The Sako 85 model derives from the historic 75 version, which marked an era in this segment of hunting weapons. The Sako 85 air rifle has many new features compared to the previous version, even if it has taken the best features from the latter
The Sako 85 air rifle made its appearance in Italian gun shops in 2006. Its commercialization represented an unprecedented and undoubtedly challenging turning point, as this carbine was designed to fulfill the task of replacing the classic and established Sako 75.
The Sako 85 rifle, however, retains all its peculiar characteristics: five types of action, a wide choice of calibers ranging from .204 Ruger to .375 H&H, even if those available for now in Italy are fewer in number, many fittings and a three-tenon shutter.
There is something new, namely the shutter, the real fulcrum of the system and a great strength already in the 75 version. the contrast surface which has been increased in order to further increase the solidity.
In addition to this, the external profile of the tenons has been completely redesigned, obtaining five distinct guides which, sliding on special guides in the action, provide unsurpassed fluidity and operating safety. With the aim of increasing both the axiality and the smoothness of the bolt during the opening and closing movement, the surface of the rear bridge of the breech has been enlarged, which extends backwards up to the tail, the latter at in turn redesigned and aesthetically made more linear.
From these modifications, it follows that the engagement area of the handlebar on the bolt body is simpler, while still retaining its original degree of strength. The extractor is always of the elastic hook type, with the rocker ejector acting at 6 o'clock, even if the lower part of its face has been redesigned compared to the shutter of the 75 version, leveling it completely. These measures have determined that when the bolt takes a cartridge from the magazine to introduce it into the chamber, it is no longer the ring that pushes the bottom of the cartridge, avoiding any contact between the rim and the extractor until the case is in the combustion chamber.
With the Sako 85 when the cartridge begins to be removed from the magazine, the bottom is immediately hooked by the extractor, not abandoning it until ejection after the shot. With the 85 version, there is the possibility to close the shutter with ease on the shot manually chambered, obtaining the advantages of a Mauser type shutter and the advantages of a Remington type shutter.
The action of the model 85 retains the typical square look of the 75, and still features the two dovetail slides on the top for the installation of the precision optics mounts. The substantial difference between the two versions lies in the area corresponding to the base of the 75's combustion chamber, where there is a sharp-edged burglary, which goes against a generous recoil lug plate embedded in the stock. In the Sako 85, the recess still exists, but the conventional recoil lug is missing, the latter being replaced by a flat plate with a rectangular hole into which a square pin is inserted around the seat of the front screw. The plate has a lower recoil lug that slides into the wood, and is fixed with two screws.
This solution made it possible to move the recoil lug board forward, consequently increasing the quantity of wood between the latter and the magazine filler.
Near the rear screw of the action, a metal plate placed next to the end of the recess blocks direct contact between the action and the wood. It is a solution that does its job quite well. The action is fixed to the stock through the usual two screws, which are no longer normal cut, but Torx, much easier to tighten and more difficult to damage.
The barrel is 570 mm long and is made through cold roto-hammering, while the four-start rifling has a pitch of one turn in 11 inches, equal to 280 mm. The only drawback is the mirage effect, which becomes intolerable after the tenth shot fired in a row.
The latter is rather thin, since the muzzle ends with a diameter of 15,9 mm, to the advantage of the overall containment of weight. There is no point of contact with the stock, so when fired it is free to vibrate without interference. The tank is removable, two-wire with alternating presentation, fixed by a front rocker lever. Unlike the 75, the release has been improved, as it is no longer enough to press the retainer to release the tank, but you have to push the bottom up and then operate the rocker. On the surface it looks like a cumbersome system, but in reality it is simple and ergonomic, able to offer the absolute guarantee of avoiding accidental releases in the event of a gun fall. The magazine is made of stainless steel, with a light alloy elevator and a polymer body, with a capacity of 5 shots. The large ejection window, whose length is 74,1 mm, allows the ammunition to be fed directly from above, similar to a fixed Mauser-type tank. The length of the magazine box is 75,3 mm and is reliable even with slightly oversized reloads. The trigger is in a single step, clean, with adjustable release weight between a maximum of 2.000 and a minimum of 1.000 grams. By moving the trigger lever forward, the stecher is triggered which allows you to further lower the release weight up to a few tens of grams. The safety is made up of a slider placed on the right side of the action, parallel to the bolt of the bolt, and has two positions: forward it allows the shot, backwards it blocks the release and bolt.
To unload the chamber in extreme safety, a small button is positioned in front of the safety slider which releases the bolt allowing it to be opened. The engagement of the safety is clear and silent, as well as the disarming.
The stock is made with walnut with a non-reflective oil finish and has a straight American-style blade with a proportioned cheek piece that allows optimal collimation with the optics. The fore-end is also straight, duck-beaked, well dimensioned also for the support shot.
In version 85, Sako technicians have thought of new knurls on the pistol grip and on the sides of the shaft.
In conclusion, it can be said with certainty that the Sako took the best features of the 75 carbine to transfer them to the 85 version, which was consequently made even better and more reliable.
Below are the technical characteristics of the Sako 85 air rifle.
Model: 85 Hunter
Type: bolt action rifle
Caliber: .308 Winchester (also .22-250, .243 Winchester, 7-08 Remington, .25-06, 6,5 × 55, .270 Winchester, 7 × 64, .30-06, 9,3 × 62 )
Operation: sliding rotating shutter with three front flaps closure
Power supply: removable two-wire charger with safety on release
Number of shots: 5
Barrel: 570 mm long, four-start rifling with a pitch of one turn in 11 inches (280 mm)
Total length: 1.075 mm
Safety: manual with two positions, with separate button for unlocking and opening the shutter with safety inserted
Targets: absent, predisposition for attacks
Sako for the installation of aiming optics Scatto: adjustable between 1.000 and 2.000 grams, with French stecher
Weight: about 3.200 grams; 4.180 grams with Burris Black diamond 6-24 × 50 optics and Sako mounts
Materials: carbon steel, stainless steel tank body, walnut stock
Finishes: matte black burnishing, chromed bolt body, oil finished stock