Any Sako Vixen fans? Show us what you got.

[TheCZKid]

After meeting Rick in Oregon here in Bend, I found myself in search of a 20 Vartarg. The one I decided on was built on a Sako L46, which technically is pre-Vixen dating, but still the same small 222 action. I didn't know about Sako's much before talking to Rick, but I ended up really liking the 20VT I got, and appreciate the quality of the Sako Varmint version of their rifle.

This is the 20 Vartarg, with a Shilen barrel, Leupold VX-III LR 6.5-20x40mm with varmint reticle (recommended by Rick, smart fellow). This one is from 1954



I ended up jonesing for a 222 Remington, found one built on a Sako L46 action made in 1957, with a custom stock, and Shilen barrel, same Leupold scope resided on it now, not the one shown.



Recently I ended up selling a Remington XP-100 in 17 Mach IV, as I couldn't get it to shoot well (and didn't want to rebarrel it), and decided to cut my losses. I shipped it off to the new owner, and the next weekend there was a local gun show. I decided to go, just to get out of the house, and see if I could find any treasures. Well, I have to say, I found one guy had a Sako L461, in .223, a true Vixen varmint model, c1970.

As I was grieving the loss of the 17M4, I was susceptible, and got into a rebound relationship... I got that Sako 223! And, I have to admit, she's a keeper! I just started doing load development, before the snow starts flying here, and it's definitely showing promise.



I'm pretty new to Sako's but think they make a great small caliber platform. Let me know your stories...

 

[17VLD]

Well I'd say you have done very well for being a Sako newbie! I love your taste in rifles and if you are listening to Rick I think you are on a great path. Kevin G on here is another Sako aficionado and I'm sure he will post up some beautiful rifles as well. I only have 3 Sakos myself and have always wanted an original varmint vixen wood stocked model in 222 or 222 mag. Mine currently are a 17/222 L461 and two A1s chambered in 20 Duster with McMillan stocks. I have sold a few I regret, most notably was a 218 L46. I can relate to the comparison of the loss of what almost certainly is like a love affair gone adrift.

Matt

 

[KevinG]

Since Matt mentioned the 17-222........here's one of mine.
It's a Winslow/Sako L461.......stocked by Nils Hultgren.

Kevin

Sako's????.......L461/AI......yep.......tooooo many.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

One of my Sako Vixen's in the rat patch.
All original, Bofors steel, pre-Garcia, chambered in 223. I took it along with my usual HB varmint rigs to SD during an industry pd shoot, and used it for my walkabout rifle. Amazing how accurate it was/is even when compared to my dedicated varmint rifles. This puppy has accounted for a pickup load of ground squirels, pd's and rockchucks over the years.



Great little rifles, and as Frank deHaas said in his book "Bolt Action Rifles and Actions", "no one has ever said anything bad about a Sako".
I think he was right.

 

[kiwishooter]

Well I haven't got any L46 or L461's in the safe, they never made a L/H version of these, but I have got a "new" barrel in the white sitting here for a L461, it has been chambered in 222 but hasn't been threaded.
Talking about L/H L461, I remember there was a R/H one converted to L/H, anybody know where this is?

 

[KevinG]

It's not a LH L461.........but a factory single-shot L461.

My plan was for another 17-222.......but with a tight neck, 0.374" base datum, and slightly shorter chamber length(to fit neck length).......for a pd rifle.

Bedded into a factory Sako PPC-BR stock.

Inletted the full-length triggerguard. The radius of curvature, of the triggerguard's front end, was the same as the PPC-BR escutcheon.

The end result........with Leupold 6.5-20xAO

I later changed the trigger to a Canjar single-set.

Kevin

 

[KevinG]

Added extra pics.

Kevin

 

[TheCZKid]

Well, I picked up another L461 Vixen on Friday, in 17 Rem Fireball. Just put a different scope on it today than the one shown. Unfortunately, our weather is going bad now (rainy and windy), so might not be able to test anything until spring, darn. But it's looking promising. It's in a custom stock, which has nice grain, and sports a Douglas Premium barrel, a shorty at 19.5".

 

[rickiesrevenge]

Pretty stock on that one

 

[Hornet]

That is a beauty!

 

[MTPaul]

With a stock like that, WOW!, it looks almost too pretty to take out to the rugged lava fields found in Central OR. You definitely won the stock lotto with that find. Congratulations!

 

[TheCZKid]

With a stock like that, WOW!, it looks almost too pretty to take out to the rugged lava fields found in Central OR. You definitely won the stock lotto with that find. Congratulations!

Thank you! Initially, I saw the rifle at a local gun show, and it has some pretty bad cosmetic issue on the finish, so I passed on it. I purchased the Sako 223 Varmint, shown above, instead. It was in a lot nicer shape.

But, with the seller being local, I kept thinking about this 17FB... and had to take a second look at it. I saw that under a mottled and cloudy finish, with raised wood surface underneath, there lurked attractive grain patterns. I took a chance, and am glad I did. I'm still working on finalizing the final finish on the stock, but after using 4/0 steel wool and lemon oil, I got through the bad finish. It looks even better than I had hoped!

 

[MTPaul]

Your patience, diligence and hard work certainly paid rich dividends! If you don't mind sharing a few pictures of the final finish once you have it complete, please do. Eye candy, sometimes also referred to as "Gun Porn", is always appreciated. I'm going to need a bib to help protect my keyboard... Ha!

 

[GoWyo!]

Howdy all,

I’m a fan. I have six AI’s, all factory chamberings- .17 Rem hunter with sights, .223 Lightweight, .223 hunter w/ sights, 22 PPC USA SS, 2- 6 PPC USA hunters. The .223 hunter and one 6 are bring backs, oem oil finished stocks. All adorned with Leupold optics. The .223 lw was going to be turned into a 6x45 for my daughter, but she swayed away from shooting after trying it in 4H. Hey, I was happy she tried! The 6 PPC’s have filled that void planned for the LW. Maybe a .20 Vartarg…? I’ve always wanted a 17 M4, maybe this would work be twofer, small .221 fb based cartridge and my first 5mm? I haven’t been shooting nearly enough. Time for a change. Edit- I’m on the lookout for an AI Kokotukki as well!

 

[MTPaul]

GoWyo - You certainly have an OUTSTANDING collection of wooden stocked rifles! Thank you for sharing and congratulations!

 

[GoWyo!]

Thanks MT, I’ve got a few syn’s. AII .22-250 in a McMillan classic, the AV 7mm classic in the group pic lives in a McM hunter. I’m expecting an AV .25-06 that’s wearing a McM hunter, and I have an empty AV McMillan that’s going to go on my new in box AV 338…so I’m not a total walnut snob! . I’d like to find a used A1 McMillan, but I haven’t run across one. Prices for a new blank scare me, let alone what the charge for inletting would cost. More than a complete rifle, I’m sure.

 

[dale06]

I have three of the A1 McMillan stocked rifles, 20 VT, 221FB, and 22PPC. It’s sad that McMillan dropped making them a drop in. Brown Precision will make an A1 stock.

 

[GoWyo!]

I have three of the A1 McMillan stocked rifles, 20 VT, 221FB, and 22PPC. It’s sad that McMillan dropped making them a drop in. Brown Precision will make an A1 stock.

Well, perhaps we could put together a group order for McMillan? maybe they would whip out a dozen or two?

 

[TheCZKid]

I've got a buddy who has a Sako in 221 Fireball, fat barrel in a skinny wood stock, looks kinda comical. He'd like to convert it into a 20 Vartarg, but would like a wider foregrip stock if he did so. Perhaps the McMillan would be a good option.

 

[TheCZKid]

Your patience, diligence and hard work certainly paid rich dividends! If you don't mind sharing a few pictures of the final finish once you have it complete, please do. Eye candy, sometimes also referred to as "Gun Porn", is always appreciated. I'm going to need a bib to help protect my keyboard... Ha!

Today I reassembled it after a number of coats of Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil finish, took some photos. It looks pretty nice! In person the grain has a tiger-stripe flip/flop that's gorgeous.