Sako 85 Bavarian 7mm Rem Mag or 300WSM? Range Report

[Guy Miner]

She's a wonderful looking rifle! I like that European style buttstock. Rather nice walnut too...

The 7mm Rem mag is a favorite of mine, as it gave me a good bull elk. A single 175 gr Nosler Partition loaded to about 2900 fps made quick work of the bull.

The 160's are likely a better all-around choice. No matter which Nosler you load for it, the rifle should excel! Congrats on a nice one, a real nice one!

Guy

 

[Oldtrader3]

Lou, congratulations, I bet that she will shoot as good as she looks. Sako guarantees MOA on the Model 85.

 

[DrMike]

Good move, Lou. I've taken quite a few moose (as well as elk, black bear, mule deer and whitetail) with my 7RM. It is a great cartridge that gives up very little to anything else you would require here in North America.

 

[killdeernow]

Nice rig--love the darkness of the stock.

 

[Hegland]

Very capable and classy rig, right there. A nicely done rifle. And a great pick on the optics as well! I've been eying that exact scope pretty hard lately...

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have a 3.5-10x50 Kahles on my 7mm Rem Mag rifle. That focal length works for me every time. Good choice on the Zeiss Conquest HD-5.

 

[SJB358]

Very Nice Lou. That's a great looking rifle and an excellent scope too!

 

[LD375]

Very Nice Lou. That's a great looking rifle and an excellent scope too!

Thanks Scotty, and also to the rest of you guys :grin: ..Scotty, I couldn't pass up on this one pal, and as a bonous, the 270wsm is remaining in my family, my brother's happy, and so am I, I well post some pics and range report on the 7mag with 160gr PT's come range time pal. As for the 375H&H, boy she's ready :twisted: ..Lou :wink:

 

[Oldtrader3]

Lou, I just bought a standard Conquest, my second, for my .30-06, Grade II stock, Model 70. It is a 3.5-10x44 and is a really nice focal length for the .30-06 as well. I figured I had better buy one of these before they disappeared forever, as they have! You can only get 50mm objectives now.

I think that Zeiss made a mistake by eliminating the other objective sizes than 50mm for the new Conquests. Maybe the 50mm's sell better in Europe but I bet that the smaller lenses sell better here in No. America?

 

[longwinters]

Sako's are beautiful and well functioning rifles. Love that dark wood and grain.

Long

 

[LD375]

Well I finaly had time to take the 7mag on it's 1st range trial today :grin: .Just wanted to add that I chose the leupold VX3 over the Zeiss Conquest, I'm kinda hooded on the leupys now ..anyways right outta the box, the Bavarian shot just like I expected it to shoot. For today, I used the 160gr NP,150gr Remington core lokt, and 150gr swift scirocco bullets, I'm still waiting for the 156gr norma Oryx that I ordered to come in, here's what she did @100yds today, the NP and SS bullets had almost the same POI. I left the groups as they are, and well do some final adjustments along with my 375 H&H prior to my Moose hunt. End result, I'm very happy with the Bavarian, it's a dream to shoot,and accurate right out of the gate 8) ..Also, this was my first outing with the Caldwell tack driver shooting rest, it works great!....Lou :wink:

 

[LD375]

Time cooling off in between 3 shot groups @50 and 100yds



100 yds..

Tonys 30/06 shooting 180gr NP's

 

[DrMike]

Excellent results, Lou. Congratulations on a fine rifle.

 

[Guy Miner]

Now that's a pair of mighty good looking rifles!

Tight groups too.

Congrats.

 

[gerry]

That looks really nice. The Swift load looks to be around 1/2" and the Nosler is quite good too, either knock down a moose nicely for you, congrats

 

[LD375]

Thanks guys,I'm also gonna try the AccuBond as well :grin: ..I'll be Moose hunting October 18-27 here in Ontario close to the Manitoba border, I was lucky enough to draw a Bull tag this year 8)
Both the 7mag and 375H&H well be making the trip, with that being said, the 375 and NP's well be my go to rifle this time around
I also wish everyone a safe and successful hunting season,Lou :wink:
Here's my go to rifle setup

 

[DrMike]

That'll do.

 

[Oldtrader3]

That should get a moose's attention!

 

[Hegland]

Yep, either of those loads are minute of steak. That Leupold looks just fine on top of it, too. Great set-up!

 

[Oldtrader3]

Nice looking rig! All of the Sako's have always been a classic and class rifle. I own one now and have owned three all of them were very accurate and well made rifles.