Sako Finnwolf in 243

[Ojaileveraction]

There is a Sako Finnwolf in 243 at my LGS. It's a Beautiful Rifle woodwise with some missing Bluing and rust around the lever.
I've been considering getting a Longranger in 308 but this rifle is about half the price of a new LR and the the balistics of a 243 might suit my pouposes better that a 308.
Anybody know anything about the Sako Finnwolf.

[bandit1250]

The Sako Finnwolf is a very well built rifle as all Sako (Sock-o) rifles are. A Finnwolf around here in 243 would be around $1000 plus especially a 243 instead of a 308. Accuracy can be very good if the bore has been cared for. I have owned quite a few Sako rifles over the years and they were mostly good accurate rifles. For some reason the Tikkas have been every bit as accurate and sometimes better but the Sako is cosmetically better and stands pretty well at the top in quality and workmanship. I have friends that had Sako's and they are not to much on cleaning barrels after each outing. They would rust pretty fast in the bores if left sitting dirty for to long. The older Sako's used steel called Bofors steel. It was made by Bofors in Sweden I believe and they did seem to be faster to rust in the bore than some other brands. It pays to look at the bore very well as I almost bought a few Sako's over the years that if I wouldn't have checked the bores well I would have had a really nice looking rifle with a bad bore. Could be the make up of the Bofors steel. A gun smith told me the steel in them is very hard after I had him rechamber a Sako barrel for me . For half the price of a new Henry LR I would check the Sako over and give the bore a good check and it would be mine if it checks out well.

[Ojaileveraction]

Thank you for the info Bandit.

[North Country Gal]

Agree with bandit. If the Sako is in decent shape, that's a steal. Just by virtue of being a Sako, it will never lose it's value.

[Ojaileveraction]

I checked it out as much as I could. The barrel has shiny the tinge of a safe queen. The wood is the best walnut I've ever seen on a rifle that I might ever own, with few rack marks. There is still the issue of some light rust on the lever around the safety.
Given all that I figured I couldn't go wrong. I'll have some pictures to share in a week or so .
From the research I've done, It's from the last run of Finnwolfs made in 1973 or later. The serial Number is up there in the last couple hundred made, with a 3 shot magazine.

Thanks All

[bandit1250]

You made a good move with getting the Sako. Not saying the Henry would be a bad choice but with care the Sako will hold it's price well and more than likely appreciate to higher value later. Not sure a new Henry Long Ranger will keep it's value like the Sako. I can't remember the last Finnwolf I have seen for sale. A contractor close by to me had me clean up his Finnwolf years back and it was the more common 308 but I really liked that rifle. He still has it as far as I know. The 243 would be a nice caliber to own.

[Ojaileveraction]

Picked up the Finnwolf from the LGS yesterday.

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[Ojaileveraction]

I put 20 rounds down range with the Finwolf at various distances using 100gr Remington rounds. The open sights did little for me. I'll have to figure out better optics.
Always learning.

[North Country Gal]

Beautiful rifle. Love the wood. A modern lever gun like that is just right for a scope. Enjoy.

[Ojaileveraction]

I took the Finnwolf to a local public range to shoot out to 400 yrds. I was able to scope the Finnwolf by removing the rear sight down to its base and using High Leapold/Sako rings. I put on my trusty Weaver T24 .
I just shot iron targets. No paper yet.
Club range is closed due to the recent fires.
I shot Winchester 100gr and 80gr. Saving the brass for reloads. Tried to keep the barrel from getting to hot letting it rest after 4 or 5 careful shots over my sandbagged benchrest.
My spotter helped me zero in on the half size ram silhouette this range has at 400 yards.
In between I tested some 357 loads and some 45-70 .

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