New Sako 85 Hunter SS in 17 Rem

[brinny]

Retirement.....It has finally arrived....and with that comes what i have been waiting for 44 years of hard work for....some serious me time.....and with the recent retirement, i have lashed out and ordered myself a new Sako 85 SS IN 204R with walnut stock.........Sad to see that Sako doesnt make a 17 Rem anymore, I guess there is just no call for them much anymore... so doing the next best thing and buying on in a 204, and rebarreling to 17 Rem.....I know...I know....excessive and over the top,....but....its my project for this year, and my retirement gift to myself.....I am a HUGE 17 fan...and have had many over the years...which include a 17 mach 4, 17 rem fireball, and 17 rems.....this one will be a keeper, and should see me out i think....I have already bought an XQ50 Trail thermal for it....Rifle should be in by next Thursday, barrel should be in in around 6 weeks all going well......ordered 500 new empty cases and a set of 3 RCBS dies.....already have 2000 projectiles from the previous 17....and with the 204 barrel i am taking out of the new rifle.....well i have a spare for the 204 i already have in the exact same rifle....and the way i pushing rounds through that....i have a barrel to go straight in once shot out....Bring on fox season next year i say.....

[Stix]

Retirement.....It has finally arrived....and with that comes .................
.................and with the 204 barrel i am taking out of the new rifle.....well i have a spare for the 204 i already have in the exact same rifle....and the way i pushing rounds through that....i have a barrel to go straight in once shot out....Bring on fox season next year i say.....

Well i was kinda hoping if youre old & retired that dementia has set in & so youd forget you already had a 204 with all the excitement over the new toy, & so you would send that barrel to me, because im nice, & i like you, & you're the best brinny... (ah as lame as it was, it was worth a crack )

Good on ya Brinny. ..ive wanted a 17 for ages...keep us posted on here as to how it all goes eh...?...!!!

[brinny]

Retirement.....It has finally arrived....and with that comes .................
.................and with the 204 barrel i am taking out of the new rifle.....well i have a spare for the 204 i already have in the exact same rifle....and the way i pushing rounds through that....i have a barrel to go straight in once shot out....Bring on fox season next year i say.....

Well i was kinda hoping if youre old & retired that dementia has set in & so youd forget you already had a 204 with all the excitement over the new toy, & so you would send that barrel to me, because im nice, & i like you, & you're the best brinny... (ah as lame as it was, it was worth a crack )

Good on ya Brinny. ..ive wanted a 17 for ages...keep us posted on here as to how it all goes eh...?...!!!

Will do Stix.....My gunsmith was telling me today, depending on what barrel i go for...there could be up to a 7 month wait......he is checking around to see what barrels are available for it.....

Oh...and by the way....suckholing will get you everywhere... Ill put the barrel in my will for you mate.....

[Stix]

Retirement.....It has finally arrived....and with that comes .................
.................and with the 204 barrel i am taking out of the new rifle.....well i have a spare for the 204 i already have in the exact same rifle....and the way i pushing rounds through that....i have a barrel to go straight in once shot out....Bring on fox season next year i say.....

Well i was kinda hoping if youre old & retired that dementia has set in & so youd forget you already had a 204 with all the excitement over the new toy, & so you would send that barrel to me, because im nice, & i like you, & you're the best brinny... (ah as lame as it was, it was worth a crack )

Good on ya Brinny. ..ive wanted a 17 for ages...keep us posted on here as to how it all goes eh...?...!!!

Will do Stix.....My gunsmith was telling me today, depending on what barrel i go for...there could be up to a 7 month wait......he is checking around to see what barrels are available for it.....

Oh...and by the way....suckholing will get you everywhere... Ill put the barrel in my will for you mate.....

Well Bugga me..told ya it was worth a crack....it worked...!!!...!!!

Nah mate...not interested in materialistic dollar value...id rather go bowl a few over with you for one night than grab a freebee...much more to be gained enjoying shared interest together i rekon..
(but if youre serious, PM me your power of attorny & ill flick them my details )

[brinny]

Retirement.....It has finally arrived....and with that comes .................
.................and with the 204 barrel i am taking out of the new rifle.....well i have a spare for the 204 i already have in the exact same rifle....and the way i pushing rounds through that....i have a barrel to go straight in once shot out....Bring on fox season next year i say.....

Well i was kinda hoping if youre old & retired that dementia has set in & so youd forget you already had a 204 with all the excitement over the new toy, & so you would send that barrel to me, because im nice, & i like you, & you're the best brinny... (ah as lame as it was, it was worth a crack )

Good on ya Brinny. ..ive wanted a 17 for ages...keep us posted on here as to how it all goes eh...?...!!!

Will do Stix.....My gunsmith was telling me today, depending on what barrel i go for...there could be up to a 7 month wait......he is checking around to see what barrels are available for it.....

Oh...and by the way....suckholing will get you everywhere... Ill put the barrel in my will for you mate.....

Well Bugga me..told ya it was worth a crack....it worked...!!!...!!!

Nah mate...not interested in materialistic dollar value...id rather go bowl a few over with you for one night than grab a freebee...much more to be gained enjoying shared interest together i rekon..
(but if youre serious, PM me your power of attorny & ill flick them my details )

Ha ha ha ha ...Love that sense of humour....mate...if you are ever down my way more than happy to take you out .....Cant be untill next year though....once they start dropping pups, i pull up stumps till next year.....

[Stix]

Retirement.....It has finally arrived....and with that comes .................
.................and with the 204 barrel i am taking out of the new rifle.....well i have a spare for the 204 i already have in the exact same rifle....and the way i pushing rounds through that....i have a barrel to go straight in once shot out....Bring on fox season next year i say.....

Well i was kinda hoping if youre old & retired that dementia has set in & so youd forget you already had a 204 with all the excitement over the new toy, & so you would send that barrel to me, because im nice, & i like you, & you're the best brinny... (ah as lame as it was, it was worth a crack )

Good on ya Brinny. ..ive wanted a 17 for ages...keep us posted on here as to how it all goes eh...?...!!!

Will do Stix.....My gunsmith was telling me today, depending on what barrel i go for...there could be up to a 7 month wait......he is checking around to see what barrels are available for it.....

Oh...and by the way....suckholing will get you everywhere... Ill put the barrel in my will for you mate.....

Well Bugga me..told ya it was worth a crack....it worked...!!!...!!!

Nah mate...not interested in materialistic dollar value...id rather go bowl a few over with you for one night than grab a freebee...much more to be gained enjoying shared interest together i rekon..
(but if youre serious, PM me your power of attorny & ill flick them my details )

Ha ha ha ha ...Love that sense of humour....mate...if you are ever down my way more than happy to take you out .....Cant be untill next year though....once they start dropping pups, i pull up stumps till next year.....

Id love to ( & Ill try) take you up on that offer brinny...
I really do love my fox hunting at night, & i dont know anyone who is suitable to take out, who has the patience &/or ability to do what it takes to get em.

I do the same/let em go this time of year...& i prefer to let the pups grow up a bit too...
Nothing softer than the back of the neck on a a 8/9 month old fox pelt with fresh full bloom winter coat... (provided you or i havnt neck shot it... )
Cheers Brinny

[marksman]

I'm a big fan of the 17's myself brinny
if I were you I would look at the barrels on Australian brownells
http://www.brownells.com.au/index.php?r ... t_id=61340
these are the 17 blanks I have bought in the past, match grade and very well made although I got a #4 contour for 2 x small action brno's, (465 and fox actions)
the #5 is a bit heavier but about the same as a magnum barrel
it's worth thinking about it, your rebarrel should not cost any more than $300-$400 on top

[brinny]

I'm a big fan of the 17's myself brinny
if I were you I would look at the barrels on Australian brownells
http://www.brownells.com.au/index.php?r ... t_id=61340
these are the 17 blanks I have bought in the past, match grade and very well made although I got a #4 contour for 2 x small action brno's, (465 and fox actions)
the #5 is a bit heavier but about the same as a magnum barrel
it's worth thinking about it, your rebarrel should not cost any more than $300-$400 on top

Excellent marksman.....thanks very much for the info....i will certainly check them out...

[marksman]

I may be buying one in the future as my daughter wants her zkw 465 rebarreled to 17 ackley like mine
I have had very good barrels from shilen, I think I have had 7 or 8 fitted and do recommend them

by the way who are you getting to re barrel it for you?

[brinny]

I may be buying one in the future as my daughter wants her zkw 465 rebarreled to 17 ackley like mine
I have had very good barrels from shilen, I think I have had 7 or 8 fitted and do recommend them

by the way who are you getting to re barrel it for you?

To be honest marksman....i dont know the gunsmith....He works strictly with gunshops and not the general public direct......I am getting it done through Sunbury gunshop, and they orginised him to ring me and discuss options on barrels.....

[marksman]

no worries brinny
if I were you I would want a match grade chamber reamer used
you really don't want to spend all that money for a factory chamber mate
you could pay that money for a second hand sako that shoots well
its a pity that Bill Hambly-Clark jnr retired, he was the 17 cal fox shooters favourite, a true legend
another good one is David Brewster at [email protected]
he has built a couple of dashers for me and is a precision specialist
he does a lot of barrel work for the long range comp guys and is the go to guy for them
anyway good luck with it
you are just unlucky as I gave another gunsmith I have used my stock of 17rem cases not to long ago
400 of them, I had a cleanout and didn't want to throw them away, always the way

[brinny]

Thanks for all the info marksman....really appreciate the help....i have had a lot of 17s over the years, but never actually set one up.....you mention Bill Hambley clarke....i had a rifle back in the very early 80s that was made by Hambley Clarke....it was a 17 mach 4.....it was an unbelievably accurate rifle and accounted for more foxes than i care to remember....and back in those days i was running an 8x Khales scope on it....not one of the high powered variables that are about today....But there were a lot younger eyes looking through it back then than there are today....
If we were shooting for skins now like we were back then, i wouldnt hesitate to have another custom built....but as its all only pest control nowadays, im happy just to plug along the way im going.....Really wont be able to get the pinpoint accuracy that the rifle should deliver anyway as i am putting another XQ50 Trail thermal on it.....while reletively gives reasonable accuracy....nothing compared to having a nice Leupold, or swarovski on it....

Always the way with the cases but never mind.....i have ordered 500 new unfired brass and should be in soon....

My theory in regards to the new Sako is i will end up with a new rifle regardless chambered in the cal i want, as well as have a new 204 barrel to replace my existing 204 barrel when i eventually shoot it out.....
I am a self confessed Sako convert nut now and am slowly swapping all my rifles over to Sako.....this will be the third 85 SS varmint i will have in the safe, as well as having recently purchased a Sako Finnlight in 308....The only rifles that will be eventua;lly left in the safe not Sako, will be my Brno Mdl 2 22s.....they will only go when i head to the happy hunting ground.....