Sako Riihimaki opinions please...........

toad67

Again the local Gun shop has another item that is tough to resist. It is a Sako Riihimaki in .222 Rem on the rack. It has a Leupold 4 X 12 VXII on it for $900. Looks like a good deal since it is a Sako in good condition and since it is older it might appreciate in value as compared to buying a new gun and going down in value. Also wondering why I can't seem to find it in the current issue of the Blue book (probably since I am blind). Any thoughts on this Sako in 222? Thanks in advance.
Todd

perry shooter

I have one and I have not found any other 222 I like better. This IMHO is old world craftsmanship . Buy a rifle or any firearm because you like it first. Value in future is chancy at best. The last 3 years have been a buyers market . Some people wanted to get Black Guns when OBUMMER was elected and nice guns went WANTING. Then Economy went south and some people sold guns to make ends meet. IMHO good quality Name Brand guns in Excellent condition will more then likely hold their value. And May go up but buy it as you might die with it. Until things improve. IF that stands a chance of happening.

jptatum

The scope alone is worth at least $300 used. Buy it if you can afford it.

1KYDSTR

Times being what they are, I would be a little more comfortable in the $750 to $800 range. The scope is a nice one, particularly for the triple deuce, but used scopes are always a crap shoot. That said, the Sako is a find. Always been amongst my favorite line of commercial rifles. Coupled with a round like the 222 Remington you have a stellar, as Perry Shooter said, old world crafted rifle that is better designed to American tastes than a lot of other quality European made rifles.
I also agree that you should buy something that appeals to you aestheically as well. I have been on both ends of that stick, so to speak. Nothing worse than buying something because your sure it's a great investment, but have no real interest in said gun. Then the buggers in Yugoslavia import a Godzillion SKS 59/66's and the gun you bought for a grand that was currently worth "$1500" becomes worth $150. OK....it's a touch of sour grapes. It hurt pretty bad though since all the guns coming in were unissued for $250 and VG for $200. Mine was pre flood, but who cares. It barely rates a VG. And I have SKS's already that are fine representative examples and good shooters. It's an embarrasment I will never sell just to remind myself to stay in focus whenever I am expending to expand the collection. On the other hand I once bought a little 32 Sauer pistol because it looked cool, and was priced around $200. Beautifully engineered and machined little gun. Is now worth $1000 even in todays market. Buy what you like, chances are you'll do fine!

TWalker

I think you found a very nice rifle at a very fair price. I paid $850 for my Sako Vixen in .222 caliber with a Leupold Vari-X II 3-9 scope three years ago. I would have to have an offer of hundreds more to even consider selling and even then I doubt if I would sell. These Sako's are beautiful guns, they handle great, and are very accurate out to the practical limit of the cartridge. Quality guns like these are almost always a good investment if you buy used ones in 95% or better condition and get a halfway decent purchase price. Good luck if you choose to buy. I don't think you'll ever regret the decision.

OleDuk

OleDuk bought one of those sweethearts in 1952 at Miller & Rhodes in Richmond when I was up there for a pre-induction physical. Korean War, you know. It's the earliest model(L-46)imported I think. Has a period Weaver K-8 on it, in a mount I made in Colonna's Shipyard, 5 shot box magazine (I think it's 5). It's not in as good shape now as it was 50 years ago but still will stay in a minute of crow. Damn, I love that rifle.

OleDuk[:D][:D]

USN_Airdale

i once had a Sako Vixen in .222 Rem. with a 3x9 Redfield Widefield scope, a Sako Forrester heavy barrel Varmiter in .243 Win., with a 3x9 Redfield Widefield scope a Sako Finnbear Mannlicher in 7mm Rem. Mag., with a 3x9 Redfield Widefield scope i had them and 4 other guns up for sale, when my son found out i was going to sell them, he made a 1,200 mile journey to buy them, he gave me a $1,000.00 over what i was asking, so they are still in the family and i can use them anytime i want to.

those three Sakos were the most accurate rifles i ever owned and out shot everyone of my friends Remingtons, Mossbergs, Winchesters "et alii"

BUY.., BUY.., BUY.., BUY.., BUY.., BUY..,

i highly recommend you buy it, you will kick yourself many times if you do not.

62fuelie

I have a Marlin 322, which is based on the Sako L-46 action - a miniaturized Mauser - which uses a 3 round detachable box magazine. This has been a great little pest gun. The only idiocyncracy is the double tapered dove-tail bases on the receiver for scope mounting, just takes a little searching to find some rings that will fit. try looking for the L-46 or L-461 in the guides, my 29th edition of Blue Book of Gun Values lists these numbers in the fine print under "Rifles, Bolt Action, disc."