With these new rifles, Sako introduces for the first time in the range fully adjustable and anatomic stocks in the famous 85 series dedicated to hunting. The “Wolf” test took place in Piancardato (PG), on the first weekend of July, during the 11th European Combined Shooting Championship. For the occasion, Beretta set up a firing line dedicated to testing Sako and Tikka rifles where the final consumer could try the latest news from the Finnish manufacturer for free. The Carbon Wolf and Black Wolf tested were both in 308 Win caliber, equipped with a 62 cm fluted barrel threaded for the application of the muzzle brake and, in countries where it is allowed, the silencer. The cold-hammered barrels in the 308 Win caliber have a 17mm profile, pitch of 11 "rifling and the classic 4 lines. The Carbon Wolf, as the name reminds us, has a carbon fiber stock while the Black Wolf has been chosen in laminated wood.
The profile is characterized by the anatomical shape of the pistol grip, where the hand is perfectly wrapped even if, unlike the thumbhole butts, it allows the quick rearming of the second shot. On the back of the stock there is a buttpad that is adjustable in length while in the upper part there is a nose pad that can be adjusted in height. Both are activated by pressing 2 large and comfortable square buttons on the right side of the stock. The carbon fiber stock was made with RTM aerospace technology which guarantees perfect rigidity of the structure and minimum tolerances. To further enrich this stock, the surface coating has been made in soft touch, already used with success and appreciation on the 85 Carbonlight model. This treatment ensures perfect grip even in the rain. With the adjustable buttplate the total length it varies from 35 to 38 cm while the nose pad has an excursion of about 2 cm, so as to always have perfect alignment with the aiming optics. The under barrel has important dimensions with the lower flat area, for greater stability in resting on rests, backpacks and roof terraces. In addition, the forend houses in its front part two rings drowned in the structure for the application of the strap and the bipod.
The shutter is the classic Sako with three tenons obtained from a single forged piece, with the safety that blocks the opening of the shutter but with a button that allows it to open even when the safety is inserted. For Italy, firearms with 620mm long fluted barrels threaded in muzzle with matt burnished finish, without metal sights, will be imported. Typical of the Sako 85 series is the 5-round metal bifilar magazine (cal. 308), while the direct release was chosen for the trigger, adjustable up to a minimum release weight of about 1 kg, being very clean, without scraping or precursed, allows great accuracy even on the most challenging shots.
The rifles used, which arrived in Italy in preview specifically for this practical test, were tested on two firing lines from which targets and gongs could be engaged respectively 120 and 200 meters away from the firing station. The ammunition chosen was the 168 gr Sako Racehead, particularly precise and performing. The test began by firing the Carbon Wolf, a 3,5 kg rifle equipped with a rifle scope. Steiner Ranger 4-16 × 56 illuminated and with parallax corrector. After a few calibration shots (the weapon had never fired since its arrival in Beretta), the first real precision test was carried out, obtaining an excellent 3-shot group; as can be seen from the photo, the grouping was only 7 mm (1/4 MOA) from center to center. The anatomic pistol grip was immediately found to be comfortable, guaranteeing perfect control of the gun when fired, the trigger adjusted to the weight of 1 kg in practice proved to be precise and did not negatively affect the accuracy of the shot. Of course, the gong at 200 meters was also engaged, it was enough to align the upper part of the metal disc to the reticle to hear its sound and see it spin like a propeller.
Then we moved on to the test of the Black Wolf, the same weapon but with a laminated stock. Here the weight becomes important, we are about 4,2 kg which make it a rifle mainly for fixed posting. The scope mounted on the Black Wolf was a Burris Veracity 5-25 × 50 with Ballistic Plex E1 reticle placed on the first focal plane. Despite the first focal plane, the reticle proved to be extremely thin and usable even at maximum magnifications.
The 30 degrees of the month of July were a challenging test for our weapons, the shot pattern in this case saw the first three shots enclosed in 1 cm, then the 4th and 5th shots slightly wider, however always well within the MOA limit. To conclude, I must admit that, also in this case, the 308 Winchester caliber has expressed its extreme precision and intrinsic accuracy, praise certainly goes to the Sako ammunition with 168-grain Sierra bullet renamed by the Finnish company Racehead.
The firearms, thanks to their ergonomic and extremely rigid stock, have expressed a record level of performance. Needless to say, Sako never disappoints as far as the accuracy standard is concerned and this time too I had proof of it. The accuracy test then continued with the other weapons I had supplied: an exceptional Sako 85 Carbonlight weighing only 2.4kg (3.2kg with Steiner Ranger 3-12 × 56 attachments and optics), a brand new Sako Finnlight soon to be released on the Italian market, a T3x Tactical and the super performing T3x Tactical A1.
Technical detail:
Trademarks Sako
Series Sako 85
Model Carbon Wolf / Black Wolf
CALIBRO .308 Win / 11 "
Calibers available in Italy 243 Win / 10 "; 308 Win / 11 "; 6,5 Creedmor / 8 "; 6,5 × 55 SE / 8 "; 270 Win / 10 "; 30-06 Spr / 11 "; 7mm Rem Mag / 9,5 "; 300 Win Mag / 11 "
canna 618 mm fluted
loader 5 + 1 in the barrel; Magnum calibers 4 + 1, removable with anti-loss safety.
Shutter made from a single steel block, with three closing flaps and extraction nail.
Shoot Sako, direct adjustable up to 1 kg.
Stocking Soft touch carbon / (Carbon Wolf: glulam)
Hake height adjustable with 20 mm excursion
Recoil pad adjustable in length from 350 to 380 mm
Gun anatomic (Carbon Wolf: finely knurled)
Auction Wide and flat, with two loops for strap and tripod.
Weight: kg. 3,5 Carbon Wolf; 4,2 kg Black Wolf
Length 1140 mm
List Price € 3.890,00 Carbon Wolf; € 2.790,00 Black Wolf