I didn't have any good recent pics with the Z6 Swaro so snapped a few today.









Marcus

You need a Pecar scope and original Sako rings to seal the look, otherwise the Optilock Ring Mounts work for 30mm tubes (there are also incredibly rare QD versions)



Top effort, beauty of a rifle

Originally Posted by Branxhunter

I realised that I didn't have any good recent pics with the Z6 Swaro so snapped a few today.

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Marcus

The 2nd foto is stunning. RIMFIRE CENTRAL has article of stock enhancement of Armourall rub off then TruOil rub off and repeat. Nimrod has an old recipe he used for his wood stocks.

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/threa...photos.331108/

Is it this one ?
https://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/p/a...000995#start=3

Yes. It is the new container.

Originally Posted by TeRei

RIMFIRE CENTRAL has article of stock enhancement of Armourall rub off then TruOil rub off and repeat. Nimrod has an old recipe he used for his wood stocks.

Yea I’ve used the Tru-oil/Armourall trick on 3-4 stocks, including my Sako A1 .222.

I used a hand rubbed oil finish on this stock using Organoil wet sanded with increasingly finer wet and dry paper.

Marcus