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!