old Sako Finnbear
#1
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....
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....
#2
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!