Sako S20 Precision?

[jc000]

I know this seems to be a Tikka forum but has anyone been hands on with one the “new” Sako S20s? The Carbon Wolf is a little too pricey for me!

I’m curious if this offers any significant durability advantages off of something like a Tikka UPR.

[Grey]

Sako is just the Tikka big brother, I would totally be buying a Sako S20 over a Tikka for the price difference.

[joshs]

What do you want to do with it?

That's starting to get into the price range of a Big Horn Origin barreled action from PVA (https://patriotvalleyarms.com/bighorn-arms-origin-barreled-action/) with a KRG Bravo/XRay or MDT Oryx chassis.

[jc000]

What do you want to do with it?

That's starting to get into the price range of a Big Horn Origin barreled action from PVA (https://patriotvalleyarms.com/bighorn-arms-origin-barreled-action/) with a KRG Bravo/XRay or MDT Oryx chassis.

This would simply be my one size fits all bolt action rifle. I’d primarily punch paper with it (well under 1000M) and would like to use it for shooting deer, too. Would stick with .308, probably do a 1-8x scope and a can.

[jc000]

I don’t know jack shit about building something, other than it seems that if you know what you’re doing you can get something very nice for a lot less than you’d spend on a factory rifle.

[joshs]

I don’t know jack shit about building something, other than it seems that if you know what you’re doing you can get something very nice for a lot less than you’d spend on a factory rifle.

With a barreled action and a chassis, there's no "building" really. Just bolt them together. It's the same as normal reassembly after removing the stock. Installing most aftermarket 700 triggers is also as simple as tightening a bolt or two. You'll want an inch pound torque driver, but that's pretty much a requirement for setting up a rifle and optic anyways. Like bolting an AR upper and lower together, you also get the added benefit of not paying as much in Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax. (That's why you can often get more gun by "building") .

I haven't played with an S20 yet, but Sako definitely knows how to build a rifle. I'm pretty picky about rifle feel, so I'd want to have hands on with that stock before I'd commit to a $1,700 rifle.

I'd also advise against a 1-8 as an optic for your intended purposes. First, you're going to want a repeatable turret that you can dial, and very few LPVOs have that. Second, you'll be limiting the rifle by not having adjustable parallax. Third, for hunting, the lowlight performance of most 1x scopes isn't optimal.

[jc000]

I'd also advise against a 1-8 as an optic for your intended purposes. First, you're going to want a repeatable turret that you can dial, and very few LPVOs have that. Second, you'll be limiting the rifle by not having adjustable parallax. Third, for hunting, the lowlight performance of most 1x scopes isn't optimal.

What would you suggest? Greater than 8x seems like overkill for the ranges I’d shoot but I really have no idea.

[joshs]

What would you suggest? Greater than 8x seems like overkill for the ranges I’d shoot but I really have no idea.

That really depends on what you want to spend, but the Nightforce SHV 4-14, Vortex PST Gen 2, and Bushnell LRHS have good track records. I'm not a huge fan of having an exposed non-locking windage turret for hunting, so that's a downside for the PST 2. Bushnell just revamped their scope line, and I think the LRHS is potentially no longer made. Vortex, Bushnell, an Athlon make more affordable options, but they will be somewhat more of a gamble on reliability and tracking. I really like the new Vortex Razor LHT (and I'll likely put one on my next hunting rifle), but they don't have any track record yet.

[Tod-13]

A little late to the thread but...

I think I'll be getting a couple of S20 rifles (243 and 30-06). They answer my issues with the Blaser straight pull with the same stock. (Not identical stock, but same style and ergonomics.) Those issues basically being an inability to handle one before purchase and the limited support in the US. I handled n S20 at Collector's in Houston and it felt wonderful.

On the scope issue, don't worry about what other people use or do -- look at how you use them. A 1-4x or 1-5x with low profile turrets is perfect for what I do -- I don't mess with adjusting the turrets once they are set, since I'm using them for hunting and the wind drift and range aren't going to be the same long enough for that to be worth it. YMMV -- and probably will.

[Clusterfrack]

Don't forget the Go/No-go gauges, and tools to tighten the barrel nut. As well, there can be magazine feed issues, depending on the caliber, stock, chassis, and mags.

A Sako or Tikka is the easy button--assuming they have what you're looking for. In the case of my last rifle, they didn't so I built it from an ARC action.


With a barreled action and a chassis, there's no "building" really. Just bolt them together. It's the same as normal reassembly after removing the stock. Installing most aftermarket 700 triggers is also as simple as tightening a bolt or two. You'll want an inch pound torque driver, but that's pretty much a requirement for setting up a rifle and optic anyways. Like bolting an AR upper and lower together, you also get the added benefit of not paying as much in Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax. (That's why you can often get more gun by "building") .

I haven't played with an S20 yet, but Sako definitely knows how to build a rifle. I'm pretty picky about rifle feel, so I'd want to have hands on with that stock before I'd commit to a $1,700 rifle.

I'd also advise against a 1-8 as an optic for your intended purposes. First, you're going to want a repeatable turret that you can dial, and very few LPVOs have that. Second, you'll be limiting the rifle by not having adjustable parallax. Third, for hunting, the lowlight performance of most 1x scopes isn't optimal.

[jc000]

I'm going to to be evaluating the S20 against a couple other options here in a bit. I've narrowed down the scope of this rifle as mainly plinking up to 1000 yards and taking on a couple of mountain hunts I have tentatively planned. I think at the end of the day it's going to be 10.5lbs scoped and loaded. Does that seem too heavy for a mountain rifle or within the acceptable range?

[rjohnson4405]

I think it's heavy for a mountain hunt, definitely under 10lbs would be good.

BUT your goals are a bit contradictory. Heavier guns are easier/more fun to shoot at distance and suck to hike up mountains with.

If you have to have one rifle, and you're good with it, then the extra weight is fine. Only punishing yourself after all :)

[Clusterfrack]

I just looked at S20, and a 6.5 PRC with 24" barrel was 8.7 lbs. Not bad at all. And they actually have a stock that seems good. $2k is a good deal.

https://choose.sako.fi/assets/sako-s20/s20-precision/w_1920,h_1080/sako-s20__s20-precision__black__black-steel__24.3__d18__pov__1.png

[SteveB]

I'm going to to be evaluating the S20 against a couple other options here in a bit. I've narrowed down the scope of this rifle as mainly plinking up to 1000 yards and taking on a couple of mountain hunts I have tentatively planned. I think at the end of the day it's going to be 10.5lbs scoped and loaded. Does that seem too heavy for a mountain rifle or within the acceptable range?

Well, it’s too heavy for me; doesn’t mean it’s too heavy for you. I’d rather not carry any more than I have to. My favorite hunting rifle is a Brockman custom 300WM and weighs 8.3 lbs all in.

64353

64354

[SteveB]

I just looked at S20, and a 6.5 PRC with 24" barrel was 8.7 lbs. Not bad at all. And they actually have a stock that seems good. $2k is a good deal.

https://choose.sako.fi/assets/sako-s20/s20-precision/w_1920,h_1080/sako-s20__s20-precision__black__black-steel__24.3__d18__pov__1.png

$1598 is a great deal. And the Hunter configuration is listed at 7.4 lbs. Not sure I can pass this up.

[rjohnson4405]

64377

Sako is putting out some super interesting rifles, double the price and you could lose a lb for the carbon wolf :)

[wvincent]

I'm going to to be evaluating the S20 against a couple other options here in a bit. I've narrowed down the scope of this rifle as mainly plinking up to 1000 yards and taking on a couple of mountain hunts I have tentatively planned. I think at the end of the day it's going to be 10.5lbs scoped and loaded. Does that seem too heavy for a mountain rifle or within the acceptable range?

Did you end up going with the S20?
I finally handled one today in 6.5 PRC with the hunter stock, and I really liked it.
I bought a Mauser M18 in 6.5 PRC last year just to get a chance to play with the caliber and I really like it as far as performance and lack of recoil.
The M18 on the other hand, while easily meeting the accuracy standards promised by Mauser, needs quite a bit of improvement in the ergo's at least for me.
I guess I could just load the stock with a bit of weight to shift the balance, but the S20 felt great from the get go.

[ranger]

Did you end up going with the S20?
I finally handled one today in 6.5 PRC with the hunter stock, and I really liked it.
I bought a Mauser M18 in 6.5 PRC last year just to get a chance to play with the caliber and I really like it as far as performance and lack of recoil.
The M18 on the other hand, while easily meeting the accuracy standards promised by Mauser, needs quite a bit of improvement in the ergo's at least for me.
I guess I could just load the stock with a bit of weight to shift the balance, but the S20 felt great from the get go.

A buddy got a Mauser M18 in 6.5 PRC just in time for ammo crisis. I was able to get some brass and load some 6.5 PRC for the new M18. It shoots well but is a little "crude" (not finished super well) but for the price it is a bargain. 6.5 PRC is interesting too - I like 6.5 bore but for hunting there are a lot of choices and not sure advantage over 270 other than 6.5 PRC is "new". Not sure how many hunters can use the long range potential of the 6.5 PRC.

[Borderland]

A buddy got a Mauser M18 in 6.5 PRC just in time for ammo crisis. I was able to get some brass and load some 6.5 PRC for the new M18. It shoots well but is a little "crude" (not finished super well) but for the price it is a bargain. 6.5 PRC is interesting too - I like 6.5 bore but for hunting there are a lot of choices and not sure advantage over 270 other than 6.5 PRC is "new". Not sure how many hunters can use the long range potential of the 6.5 PRC.

Judging from what I see at the range right before hunting season, not very many. It's sexy though.

[wvincent]

A buddy got a Mauser M18 in 6.5 PRC just in time for ammo crisis. I was able to get some brass and load some 6.5 PRC for the new M18. It shoots well but is a little "crude" (not finished super well) but for the price it is a bargain. 6.5 PRC is interesting too - I like 6.5 bore but for hunting there are a lot of choices and not sure advantage over 270 other than 6.5 PRC is "new". Not sure how many hunters can use the long range potential of the 6.5 PRC.

Thing with the M18, it's a great value for the price, it does shoot really well from the bench. But that foam filled stock just makes it kind of wonky from offhand or a tripod. It's not "flexy", just too light for me. And the adjustable trigger is pretty darn good too.

I actually did the .270 vs 6.5 PRC debate in my head for a bit, and it came down to me not really wanting another .270, and the fact that I think the developers are putting a lot more resources into the new calibers.

[wvincent]

Judging from what I see at the range right before hunting season, not very many. It's sexy though.

That's a pretty fair statement. But for me, long range steel banging is just a training tool. The more steel I shoot from 700,out to 1000 yds, the better I am at those 300-400 yard hunting shots. I know for a fact that I have gotten a lot better at dealing with the wind since I started stretching the 6.5PRC out.

And the 6.5 PRC recoil is a lot kinder to me than the .270 ever was.

Fact is, if the Buck of a lifetime was standing broadside to me at 800 yards, he's either gonna have to wait and let me catch up to him, or he's simply gonna live another day.

[jc000]

Sorry meant to reply some time ago… no I have not (yet) but I am quite interested in the S20, still. I made it out to Eurooptic and looked at a number of rifles to include the S20. The Carbon Wolf is amazingly balanced but not sure it's twice-as-expensive amazing. The employee I was working with was also recommending Seekins and Christensen Arms as well. They were pretty cool but, particularly with Christensen Arms, I saw some negative online chatter about them.

I do like a factory assembled rifle so the Sako is looking like a good option and probably the front runner. Now I'm considering the Zeiss 3x18 Conquest (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Zeiss+3-18+conquest&ref=nb_sb_noss) on top.


Did you end up going with the S20?
I finally handled one today in 6.5 PRC with the hunter stock, and I really liked it.
I bought a Mauser M18 in 6.5 PRC last year just to get a chance to play with the caliber and I really like it as far as performance and lack of recoil.
The M18 on the other hand, while easily meeting the accuracy standards promised by Mauser, needs quite a bit of improvement in the ergo's at least for me.
I guess I could just load the stock with a bit of weight to shift the balance, but the S20 felt great from the get go.

[wvincent]

Sorry meant to reply some time ago… no I have not (yet) but I am quite interested in the S20, still. I made it out to Eurooptic and looked at a number of rifles to include the S20. The Carbon Wolf is amazingly balanced but not sure it's twice-as-expensive amazing. The employee I was working with was also recommending Seekins and Christensen Arms as well. They were pretty cool but, particularly with Christensen Arms, I saw some negative online chatter about them.

I do like a factory assembled rifle so the Sako is looking like a good option and probably the front runner. Now I'm considering the Zeiss 3x18 Conquest (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Zeiss+3-18+conquest&ref=nb_sb_noss) on top.

Yeah, I was flirting with the S20, I really liked the ergo's, and Sako is really good quality for the price point. However, I've been informed by multiple parties to not expect 6.5 PRC in any real quantity's until late this calendar year. That prediction may be local to only me, but that is certainly influencing my current choice of going with a manufacturer who makes rifles in proprietary calibers. They also manufacture their own ammo, and it is available on the shelf, and for order through them. US based, and in a neighboring state is also a plus.

That Zeiss glass is really nice, I actually almost bought one. Until I tried a Steiner 3 x 15. I'm so pleased with it I doubt I will ever buy another brand.

[jc000]

I'm sticking with boring old .308 so I should be good to go.

[TOTS]

Heavy, I know, but for under $750, a great deal. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1020586712

Bushnell DMRII 3.5-21. Illuminated reticle is on clearance too for about $50 more.

Also, in your shoes, I’d get a Nightforce SHV 4-14 F1. Great do-it-all scope light enough to hunt with. FFP, and enough range to get you out to 1K. Great QC and reputation. If you are first responder, etc, you can get one directly from NF for danger-close to $1K!!