Tikka bluing vs. Sako bluing??

T

twoblink

New member
Went to my local gun store yesterday, and the guy there showed me a Tikka in synthetic (which is what I want) and the price was right. $460. I asked how much a Sako version would be, and he said about $1200. Aside from the normal goodies between the Tikka's and Sako's, he told me this:

"The Sako has MUCH better bluing vs. the Tikka's"

Is that true? I know that Sako makes only match grade barrels, and the barrel's roll of the same line regardless for Tikka's or Sako's, so I _assume_ that both would have the same bluing treatment? No??

If that is true (Tikka vs. Sako bluing is different) then I would want the all weather version of the Tikka, and them my question becomes, anybody see one of these before? Is the stainless steel on it the shiny ones, or the matte ones?

If it's matte, then I'll take the stainless matte with synthetic stock.

So you Tikka and Sako owners (especially the ones that own both!!) Please let me know.

Thanks!
Albert
 
I've owned both rifles and would say the Sako blueing is better but not that much better. The barrel on the Sako seems a little better polished and the receiver is blued while the receiver on the Tikka is more of a matte finish. By way of comparison my Cooper Arms Model 36 has much better blueing than the Sako.

My Tikka didn't have a blued bolt or trigger guard with the later being made of plastic.

Fit and finish on the Tikka is not as good but again not that far behind the Sako and certainly better than any Rem, Win or Ruger I've seen recently.

I traded my Tikka .223 for a Sako .223 because I wanted the smaller action and the rifle I bought came with a very nice piece of figured walnut.

I've never seen an all weather Tikka.

Paul
 
They have a Tikka all weather at one of the local shops and I pick it up every time I go in. I don't own one yet (college, still saving), but plan to. The finish is the matte. No shiny stainless, one dealer commented to me that he felt it was less reflective than a smooth blued barrel. That's a nice rifle, hope you enjoy it!
 
You should be able to get a new Sako 75 stainless synthetic for $950. Then you would not have anything to worry about. Sure it is more $ than the Tikka but worth it! Good shooting, Art G.
 
$950 is still a ways away from the $460. I can get a Tikka + Good Glass for that price!

But, I would still like a sako, and if I'm willing to wait another 6 months, I think I can save enough for a Sako. But that means another 4 months to save for the glass...

I assume that Sako's all-weather is matte stainless as well?

Thanks!
Albert
 
twoblink

If you don't have a rifle now and can't wait get the Tikka. It will not let you down. If you already have a rifle and want to upgrade I'd wait to get the Sako.

Better yet you could do what I did which was to buy the Tikka and a good piece of glass. Shoot it until I was in a position financially to buy the Sako. I traded in the Tikka and put the glass on my new Sako.
 
Have you considered the Remington BDL model 700. Its blueing is a lot better than the Sako's. It has a great fully adjustable trigger, and the wood in most BDLs is far better than the Sako's. I looked at two of the new Sako's at a gun show, they were the standard models and the wood in the stocks was absolutely terrible. The blueing was very dull. The checkering looked to be machine cut and very poorly done. I also looked at a Sako deluxe model and it was a beauty. Knock out blueing , and gorgeous wood and very good hand checkering. I could not believe it was the same rifle as the standard model. If you are on a budget the Remington will shoot every bit as good as a Sako. I have owned both and the Remington takes no back seat in accuracy to the Sako plus in the standard model it has better blueing, Much , Much better wood and in my opinion a better trigger than the Sako. Of course there is no snob appeal in the Remington as compared to the Sako. People often pay large amounts of money for firearms that turn out go be good investments but not really much better sometimes than firearms of lesser value. For example take the Pre-1964 Winchester Model 70 rifle. A great collectors piece and a good investment but the average workmanship was a joke in most of the rifles I have examined and also owned. The New Model 70 currently being manufactured with the old fashioned claw extractor I have found to be more accurate on avearage and has much better workmanship. I have a l962 model 70 Winchester that is almost borderline junk but you could never convince a collector of this fact. One misguided soul offered me $800. for it. I did not have the heart to rip him off. W.R.
 
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