Need info on old Sako hunting rifle

[Beetle Bailey]

I just received my Hunter Safety Certificate and so a friend of mine knew I needed a big game hunting rifle (I've already got a CZ 452 in .22lr and a Savage 10FP in .223 rem). While picking up his new Remington 700 CDL, he saw a rifle he thought I might be interested in. To make a long story short, I checked the rifle out today and told the sales guy "I'll take it!" I don't have the rifle yet, but will pick it up in a few weeks. Here are the details:

Sako rifle in 30-06 with no sights. Receiver marked "Sako AV" and serial number 584xxx. On the underside of the blued barrel, just forward of the fore-end, it says "imported by Stoeger, N.J." The wooden stock is checkered and has a nice grain, but is otherwise unremarkable (no fancy gold elk's head inlet into the stock). Has an old Redfield scope mounted on it (just says "Redfield 3x9") with a duplex reticle. Comes with a nice leather "cobra" sling.

The story is that the owner of the rifle is going thru a messy divorce, so he decided to put a few of his "safe queens" up for sale. In addition to the 30-06, he also put up two other beautiful Sako's, a .270 Win and a 7mm Rem. Mag. But I wanted the 30-06 .

So here are my questions:

1. Is this Sako a "pre-Garcia?" As I understand it, an importer named Garcia started bringing in the Sako's in 1972, but I don't know if this is from before that or after.

2. Does anyone know the proper model name for my rifle? "AV" (A-five)? Finnbear? Forester? Model L-579? Something else entirely?

3. Does anyone have any experience with old Redfield scopes? I noticed when looking at a lot of old hunting rifles for sale on the auctions that many seem to have been mounted with a Redfield, but I don't hear too many people singing the praises of Redfield these days. I'll probably try the scope out just to see, and if it needed replacement then I'll go with a Leupold.

4. Is it wrong to bring a nice, shiny rifle out into the field? I figure "That's what it was made for" and "It's almost criminal that the previous owner mostly left it in his safe considering the beauty of it" but I'm already hearing comments like "I'd be afraid to scratch the finish, or worse yet, get it wet" .

Thanks in advance for any helpful information or opinions.

Ken

 

[Hazzard]

Here's a bit of info on the Stoeger imports.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_8_45/ai_55605741

The AV (as in "V") action for the Stoeger imports is the correct designation, I believe.

The old Redfield scopes were pretty decent. They weren't real "high end", but they were very functional for hunting purposes.

Should you take it afield? I'm still coping with that question on my circa late 1950's/early1960's Sako Forrester. I'd love to, but is it worth it? I don't know!

 

[Beetle Bailey]

double-tap

 

[Beetle Bailey]

Thanks for the link - it was an interesting read.

So I gotta refer to my new rifle as an "A-V", eh? It's just that "Finnbear" sounds a bit more dignified. . .

 

[dogngun]

Sako rifles are excellent-very highly rated for accuracy, reliability, quality of workmanship and materials. I wouldn't worry about the name.

Redfield scopes, IIRC, were used by some of the snipers in Vietnam, sufferred some problems from excessive heat (deformed reticles), but worked in that environment, and they were off the shelf hunting scopes, not mil spec special production.

I'd be glad to have the scope if you decide to replace it. Email me a price if you wish to sell it.

Mark

 

[Beetle Bailey]

I'll keep your offer in mind, but unless the scope has issues, I'll probably keep it. There were a few scratches on the scope body however, so it's possible that it has seen time on another rifle before the Sako. I'll see if I can get more info at the shop the next time I'm there. At any rate, if it is working right, and I do decide to sell it, I'll get a friend to take some pictures of it and give you first right of refusal. Thanks for your input.

 

[gezzer]

Keep the Redfield it is a good scope.

 

[enkindler]

I have a "pre-Garcia" Sako in 270 and I have to say that there is one huge problem with this gun, I can't find a reason to but another rifle in the 270 range

I think for the most part the "pre-Garcia" models are worth more because of the lack of an importers stamp, nothing that changes the usefulness of the gun but just a purely due to aesthetics.

My M77 25-06 is worth a bit more because of a bicentennial stamp but that doesn't make it shoot better. (It is a great shooter too)

But I may be wrong.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

I have a "pre-Garcia" Sako in 270 and I have to say that there is one huge problem with this gun, I can't find a reason to but another rifle in the 270 range

Well, I am kinda hoping this will handle my "30-06 hunting rifle" needs and that I won't need to buy another rifle in this caliber unless it is a very nice 1903 Springfield or 1917 Eddystone (I already have a couple of CMP M1 Garands). I'm dangerously close to my "carrying capacity" (to steal a phrase from my hunter safety class) for long guns, so I decided to be a bit more picky about which ones to get.

BTW, while the rifle is stamped "Made in Finland," the import mark looked like it was painted onto the underside of the barrel. So I guess that means if I carry it out into the field enough times, and clean it off enough times, that mark may just rub right off!

Keep the Redfield it is a good scope.

Thanks, I probably will. While at the shop, I removed the bolt and looked out at the top of a tree thru the scope. It was a sunny day and the edges looked clear and sharp. Of course, I need to bring it to the range twice to make sure it can hold zero. I did ask the sales guy about Redfields and he said that back then there weren't as many good choices in scopes and Redfields were one of them.

Now I can't wait to get this rifle in my hot little hands . The more I talk about it online or with friends, the more I want to just shoot it!

 

[rwc]

There is a Sako collector's club where you might be able to get some good feedback:
http://groups.msn.com/SakoCollectorsClub

Good luck.

rwc