old Sako Finnbear
 

I have an old (1950's or so) Sako Finnbear in .270Win. Real low serial number sporting Nikon glass.
This rifle does something I've never seen a rifle do before...it needs 'fouling shots' before it'll group. Basically, I clean the bore very well; no powder fouling and all copper fouling out. The rifle seems to like Winchester Supreme ammo (170gr), but I need to put about 15 shots thru the barrel before the thing will group. The groups start out at about 2"-3". AFter the 15 shots, I'm shootin' at about .75-1.25 inches. That lasts for about 10-12 shots, after which the groups start to open up again. Is this thing a dog ? A few years ago I had a Finnbear Deluxe with a Zeiss scope and could not get that "tomato stick" to print better'n 1.5"... I'm kind'a hatin' the Sako's and doubt I'll ever buy another one....

RE: old Sako Finnbear
 

I have a rifle just like it. Not a Finnbear but a Mauser....... takes 20 shots to foul and then she'll group, I put up w/ mine b/c it will last for 40-50 rds and then start to open up. I load 100rds plink 20 to foul the bbl and then shoot 20 more as I insure its still zeroed, I then take it home to clean...... a couple days b4 deer season starts I bang off 20 rds and I'm ready to go. I'm surprized that a Sako would do something like this!? Ussually it means that your bbl is not smooth enough but that is generally not a problem w/SAko, the only experienceI have had w/sako was good,....a 20"bbl .243, just shooting factory ammo to accumulate brass and it seemedthat it didn't matter what I did it that rifle shot under an inch. I'm a mauser man myself but Sako that is one beaut rifle!