About 10 yrs ago, at the urging of a Sako collector friend of mine, I bought a Sako Finnbear L61-R in .30-06 that was made around '67 to '68 (according to my Sako collector friend). Has a nicely figured French Walnut stock on it. It was a safe queen until year-before-last when I mounted a Sightron II 3x9 scope on it in Millett Angle-Lok rings. Made a good looking rig. And the trigger is awesome.
I tried a couple of powders with 150gr Ballistic Silvertips: some with IMR-4320 and some with RL-19. Settled on the RL-19. Gave me the best velocity and accuracy, so I worked up a good load that shoots dang near ORH (one-ragged-hole). This baby is a shooter.
Didn't get to use her until this year, and the first time in the field with me, she took a nice 10pt whitetail, at about 60 yards, that was chasing a doe. Doe ran out there about 150 yds and stopped, looking back to see what happened. Big mistake. Got her too. One shot each. Laid those bullets in there perfectly. The old fashioned way. Still hunting and shooting offhand.
Took her out again a couple of days later and she collected another BIG doe. Also one shot. Could have taken a couple more easily, but it was getting close to dark and didn't want to fool with more than one.
Was amazed at how naturally this rifle came to shoulder and how well it fits me in field conditions. And when I jacked the bolt after the shots, was again amazed how slick and smooth it felt. I've got customized, tuned Ruger77's and Win M-70's that aren't NEARLY this slick. The whole experience of shouldering, shooting, and cycling this SAKO in the field feels somehow different from and more natural than any other rifle I've fired. And I've killed 105 whitetails now, and have used quite a few different rifles doing it.
Now I know why you SAKO and Tikka nuts that have actually used the rifles in the field rave about them so much. I'm one of you now...... This rifle is on the permanent "Keep" list.
