SAKO A7 and range report

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SAKO A7 and range report

Post by SHV » 26 Jun 2016, 11:28 pm

SAKO A7 LPS special, nearly tikka's price, it's light enough for hunting and I need a light 308 so why not? :D

I know it is not a "real" sako but the trigger, bolt, magazine and stock all a little better than tikka, it's good enough for me as a hunting rifle



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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by SHV » 26 Jun 2016, 11:41 pm

as an unexperienced shooter, when I squeeze the trigger, some gun fires early than I thought, some a little late, the result is ugly
Sako A7's trigger is really nice, when I squeeze it, it fires as I expected, not a little early, not a little late, so the result is not too bad
first time at St Mary's, clean the barrel, sigh in the scope and tried some 5 shot groups at 50 meters

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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by SHV » 26 Jun 2016, 11:44 pm

this one done by my friend, he loves the trigger too

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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by SHV » 26 Jun 2016, 11:48 pm

this one is mine, 4 shots are good but one fly :crazy:

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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by SHV » 26 Jun 2016, 11:57 pm

looks like this rifle got potential and the 3-9x40 is not good enough for "target" shooting, so I bought a 3-12x50 for it, hopefully can see the target a little closer and more comfortable for long time shooting.

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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by SHV » 27 Jun 2016, 12:01 am

looks good on the rifle, not too big as I thought before

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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by SHV » 27 Jun 2016, 12:07 am

hopefully can get chance to try the new scope this week at range
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by Gamerancher » 27 Jun 2016, 9:59 am

I like my Sako's, I have 6 of them. Haven't really looked at the A7, I know they were built as a budget line to compete in that market in the U.S.
Looks like the result of letting a "daddy" Sako spend some time with a "mummy" Tikka and you get "junior" ;)
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by SHV » 27 Jun 2016, 12:03 pm

Gamerancher wrote:I like my Sako's, I have 6 of them. Haven't really looked at the A7, I know they were built as a budget line to compete in that market in the U.S.
Looks like the result of letting a "daddy" Sako spend some time with a "mummy" Tikka and you get "junior" ;)


6 Sako's? they must be very good :thumbsup:
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by Gamerancher » 27 Jun 2016, 5:29 pm

Yeah, I reckon they are. 4 are used for Silhouette shooting only. They feed like a dream, accurate as all get out, excellent triggers and they come standard with SAKO EXTRACTORS! :thumbsup: One has 4 different barrels and two stocks, one custom walnut hunter and a competittion off-hand, giving 8 different configurations on one action. Range or scrub she's a beaut! Another is a varmitter with 2 barrels. Actually I just remembered, its seven. There's another one I use around the property. :oops:
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by agentzero » 12 Jul 2016, 11:36 am

Fancy photos, looks like you're doing a Sako catalogue :lol:
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by bobnob » 23 Jul 2016, 11:29 am

Gday SHV, great minds think alike they say...

]Image

Picked up the same in 308 Win two weeks ago.

Three different loads at 260y over my bench, using 168g Amax and R17...

]Image

LOVE the trigger, stock suits me down to the ground and it's light without being so light it can't be held steady.

I can load ammo out 2.907" in the mag and the chamber / throat dimensions are SNUG which is never bad, and not common for a 308.
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by bobnob » 23 Jul 2016, 11:32 am

By the way I'll pull you up on one thing... the A7 is very much a REAL Sako, else I dunno what else it is!
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by SHV » 23 Jul 2016, 9:01 pm

bobnob wrote:Gday SHV, great minds think alike they say...

]Image

Picked up the same in 308 Win two weeks ago.

Three different loads at 260y over my bench, using 168g Amax and R17...

]Image

LOVE the trigger, stock suits me down to the ground and it's light without being so light it can't be held steady.

I can load ammo out 2.907" in the mag and the chamber / throat dimensions are SNUG which is never bad, and not common for a 308.


260 yard? that's amazing! middle one is A-max? 49 grain of what powder? and the total length around 2.9?
I use 8208 40 grain, 168 grain nosler custom competition for target shooting, haven't tried others yet
thanks alot
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by bobnob » 24 Jul 2016, 6:48 am

Yes mate all those groups are Amax and three different charges of Reloder 17. OAL is 2.898 which has the bullet kissing square on the lands. Not pushing in so far that it's jammed, just a good square kiss on all of the lands.

FC brass if you're wondering.

R17 can do amazing things with moderate to heavy bullets in the 308 Win if you can get enough into the case. 49g leaves about 3mm of room between the top of the powder and the case mouth and that's where I stopped because it was fast enough for me. 2800fps is not out of order though in the 22.5" bbl if one was inclined to lean on it, which isn't really my go.
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by SHV » 24 Jul 2016, 12:35 pm

bobnob wrote:Yes mate all those groups are Amax and three different charges of Reloder 17. OAL is 2.898 which has the bullet kissing square on the lands. Not pushing in so far that it's jammed, just a good square kiss on all of the lands.

FC brass if you're wondering.

R17 can do amazing things with moderate to heavy bullets in the 308 Win if you can get enough into the case. 49g leaves about 3mm of room between the top of the powder and the case mouth and that's where I stopped because it was fast enough for me. 2800fps is not out of order though in the 22.5" bbl if one was inclined to lean on it, which isn't really my go.


will try it if I can get the R17 at LGS :drinks:
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by SHV » 24 Jul 2016, 1:20 pm

Hi Bobnob, I wish I have a property like yours which I can shoot anytime and at any distance...

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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by Rocker » 25 Jul 2016, 10:44 am

Pretty :mrgreen:
Sako A7 30-06
Marlin 1895 Guide Gun 45-70
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by SHV » 19 Jul 2017, 11:43 pm

BM8208 different load, no big difference, hope I can shoot 100 or 200 meter but the only place is St Mary's 50 meters....

Image
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by SHV » 19 Jul 2017, 11:44 pm

Image

two different projectile 5 shot each, 40.2 gr BM8208
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by SHV » 19 Jul 2017, 11:48 pm

Image

two different projectile 5 shot each, 42.6 gr BM8208, feels close but not the best, next time should I try 42.1---42.3---42.5---42.7---42.9 5x5 or 5x10?
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by Gwion » 20 Jul 2017, 7:11 am

Mate. At 50m, those loads in the top photo are showing quite a large variation. As you say, getting out to 100m would be ideal for further testing. Still, looks like you are on a winner with both of the 40.2 & 42.6 loads but i'd personally stick with the 40.2 as they look most consistent.
Good work. Get them out to 100m and shoot a bunch of groups to confirm.

What is your intended use for the loads? If you really want that extra velocity, i would actually give 42.2 a run as 42 & 42.4 both have a similar POI but 42.8 is high and ever so slightly to the right of the previous loads which may indicate why the 42.6 is displaying a little left to right stringing. It could just be you as the variable but it is hard to tell from 50m groups.

How far off the lands are you loading?
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by SHV » 20 Jul 2017, 10:48 am

Gwion wrote:Mate. At 50m, those loads in the top photo are showing quite a large variation. As you say, getting out to 100m would be ideal for further testing. Still, looks like you are on a winner with both of the 40.2 & 42.6 loads but i'd personally stick with the 40.2 as they look most consistent.
Good work. Get them out to 100m and shoot a bunch of groups to confirm.

What is your intended use for the loads? If you really want that extra velocity, i would actually give 42.2 a run as 42 & 42.4 both have a similar POI but 42.8 is high and ever so slightly to the right of the previous loads which may indicate why the 42.6 is displaying a little left to right stringing. It could just be you as the variable but it is hard to tell from 50m groups.

How far off the lands are you loading?


thanks, will try 42.2 and around, maybe 41.8---42.0---42.2---42.4?
40.2 is good, I got 7 40.2 from last year, the 7 shot group is consistent too but this is for hunting so still want to find the best higher load
How far off the lands are you loading?---sorry out of new shooter's knowledge range :oops: you mean how far to the bullet touch the rifling?

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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by Gwion » 21 Jul 2017, 9:28 am

SHV wrote:How far off the lands are you loading?---sorry out of new shooter's knowledge range :oops: you mean how far to the bullet touch the rifling?


Correct!
I start off my load development with the bullet (ogive) touching the lands (the raised part of the rifling). Once i have a good load i tweak it by testing in .005" increments back from the lands. I used to start loads at 20thou (.020") off the lands but was reading an article that pointed out "which way do you go from there?" By starting on the lands, there really is only one way to go... backwards (although if you were a serious target shooter you may try a "jam" with the ogive into the lands).

Being the scientific type, this may interest you (two articles, same topic):

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/201 ... warehouse/
http://www.angelfire.com/ma3/max357/houston.html
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by Gwion » 21 Jul 2017, 9:40 am

PS: I'd personally just load up about 15 @ 42.2 and test them because you know how the loads on either side shoot already. If this is a hunting round and it feeds from the mag well and is within the realms for the loads on either side after 3 test groups, i'd just call it good and load up 100 to go hunting with. The only reason i suggest even trying the 42.2 and not just going with the 42.4 is that it sits in the middle of two loads that look consistent. This should give you a window of consistency for slight discrepancies of powder load and temp variation. If you really want to, load up another 15 of 42.8 and test those again as it does look good but the load seems to start opening beyond that charge. Pick which ever of those two loads look best. Try to get to a 100yd range for these tests.

In short, stick a fork in it, you're done!
Good work!
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by in2anity » 21 Jul 2017, 4:46 pm

Nothing wrong with those groups mate - I think you're being hard on yourself. That'll put meat in the freezer any day. The only reason you'd need to pay attention to such groups is if you plan on doing competitive light-gun benchrest or F-class; is this something you plan on doing?

Also what's the bolt throw like on that? Is that the reason you went with high rings?
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by in2anity » 21 Jul 2017, 8:00 pm

sungazer wrote:The high rings will actually help with some of the torque, or twist of the rifle when fired. The higher point of momentum dampens the twist.


That's the first I've heard of that - is that a proven effect? What about comfort though? You want your eyeline to be as close to the comb as possible to optimize your weld.
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At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by in2anity » 21 Jul 2017, 10:10 pm

sungazer wrote:It is a proven effect. not sure where I could point you to off the top of my head though. A lot of competition shooters also shoot with very little check weld or none at all, so that is not really an issue. Think of a tight rope walker using a long pole for balance. It is the length of the pole that changes the point of momentum that helps steady him. It was shown very often in different ways on the TV show "The science of being stupid".


Huh :huh: with all due respect exactly what competition are you talking about here? I ain't no F-class supported shooter, but I grew up shooting fullbore and UIT target these days mainly metallic silhouette, and cheek weld is absolutely paramount in achieving consistent sight alignment.
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by bigfellascott » 22 Jul 2017, 8:52 am

Any of those results will be good enough to hunt with, pick one and go huntin, no need to waste more time and money for bugger all diff down the pointy end results wise.
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Re: SAKO A7 and range report

Post by Gwion » 22 Jul 2017, 9:04 am

bigfellascott wrote:Any of those results will be good enough to hunt with, pick one and go huntin, no need to waste more time and money for bugger all diff down the pointy end results wise.


I think you are missing the point that he quite enjoys the process.
Also, those groups are 50yd. Some of them would be 2" at 100yd.
Nothing wrong with being thorough, especially when you are new to it and learning basic processes for tuning a load. :thumbsup:
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