Sako has been around for 90 years or so making fine rifles. Most of the big box stores do not carry them. Your best bet to finding them is to look in higher end gun stores. They are a very well made, quality built rifle that you will give you a lifetime of service.  However, they do cost more than your average rifle. I have an older Sako Hunter that I purchased used many years ago in 7mm Rem Mag. It has been a one of my go to guns when heading out west. It’s not a tack driver but it certainly shoots under 1 MOA.

When I heard that Sako was going to stop producing the 338 Federal caliber in the model 85 Gray Wolf, that peaked my interest in getting a everyday shooter that would definitely put the smack down any whitetail of any size. I knew that they would be slashing the price of their remaining stock so that got me looking even harder. I am sure they are discontinuing this particular caliber due to poor sales, but they are offering the Model 85 in a variety of different calibers.

For those of you who have never heard about the 338 Federal, it is simply a 338 bullet in a 308 casing. Nothing fancy about it, pretty much straight forward. Given our rich history of cartridges, I’m sure in the past some wildcatter has thought of it before by sticking a 338 bullet in a 308 case. When Sako and Federal put their names behind any cartridges you can be sure they have done their homework on it.

It was time for me to do my homework, so I went on  the Sako website to get all the vitals on the rifle. According to their website, the 338 Federal has a 1 in 10” twist, barrel length is 22 7/16” long and the overall length 42 5/16”. Capacity is total of 6 rounds, 5 in the double stack magazine and one in the chamber. Trigger comes set around 3 lbs from the factory but can be adjusted, but the stock has to be taken off to adjust it. It looked really nice on their website and I called around to the stores in the area but no one carries them. They all said they could order one for me but I wanted to lay my hands on one before actually buying one.

One night, I happened to see the Sako 85 on Gunbroker at half price! The MSRP of the rifle is $1599, like I said not cheap. But at $799 it was too good of deal to turn down. I slept on it… never make an impulse purchase. The next morning I looked at my checking account (been working some overtime) and my mad money I had squirreled away.  When I got home that day, I went ahead and did the “Buy It Now” option. The following week I had it home.  It was even better than I had expected. Wow, such a nice rifle.

First thing I did was to clean it and take it apart. This is my normal routine with any rifle. I use the Lyman Trigger Gauge to determine the factory setting was a shade over 3 lbs for 5 pulls, the most being 3.25 lbs. After setting it to 2.5 lbs and putting a dab of Locktite, letting it dry for 30 minutes, I reinstalled the stock and receiver back together, the front screw torque to 50 inch pounds and the back one to 40 inch pounds. I placed it on my new digital bathroom scales and it read right at 6 lbs 9 ounces. Next I measured the total length and barrel length and they were right on the money.  I like the quiet safety and the visual cocking indicator. The bolt has three front locking lugs and their legendary Sako extractor. The barrel crown was recessed too for protection.  

Next thing to tackle was the scope base and mounts. Unfortunately they were not on sale. They arrived about week after the rifle did. Sako mounts are made specifically for their rifles, once you put them on they are on to stay. I still use Locktite on the base.

The next big step was the scope. I decided on a Zeiss 1.8 - 5.5 x 38mm. The 338 Federal was not a long range round I would say that I am going to limited myself to 250 yards and in with it, so I really did not need a 4 - 12 or a 3 – 12 power scope. After getting it set up and ready for the range, of course I needed ammo. This was going to be a problem, I decided to take some 308 brass and neck it up to accept the 338 bullet.

I searched for 338 brass but to none was available and still is not to date. I called my local store (not a big box store) and they told me it would be in within a week! This is great. I ordered 3 boxes of 200 gn Federal Fusion ammo. Ouch, another 100 bucks gone! After shooting this ammo up I would have 60 pieces of brass to load from.

Finally it was time go to the range, I had the rifle, scope and it was mounted, bore sighted, ammo.

At the range, I like the way it felt, fast handling, quick setup, short. This reminded me of my Remington 700 LTR rifle with its 20” heavy barrel, box magazine.  The first shots were ok at 50 yards. I clean after each shot the first 35 shots, my normal procedure, adjusting the scope as I went. Then it was time to move out to the 100 yd targets. I was tweaking my scope. After a disappointing for few targets that day, I came home and check my base and rings to make sure they were tight. Recoil on this rifle is mild, a tad bit more than a 308 but not much, very comfortable to shoot.

The box magazine you will have to get use to it. I cannot release it with one hand. Maybe over time I can get use to it, but it take one hand to push the magazine up and in and the other to press the magazine release.

I re-read the article written by Ron Spomer in the May 2008, NRA’s American Hunter Magazine on the Sako 85 in 338 caliber. You had to read between lines but he was questioning their accuracy. He too was using Federal Factory ammo in various weights.

The next few trips out to the range were very disappointing for me as well. But the rifle has very little kick to it, looked and felt great handling. I went through those boxes of ammo and then started reloading it. So for whatever reason, my Sako did not like the 200 gn Federal Fusion Ammo. I am talking about 6 inch groups at 100 yds! It seems like each week after shooting and cleaning this rifle, I would check the base and rings for tightness. I was bewildered by the results of this superb little rifle, but maybe, just maybe I got a bad one, it would be just my luck.

After I had shot up the factory ammo, done the barrel break in process, I started looking over my reloading manuals trying to find a starting load. Since I am a big Sierra fan for whitetail, I looked in their manual to find no data in it. I turned to the latest Nosler manual and they did have data for a 338 Federal. I looked at their data and looked over my other 338 Federal targets and so after much thought I try loading up so 215 Sierra GameKing using CCI-BR2 primers and 44.0 grains or RL15 and seating depth of 2.905”.

So I headed to the range one more time with it and the after the first two shots that almost touch, I did not think too much about it, but when the third and forth shots landed, It was under an inch group for all four shots! My shooting buddy was wondering why I was so excited. He had been there with me though out this painful process from the start and now to have found a good load for it. Since then, I have shot several other similar groups. I am not locking down that load but I know with groups like that I know I am close. When I start using other lighter bullets such as the 185, 200 and 210 gn bullets it will be another story. I will have to go through the same process.

I purchased this rifle back in September 2009 and it has taken me a year to find the right handloads for it. I am not sure why the Federal Factory Ammo I was using  was so wrong for it, but this would be a nice rifle in any short action round. A 308 or 7mm-08 would be perfect for someone who wants a quality deer rifle. Would I buy it again, yes for the right price? Would I recommend this rifle to someone else? You bet – but in another caliber.  But this is a “Once-In-A-Lifetime”, treat for yourself, type rifles. You will be happy you got it. I plan on hunting with this rifle a lot this coming deer season and hope a good whitetail steps in front of me.

By Miscellaneous Authors

This section is for articles published by a host of amateur authors. Some of these authors are former staff members but many of them are just regular people that had an article in their heart they wanted published. Here at TalkHunting, we believe everyone has a message and we try to accomodate that when possible.

Comments(1):

1. Sako Model 85

   I have one in 270 that my grandson has picked for his frist time in the stand with a gun tomorrow morning. He passed his hunter safty last Sunday. He already has a Life Time hunting in our state. Got one for each grandchild as they were born!!! Thanks for the timly story.

   Friday, December 10, 2010 Wilton