223 Sako 85 Varmint Ejection Issues

[gregp74]

I picked up this nice Sako back in the spring but didn't get a chance to put it though it's paces until last weekend down at my buddy's farm.

I put about 60 rounds of Nosler Match Grade 69 grain through it. Accuracy-wise I am thrilled. I don't have another rifle on par with this thing.

Usability on the other hand is downright terrible. If I pull the bolt back really fast and hard it'll eject the empty casing. Sometimes. Most of the time though it just sits there and jiggles a little but doesn't get kicked out. I end up having to tip the rifle sideways to dump the empty out. If I take this thing to a range with actual rules about handling things, they're probably going to frown upon that.

I've googled Sako ejection problems and see some posts about long action models where the casing hits the bottom of the scope and doesn't eject properly but that doesn't seem to be my issue.

Any suggestions?

 

[Infidel]

I don't have a .223, but on mine the ejector is a little lever which only protrudes from the bolt face an itty bitty bit when the bolt is at its most rearward travel. When the bolt goes forward, it pushes the ejector down into its slot against a spring, which spring pops the ejector up when the bolt travels to the rear again. With the bolt removed, can you push the ejector down and does it spring back up freely and vigorously? Is it bent or stuck or clogged with something?

When I try to work the bolt Real Soft, I don't do very well. I have to pull it back real gently until near the end of its travel (1/4"?, 1/2"?), then sort of give it a little more vigor right at the end of its travel in order to drop the spent case right next to the rifle. Not much, I can work the bolt with my smallest two fingers, but just that little more at the end of the travel. When I do this, I'm usually shooting on a bench, and trying to drop the cases into a small cardboard box sitting next to the rifle, and it usually works.

 

[gregp74]

It doesn't appear to be damaged or dirty.

I was also feeding rounds one at a time. Now I'm reading it works better if there are rounds below in the magazine, so maybe that would help the problem too. (Until I get down to the last one.)

 

[Infidel]

I haven't noticed the last round thing. When shooting from a bench, I often feed each round into the ejection port, and one of my rifles is a single-shot, but it's a 75; same ejector system, though. I would still suggest playing around with finessing the bolt. No need to use live rounds, snap caps will do. Just feel the mechanism, which is very simple, and try different techniques during the bolt travel. Enjoy,

 

[gregp74]

Last night after I cleaned it just for sh*ts and giggles I was putting a new empty 223 case in there to mimic the real world situation as best as possible and it seemed like about 90% of the time it just settled back down into the action and didn't eject at all.

 

[Infidel]

I can make that happen by moving the bolt very slowly all the way to the rear. Remember, this is a fixed (+/-) mechanical ejector that does not use a spring to fling the case, it uses the speed of the case traveling rearward and meeting the ejector to throw the case out.

I just tried it with a couple of rifles, and I could make what you describe happen by moving the bolt very slowly all the way to the rear. However, if I move it very slowly just to the point where the locking lugs are about to enter the rear of the receiver and disappear from view, then just smartly pull the bolt the rest of the way, using just my ring finger and little finger, the cases popped right out and fell on my foot as I was sitting on the couch. Every time. Every time. It doesn't take much, just a little learning about how to use the thing.

 

[LoonWulf]

With the bolt out of the gun see how tightly the extractor grips the case.
If it doesn't hold it tight to the bolt face, the mechanical ejector will push it off forward, rather than out.

I don't own an 85 so I'm not sure what, or if there is a fix, but I've had to refit a couple claw extractors after cartridge conversions for the same reason.