MAKSIMOV.SU
What I like about Finns is their restraint.
In weapon advertising, among other things. They make really good weapons, but our northern neighbors do not allow excessively high notes about this in the media. Their own history, in fact, dates back only to the 20s. 20th century, but they are proud of it, cherish it, collect bits and pieces and are not prone to self-flagellation.
Economically
They are completely dependent on the Great West, but they do not suffer from exclusivity in political statements. Whether they have learned to live since the time they became part of the Russian Empire or whether they truly soberly assess reality - it’s hard to say. But they make good rifles. We’ll talk about them, or rather, about one of them, today.
Probably the most famous Finnish hunting rifle is the Sako-75 model,
launched into series in honor of the 75th anniversary of the company and received well-deserved recognition in our country and in the world for its impeccable workmanship and good performance characteristics. Since 1996, the “75th” model has been produced in a wide range of calibers and in numerous versions.
It would seem
, they do not seek good from good. However, ten years later, the Sako company announced the launch of a new model called Sako-85. In this article we will talk about the rifle in one of the most interesting versions of the “85th model” - Finnlight.
Sako-85
Design Features
From the official brochure:
“In the Model 85 Finnlight, all metal parts are made of stainless steel or have an anti-corrosion coating. The stock is made of polymer by injection molding in two stages. Special soft inserts on the fore-end and neck of the stock retain heat even in cold weather.
This
makes it possible to use the rifle in the most unfavorable conditions (high humidity, low temperatures, etc.). The stainless steel barrel has flutes, which makes it lighter and cools faster when firing. This rifle, due to its characteristics, is an ideal choice for women and young hunters.”
Model "Sako 85"
was developed on the basis of the previous rifle model - Sako-75. The Finns had enough time to eliminate all the shortcomings of the 75th model. As a result, the supply of cartridges from the magazine was improved, which resulted in an increase in the reliability of the weapon (on the Sako-75, problems such as misalignment of cartridges and double feeding were noted).
Shutter operation
became softer and smoother. According to the manufacturer’s statements, the new model has eliminated the “Mauser” “biting” of the bolt in the rear extreme position (it should be noted that in the Russian development of the MP-142k designed by M.E. Dragunov, this problem was solved from the beginning). However, when trying to close the bolt of a Finnish rifle with the palm of your hand, when pressure is applied forward and upward on the handle, the bolt still “catch the wedge.” It is clear that this is a kind of hyperbole, but such a problem exists.
The changes affected
also the design of the stock and magazine fixation - the likelihood of it falling out of the rifle when accidentally pressed is eliminated (patented Total Control Latch system). The bolt also has the ability to be released for loading and unloading weapons with the safety switch on - for this purpose there is a separate button in front of the latter. There is no particular practical sense in this, but now all weapons manufacturers are very concerned about the operational safety of their products, so the Finns can be understood.
Interestingly,
The developers of this model abandoned the “Remington” reflector located in the shutter mirror. The spring-loaded reflector is mounted in the receiver. When the bolt moves backward, the spring pushes the reflector up and it enters the corresponding groove on the bolt face to the maximum depth, which, apparently, should ensure the most reliable ejection of the cartridge case.
Receiver
has a complex shape and provides for mounting optics on a dovetail using the Sako Optilock system. With the help of the original “Sakov” rings and prism brackets, the optical sight is actually attached in a few minutes and does not require new zeroing after removal and reinstallation. To remove the sight along with the mounts, you only need to loosen the two flags. The brackets and rings themselves are made of very high quality (a set ranges from 10 thousand rubles).
Fuse
double action rifles: it locks both the hammer and the bolt stem. Since the previous model, several sizes of bolt groups have been provided for various ammunition, which eliminates the problem of excessive bolt stroke and increases the reliability of the weapon.
Shutter Sako-85
has 3 lugs and as many as 5 guides, which ensures the promised smooth operation and a handle rotation angle of 60 degrees. The advertising brochures also mention an increase in the area of the combat lugs, which theoretically has a positive effect on the strength of the locking unit and the accuracy of the combat.
Detachable magazine
the Sako-85 has a two-row, made of stainless steel and, in the absence of optics, can be equipped from above. The trigger has the ability to adjust the force from 1 to 2 kg.
Trunk
made by cold rotational forging, hung, has lightening valleys and an anti-reflective coating on the outer surface. It is argued that the valleys also serve as a radiator for accelerated cooling of the barrel, but, despite the correctness of this statement, this is of little application to a classic hunting rifle with manual reloading - it is not a machine gun, after all.
Sako-85 Synthetic Stainless polymer stock
It is truly ergonomic, has 10 grooved non-slip zones and, thanks to rubber inserts on the fore-end and pistol grip of the butt, is comfortable to hold. The use of mounting screws with an asterisk head, rather than the usual slotted screwdriver, is possible with
Sako 85 Carbon Wolf carbine
The Sako 85 series of bolt-action rifles is known to hunters and shooting enthusiasts around the world. Many of them consider the Finnish manufacturer's weapons to be the best in their class. Rifles in this series have been produced for more than ten years, but Sako continues to update the line of 85 carbines, surprising the weapons world with new ideas and modifications.
So at the IWA OutdoorClassics 2018 , three new products from the 85th line were presented at once: the Sako 85 Finlight II in a classic design, the tactical model Sako TRG 22/42 A1 and the Sako 85 Carbon Wolf - a lightweight hunting carbine with a stock made of carbon fiber. We'll talk about the latest news in more detail.
Time-tested reliability
At its core, the Carbon Wolf follows the traditions of the Sako 85 - it is a reliable bolt-on carbine in a new design. It comes in 308 Win, 30-06 SPRG, 300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag and 6.5 Creedmoor and is marketed as an all-around hunting weapon. The carbine is equipped with six different types of bolts, individual for each caliber.
Barrels for the Carbon Wolf carbine are made using traditional Sako technology, combining the experience and knowledge of Finnish gunsmiths. The barrels are produced by cold forging with two-stage quality control - all products are inspected manually and checked using special optical equipment to exclude defects. The length of the trunks is 51 or 68 centimeters. Each caliber has its own barrel cutting step - this allows you to achieve high accuracy and efficiency of the shot.
The carbine is equipped with a removable double-row magazine for 5 or 6 rounds (depending on the caliber).
You can read about the pros and cons of a two-row magazine in the article “Magazine in hunting weapons”.
The weapon can also be loaded directly through the bolt. The single-stage trigger features an adjustable trigger pull that can be adjusted from 1 to 2 kilograms . A reliable weapon safety locks both the bolt and the trigger at the same time, and also allows you to completely safely discharge and load the carbine.
The Sako 85 Carbon Wolf carbine comes standard without basic sights . But the design of the carbine allows you to install optical sights on it, which are attached to rings.
Super light carbon stock
But if the basic mechanisms in the Carbon Wolf model are not much different from the entire Sako 85 series, then the new carbon stock deserves a more detailed description. It is made of modern RTM carbon , which is used in the space and automotive industries. At first glance, such a solution seems unusual for a hunting weapon - after all, hunters are quite conservative people and prefer the usual stocks made of natural wood.
But the original material in Carbon Wolf is not just a marketing ploy and innovation for the sake of innovation. Thanks to this solution, the new carbine is very light in weight - from 3.1 to 3.5 kilograms, depending on the caliber and length of the barrel. In addition, carbon fiber is also a very practical material, strong, durable, and resistant to adverse environmental influences. Thanks to these properties, it is excellent for hunting in the field. The low weight of the carbine makes it possible to hunt over long distances and makes shooting from a weapon convenient for hunters of any size.
Unlike many rifles made of composite materials, the Carbon Wolf is in no way inferior in aesthetics to its wooden counterparts. This carbine looks impressive and original in its own way - the special textured pattern of carbon fiber gives it a truly unique look. But the carbon fiber stock not only looks good, but is also very comfortable when shooting - however, this is rather a merit not of the material itself, but of the Finnish gunsmiths.
The smooth curves of the handle make it very comfortable for aimed shooting. Everyone who has already been able to hold the new carbine in their hands admitted that, at first impression, the rifle fits incredibly comfortably in the hand , and the shape and size of the handle seem simply ideal. The original carbon surface texture provides excellent grip on the shooter's hands in any conditions.
The design of the carbine allows you to customize its dimensions for a specific shooter and quickly change settings if necessary. The rifle is equipped with a height-adjustable cheekpiece, which is quickly adjusted by pressing a button in the butt. You can also change the position of the buttplate to adjust the trigger distance, creating the perfect setting for your arm length. The position of the buttplate is also adjustable with a simple press of a button. Both buttons are recessed into the butt, which prevents them from being pressed accidentally.
Sako 85 Carbon Wolf carbine is the perfect combination of time-tested technology and modern developments. A wide selection of calibers and modifications makes it a universal hunting weapon, and lightness and strength will become undoubted trump cards that will interest even the most conservative hunters.
You can choose a domestic or imported rifled carbine for yourself in the catalog of manufacturers and suppliers.
Material prepared by Peter Senin
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