Sako Vixen .223

[ElToro]

Can someone tell me the desirability of a pre '72 (pre Garcia ?) Sako Vixen ?
i understand its a short action .223 L461 serial # 1392xx its been offered to me with a vintage Leupold 1.5-5x scope for $850 i was told it has a bofors barrell... otherwise a clean 98+ it doesnt look shot up and abused. has a plastic buttplate. its a lovely rifle and im seriously considering it... a quick search on the gun auction sites turns up severel from NIB for 1200 to used for 750. anyone with a Sako serial number chart give me an approx year of manuf. ? any link to a sako chat board ?
bofors (sp) barrell desirability
my dad has a sweet sako Finnbear in .30-06 he bought new when he was about my age (about 1968) and ive put more rounds through it <50 in my life than he has ! he claims he doesnt like the stock... i think i need this little brother to it...
TIA
Tim

 

[TCHanson]

Tim,

I fell for a Deluxe .223 with the fox head wood insert and engraving recently. I haven't got to shoot it yet.

I emailed Sako in Finland and it took several days for the girl to answer back. She was pretty informative. Meanwhile, before I heard back from her, I used the 10-10-9-8-7 and telephoned the factory directly and they put me through to a gunsmith. I enjoyed speaking to him but he had sketchy information.

Rich

By the way mine serial number starts with 888 and it was made in 1996.

 

[Gordon]

BUY IT ! BUY IT! THEY ARE THE BEST .223 case sized rifles ever made!!!!!

 

[Clemson]

I have a Sako L461 action with a .222 barrel on it. I bought it from Herter's in 1967 along with a semi-inletted stock. It looked a little like a "first attempt" at rifle building, but it would shoot 1/2 inch groups all day long. I still have the action, contemplating building another rifle on it. I used the barrel up and did not care for it well. The bore is pitted. The action, however, is a true jewel.

I would highly recommend your buying the rifle that you have offered to you.

Clemson