Sako 85 "Hunter" .223Rem Rifle

The Sako 85 Hunter is a lightweight rifle ideal for long stalks as it won't weigh you down. I managed to achieve sub-moa 5-shot groups at 100 yards using 3 different types of factory ammo. Typical Sako, nice and smooth with a great trigger!
Music by Ethan Meixsell - Song: Granite
This music is part of the KZbin Audio Library.

[@ozziereviews]

Check out our review of the Tikka Varmint in 223: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGmvc6pjia-kjaM

[@nazaretnalbandian3619]

please do a video on Steyr pro hunter

[@ExF1Guy]

You missed the third position on the safety. Put it in safe and depress the button just in front of the safety to open the bolt. This keeps the rifle in safe and will lock the bolt as soon as it is closed. One of the best safety designs IMHO. Great video!

[@craigsaunders7037]

My favourite little extra with the Sako is being able to load the magazine through the action like a floor plate action . You have the best of both worlds .

[@oncall21]

Look at that scaled down action for .223? Perfect! I have a Sako A1 .223 and love it. Thanks for sharing Ozzie! Great review as always.

[@thesheepman220]

oncall21 I have three sako's 22 magnum,a A1 in 17rem and a 3006 all great shooters, a1 's are sweet shooting rifles

[@ozziereviews]

Thanks for watching mate cheers

[@blainenorwood9656]

Just bought a A1 in 223 👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾

[@trumpjongun8831]

We have A1 .222 and A2 .308. Excellent rifles.

[@GunBlue490]

As a life long Sako owner going back to my first 222 L469 action Vixen, and having now a Tikka T3 222, with a number of other Sakos, I can attest that all have been incredibly fine shooters. Not one wasn't capable of sub MOA 5 shot groups, even before they advertized such accuracy. But, though there are a number of finer details that add up to their higher cost, there is one significant detail that separates the Sako and Tikka beyond all else; the individualized action sizes of the Sako that precisely correspond to each cartridge. Hint: please measure your groups from the leading edges of the widest bullet holes; alternatively, measure the widest edges and subtract one bullet diameter. It's the only way to get a true center to center measurement.

[@garydavis2265]

It's nice to see review with some actual 5 shot groups.

[@nathanadams6633]

Sako. Engineering work of art.

[@cheguevara6551]

I got 3 of these amazing rifles in 7mm 30-06 and 300WSM 2 with Swarovski Z6 2,5-15x56 and 1 with a Meopta R2 2,5-15x56 illuminated, Last season I shot a 10 point Deer with my Sako 300 WSM at 476 , and I just bought a used sako A3 30-06 Just amazing I really enjoy shooting these beautiful rifles

[@Gaumik-c2l]

Just picked up this same rifle in stainless chambered in 30-06 and also have a Swarovski glass on it can't wait to head to the range! 💥💥

[@ShoulderRollJason]

I have been trying for years to get my dad to convert to Anschutz but he wont he has only ever had Sako's and wont have anything else and i have to admit they are bloody good!

[@ozziereviews]

Yes they are a nice firearm, I personally sold my Sako 85 varminter in 223 and purchased an Anschutz 1770 in 223, I do prefer the Anschutz but that's just me...

[@mirkomirkovic5936]

ozziereviews ,his mate ,what is barrel twist in Anschutz (223 rem) ? I like to use bit heavier projectiles in .223rem. What is your advise for nice European rifle ? Thanks and keep doing good work as usual 👍

[@obbeification]

You should try your Sako with some European made rounds. Sako, Lapua, Norma and Sellier&bellot rounds works fine. They are the one we use mostly here in finland. Have to say that Sako is not that much better than Tikka. I had a T3 in 6x55 for years and worked really well. Now I am using customised tikka m65 with Kkc stock in 7x65 and 30-06. Perfect combination with lapua ammuntion. Keep up the good work👍

[@yeahbee8237]

I would never in my life recommend Sellier&bellot, too inconsistance and I have seen sooo many people (included myself) have trouble feeding/chambering Sellier&bellot

[@danebrewer10]

obbeification it's a bit like buying a CZ or an Anschütz rimfire, they're both nice, but one is a bit nicer than the other😄, I have my eyes on a Sake in the grey laminate stock....plus I like the dedicated action length instead of an overly long magazine and action with a filler block or bolt stop in.

[@payres48]

Still waiting to get my B class variation on my licence. I had pretty much decided on the Tikka T3X Hunter in .223. Now you have me rethinking my choice! Only thing is I could get the Tikka and a good quality scope combined for the same price of the Sako alone.

[@rogerandlyndabeall3840]

Tikkas are just as good and from the same factory. I heve one about $1400

[@Skilpadjie1]

My Sako 85 222 will run circles around those groups everyday of the week.

[@ozcountryliving4751]

Absolutely correct. 222 is one of the best kept secrets

[@mattholley3642]

Another ripper video Ozzie. Cheers mate!

[@ozziereviews]

Thanks mate

[@mikedee6173]

Nice review. Thank you!

[@ozziereviews]

No problem

[@NBegian]

the first two groups were sub MOA. The barrel probably heated up too much after that

[@josephsoltes1250]

Narek Begian he used few different types of ammo and grains

[@smartcellsrecoilpad3109]

Great review Ozzie. You mentioned the stock pad on the rifle is just a firm rubber. We manufacture recoil pads for Sako rifles, and we were wondering if you would be willing to do a review on our recoil pads to compare them to some of the others in the industry . Thank you.

[@benfuller9740]

great review

[@John.John.Johnny.John.]

Great job Ozzie. Would've been interesting to see how the Sako ammo would've performed.

[@ozziereviews]

Couldn't get any at the time...

[@DrMike040298]

Great review and a nice rifle! Quite frankly I'm a little disappointed in it's accuracy? I guess for the $$$ I would have expected much better performance. Although not as beautiful, the Ruger American Predator or offerings from Savage will embarrace this offering. A shooting friend if mine has a Sako in .223 and with 35-40gr pills shoots literally 1 ragged hole, .25moa. that's for the review, keep up the great job!

[@devinb3397]

0.75 inch 5 shot groups aren’t good enough? And your mate is obviously shooting handloads, completely different story..

[@twirlyturd4364]

bloody good rifle, nailed so many pesky wild dogs with that thing.

[@jimdent351]

Any problems with the spent casing hitting the scope tube when being ejected? Apparently It is a problem, at least with a 375 magnum. Thanks!

[@cs-rj8ru]

I wish we could get these in the US...Seems to be a ban on Sako exporting a nice walnut/blued steel 223 hunter to the States...

[@williamprendergast6510]

Excellent video my friend, super Swarovski optics,i have the Sako 85 Bushnell Elite scope,i get half MAO with the Federal 55 grain ballistic tips.I thought your scope is a bit too high With the mounts,maybe you were shooting a little too fast and not giving the barrell time to cool down.Great foxing rifle,i wouldn't use a varmint heavy barrel for bench rest shooting.Like you said light gun to carry around hunting.Stay safe.

[@bruceinnawoods3610]

In future reviews could you please show what the other side of the stock looks like? I'd liked to have seen some close ups of the cheek piece on this rifle.

[@Rohster70]

Like my 85 Varmint. Loves the OSA ammo but nothing else comes close.

[@ozziereviews]

I found the 55gr VMAX the best in my 85 Varminter, would shoot half an inch all day long...

[@bope308]

High end Nordic rifle.

[@marynollaig4124]

Is the stock high enough to view through the scope without lifting the cheek off the comb? The Tikka t3 is not. Try Sako Gamehead Varmint 50 grain .223 ammo, no round is as accurate in my Tikka T3. Same barrel as the Sako. Gives 3/8 inch groups at 150 yards and 5/8 inch groups at 200 on a calm day.

[@charchar1011]

Can you do a review on the carbon wolf in .308 please.

[@KolyaNickD]

If you want blued and walnut then for God's sake get this and not the Tikka T3 version. I owned the latter and there's a fair bit of plastic in parts of the receiver - this will annoy the hell out of you though it shoots well.

[@BlueTJay]

Try the Nosler .223 - 55 grain factory loads, you will get a better group each time!

[@brentonmcmahon5534]

Hi Ozzie. I own the same rifle in .308 with a 20" barrel and it's a great compact rifle to carry around. It's beautifully balanced and I have had the best accuracy so far with Norma 180gr Plastic Points. You mention in the review that you don't have a set trigger but I noticed in the video that it looks like the trigger blade is black. I was under the impression that the set trigger has a black trigger blade and the standard single stage is silver. This may have changed, or I may be wrong, but it might be worth checking to see if the trigger on your rifle has the set option.

[@ozziereviews]

Yeah there was a bit of a brain fart with that, I do have the set trigger, it was the Sako black bear that I didn't get the set trigger...

[@investornator]

New rifle Ozzie or just a demo for the review mate? Im a Sako fan ...never had an issue with one in the bush hunting ... Had feeding issues with a Tikka in the bush ....my mates 270 tikka has feeding issues when hunting ....has cost him a few big boars !

[@ozziereviews]

New rifle :)

[@daltonv5206]

Never heard of Tikkas having feeding issues...what was going wrong?

[@bootsandgear]

Great reviews. Could you include twist rate?

[@MrsJBelic]

Hi Ozzie, thanks for all your top notch reviews mate! I just bought a sako 85 and trying to figure out what height to get those optilocks in. Hope you don't mind checking for me what height those ones are on the 223? cheers mate!

[@ozziereviews]

Medium with short base

[@thollingsworth4910]

Just priced sako 85 classic. Msrp is 2,275.

[@rosstisbury1626]

another very good review, cheers . . . . but, disappointing accuracy, i would not be happy with that, pity you didnt try hand loads or as mentioned some European ammo.

[@jasonkay742]

can you do a review on the sako carbon wolf in .270

[@tankmeister8131]

Looks similar to the old Vixen

[@ausant9121]

I have both the Hunter and the Varmint. Better than 0.25 MOA @ 100m with my handloads. A question: why have you not mounted the front scope base as per specification? Cheers Antsa

[@ozziereviews]

That's just how it came

[@alexanderlaver4934]

Was the barrel getting hot with the 3 4 5 groups?

[@The_Bushman]

Today its $3400 AUD

[@Heyomattyo]

And the higher grains....?

[@dapulnihger2899]

Do Aussies not have semi-auto guns?

[@investornator]

We do but you must be a primary producer/farmer/pest control contractor ....we need a permit and a different class of gun license to get semis !

[@mattholley3642]

Not really mate. Most Aussies are restricted to what's called an A&B class licence. That means your average shooter can own any manually operated longarm provided it's not a pump action shotgun, follows certain length/magazine requirements depending on the state, and isn't a reasonably large caliber (like 50cal, unless you have a certain exemption for club use). Hope that clears it up a bit. It's really a mess of laws and regulations. Cheers!

[@andrewmurphy7401]

Sako's are the best factory rifle on the market, but who was the joker who put high mounts on this gun? Low mounts for a 40mm scope mate. you only want a couple mm clearance between scope and barrel. Get the optilocks in low and you will have a perfect outfit!

[@ozziereviews]

That's how it came...

[@momouppa]

ozziereviews I have a theory it was supplied with the high mounts to mitigate the ejection issues Sako 85's are know to have.

[@jtmachete]

@@momouppa absolutely correct...the 85s have a serious ejection issue. Piece of junk

[@momouppa]

@@jtmachete Yep I found out the hard way with my sako 85

[@nathanlane5172]

hey mate what price range are we talking for the sako 85 hunter .223

[@momouppa]

Nathan Lane depends on if it has a set trigger or not starts at around 2400 according to the description above.

[@regsparkes6507]

Ozzie said in this video, that is was in the 2400.AUD range, I believe.

[@leoceh6073]

Reg Sparkes Gm

[@bjnuma01]

Why buy this over the Lithgow. Aussie made and just as good if not better

[@MrSchimona]

cop that kmart tyre and auto ya flaming mongrels

[@yeahbee8237]

why is the scope mounted so high?

[@momouppa]

Yeah Bee thats probably what ozzie finds comfortable.

[@jtmachete]

Because of the ejection issue in 85s. On a normal mounted scope, the empty brass hit the scope and land back in the open action. Research the ejection problem with 85s, piece of junk....

[@user-cj3rr1gd2j]

How is it against tikka t3????

[@Shubree]

sako owns tikka, made is same factory. t3 = economic version of sako

[@alshehri.yousef]

من وكيلها

[@raider6511]

Did I hear u right, 10,400 Aussie price???

[@ozziereviews]

$2400

[@user-yd6hw6kh2e]

Продам сакко 223 рем пулсар н 870 і ще багато чого

[@dalemiddleton7057]

It shot no better than lithgow

[@lutherlewis6792]

Music sucks!

[@bunjiboyz3197]

first

[@SuperSpannerX1]

Winner :)

[@brianminghella3312]

Okay, overpriced and underperforming. I will cross that one off the list.