Browning Safari DOM

M

Mad38dog

Inactive
Hi, I have a friend who is interested in finding information about a Browning bolt action rifle that was left to him by his father.

It is in really good condition it is a .308 caliber with the FN letters stamped on the barrel and also it says made in Finland

The only indication of a serial number we can find is the # 449Z4 stamped on the left side of the barrel

Can anyone tell the year this rifle was manufactured from this information?

He is not interested in selling it more for the information really
 
Your friend has one of the "Sako Brownings". The actions were made by Sako in Finland and sold to FN to build rifles for Browning. Browning used Sako actions on some of the Safari rifles from the early 1960s until 1968 or so. A bit of trivia: Browning was the first major firearms company to chamber rifles for the 22-250 cartridge (while it was still a wildcat), and these rifles were built on Sako actions.
 
Wow thanks for the information

He didn't realize the the rifle was that old.

It has a vari X III 3x9 scope on it and it shoots some really tight groups at 150 yards

I like it much more than my newer composite stock ss barrel winchester and savage rifles that I own
 
Watch out for "salt wood"-I'm thinking that the date of manufacture of your friend's rifle falls within the infamous salt-wood era. Look for rust inside the stock on metal areas for evidence of same.
 
I have read a little about the salt wood problem
We can check this by removing the barrel and looking for rust and corrosion where the barrel and stock meet?
 
That's where I would start. If all's ok there, it's likely that the wood hasn't been subjected to the "salt treatment".
 
The early Browning Safari 308 was build small ring mauser action before Sako action used and salt wood issue.

I got Browning Safrai 243 Sako action and purchased it new, no problems with stock but Sako did replace stock.
 
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