Thread: Sako why no 223 ???

What's this all about then ? With the amount you've spent buying and selling guns you could afford a sako 85 in 223.

My opinion is that the 85 action is better than the old vixens. 3 lug = shorter bolt throw and lower scope mounting. No bolt guide rail so smoother action. Dropout box mag so no stretchy adjusty on the mag spring that is very twitchy to get balance for feed to work for all rounds. Easier trigger adjustment. 20-30 years newer so not worn out. Can't comment on the feed from 223 85 but the vixen isn't perfect itself. In my opinion the old 222 and other vixens are lovely collectors items but technology has moved on for the better.

Great advice here..and as always, a bit of humour.. A japanese sako is fine..and I have an early AI and its fine apart from the weight ! Also have an early Tikka m55 .222, that I have seriously considered rebarreling to .223, but even with a worn-barrel, it will hit golf-balls at 120m. If I was building a custom .223, I would re-barrel an M55,if a reasonable one (price)came up with a fekd barrel. If buying new, what you've already got, or a Zastava, or CZ if the bank could handle it. Twist-rate can be problematic with rechambering early .222's. Like yourself, I'm still learning that I dont need some things, and should have kept others...it's easy to talk ourselves into anything, especially a beautiful wood-blued rifle. We start-off as hunters,slowly become shooters, then collectors...then die. After that, The Wife sells them all for "jack", because we never told her what they Really cost haha. A long-winded-way of saying; do what makes you feel happy.
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Originally Posted by rewa

Great advice here..and as always, a bit of humour.. A japanese sako is fine..and I have an early AI and its fine apart from the weight ! Also have an early Tikka m55 .222, that I have seriously considered rebarreling to .223, but even with a worn-barrel, it will hit golf-balls at 120m. If I was building a custom .223, I would re-barrel an M55,if a reasonable one (price)came up with a fekd barrel. If buying new, what you've already got, or a Zastava, or CZ if the bank could handle it. Twist-rate can be problematic with rechambering early .222's. Like yourself, I'm still learning that I dont need some things, and should have kept others...it's easy to talk ourselves into anything, especially a beautiful wood-blued rifle. We start-off as hunters,slowly become shooters, then collectors...then die. After that, The Wife sells them all for "jack", because we never told her what they Really cost haha. A long-winded-way of saying; do what makes you feel happy.
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Love the M55's, had three and they have the best factory trigger. Pity about the weight of them eh...

Let me know if your selling the 222 I'm just down the road

Originally Posted by dannyb

The a7 comes in 22-250 surely that would be a good candidate for 223 re barrel ? And no ar15 is out of the question not my thing at all

Different bolt face danny, not just a matter of a rebarrel.

cz .223 or a tikka 595 master .223

either of those should make you happy

Hey guys, new here but just thought id chuck my $0.02 in. I have a Browning X bolt in .223 and a Sako Bavarian in .270, while the Browning isn't quite on par with the Sako its very close IMO in terms of quality form and function. If you could get a Browning .223 with a 1 in 8 twist i think you would be very happy with it. Just something else to consider

Originally Posted by 40mm

cz .223 or a tikka 595 master .223

either of those should make you happy

the CZ 527 look a neat little rifle

Originally Posted by ElDax

Hey guys, new here but just thought id chuck my $0.02 in. I have a Browning X bolt in .223 and a Sako Bavarian in .270, while the Browning isn't quite on par with the Sako its very close IMO in terms of quality form and function. If you could get a Browning .223 with a 1 in 8 twist i think you would be very happy with it. Just something else to consider

Thanks for your input and genuinely no hate here but I really dislike x bolts I find them a bit slim in my big hands, just not comfortable and the fore on them is really soft and flexible.
I do agree I have friends who own x bolts and they do shoot well, just not to my taste.
As I have said in previous replies. I am going to persevere with my weatherby for now

Originally Posted by dannyb

Probably gonna persist with the weatherby and re stock it at this stage

I have a mountain stock from a Howa. It is black textured wood (Laminate) for the Howas. I think it is priced around the $250 from memory but would have to check (Doubt it would be more but it is possibly less) . You can get walnut ones if you know someone stateside to send it to you (Richards Microfit or Boyds) but Boyds wont ship if it is over $100 and Richards will not export full stop. A lot of people will glass or pillar bed these but for a 223 and the minimal recoil, it is not usually needed. Or if you want a project, you can always make your own.....

It would certainly be worth trying. These are a very good rifle, and I dont think the extra $$ you will spend swapping it for a Tikka will be worth it. (If looking at choosing between the two then it is a closer comparison)

Take a look at this:
https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Lis...?id=1733763415

Rechambered in 223. Might be the ticket.

In small short actions , you have choices of:
Old Sakos and new Sako ,
Mini Howa, CZ , zastava, bsa.

Next kimber and cooper rifles,

In bigger actions: Remington 7 , tikka 55.
The next lot are heavier again: Remington 700, tikka t3,595 , Winchester 70, Howa 1500.
Then the very heavy stuff like tikka 590 and Barnard.
Personally I would go medium or small.

Originally Posted by Friwi

Take a look at this:
https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Lis...?id=1733763415

Rechambered in 223. Might be the ticket.

In small short actions , you have choices of:
Old Sakos and new Sako ,
Mini Howa, CZ , zastava, bsa.

Next kimber and cooper rifles,

In bigger actions: Remington 7 , tikka 55.
The next lot are heavier again: Remington 700, tikka t3,595 , Winchester 70, Howa 1500.
Then the very heavy stuff like tikka 590 and Barnard.
Personally I would go medium or small.

Actually the CZs are pretty good but I prefer the Weatherby / Howa for the flush mags. Zastava not far behind, but lack the finesse of the Sako and CZs. The Mini action Howas are pretty good, but I am not a fan of the 10 round box mags for the carry.

CZ are coming with a flush mag now as well I believe(?)

The trouble with rechambering a .222 is they have 1:14" twists so unless you want to limit bullets to 52 grains or under it's a waste of a perfectly
good .222, I have both and use the .222 much more than the .223, I'd only sell the .222 to replace it with a Sako A1 or 75

Just get a second hand 75 in .223.

I paid $1700 for mine in 2011, with the Optilocks.
Stainless laminate in 1 in 8" twist.

All the current Howa Mini actions in 223 should now be 1-8 twist barrels according to the US distributors ,