Thread: Sako vixen options

Originally Posted by rambo-6mmrem

Have the Opportunity to get a vixen it’s currently in 204ruger trueflite barrel and the owner is a good mate who used it as his work rifle
(Goat culler) and so it has a very high round count could be anywhere from 6000-15000 rounds
Still shooting well under moa at 100
But I know Realistically if I grab it it will probably need to be rebarreled

My use for this rifle would be a general purpose small game rifle with the ability to take everything from bunny’s to smaller Species of deer and goats if required

Im thinking 6x45 (6mm-223)
Is there any other good options
Don’t really want a 222-223

Also what would you think a sako a1 (not a l461) (I understand that they are pretty much the same?)
Would be worth in good but we’ll used condition

You are probably better off with either a Howa Mini or Rem Model 7 TBH, off the shelf replacement components available, can be picked up relatively cheap

'Flaws' of the Sako Vixen

- Sako dovetails, difficult to fit picatinny rail, expensive, can interfere with ejection, increases overall scope height unnecessarily

- Trigger OK but not excellent, think crisp break but a few lb's, replacement from Canjar is hen's teeth, could try and source a Maddco or Bix N Andy but huge cost

- Stocks, if you don't jive with the original wooden stock, you are pretty much stuck for 'off the shelf' replacements, McMillan used to inlet them but no longer, could try Wildcat Composites of Canada

- Bolt, the small size is a benefit and a disadvantage, extractor quite small, improved a bit on the A1 over the L461, parts like firing pin spring and bolt guide retention spring are hard to find.

- Internal box magazine does not fit very well into the action/stock assembly, follower and spring are not retained by the floorplate (it can slide out if you open the floorplate from the bottom)

-Ejector/bolt stop assembly, relies on a bent piano wire spring... not the most robust

- Been a bit mythologised by the books, yes it's a good rifle and probably the best 'small action' out there in terms of build quality, sadly it's been either over valued by collectors who now treat them like safe queens or the ones that have been heavily used (read abused) would require small parts to rebuild that cost more than the rifle is worth...

I own one, and love it, but it's not the bushman's equivalent of a lightsaber like some would have you believe...
@rambo-6mmrem , Sako did make a PPC version as well so a Grendel would be possible.

@Norway did a nice 6.5 Grendel conversion with the less popular Sako S491