Sako 85 Vs Tikka T3 - They are two completely different beasts. 

To clarify a few things here. The Sako’s three lugs do not really add rigidity to the action. The reason for them is to reduce the angle necessary to open the bolt (60 degrees vs 90 degrees), this allows for more room between the bolt and your scope when working the action. Some people also say it helps the action to remain smooth by reducing “wobble” while fully open. The controlled round feeding does nothing for extraction really. It’s simply there to give the shooter reliable feeding in any position (as you mentioned). The tikka has many plastic parts where the sako uses metal. Yes the Sako costs more, but to say it’s a waste of money will always be opinion not fact. Buy what you want. I don’t like plastic, and I don’t like needing to modify the living piss out of a new gun to make it durable. I will buy sako because I’ve never held a Tikka that I wanted to own. I don’t sell my rifles, so when I buy one I keep it. In the long run the money is minuscule over a 20 year period. Metal magazines, bolt shrouds, and trigger guards are a must for me, and the tikka stocks feel and look horrid to me. But to each their own. I recommend Tikkas to family and friends on a budget, but Sako and Browning just seem to be what I tend to lean to. They all shoot straight now a days.

Wow you just do a simple, informative review and you get all these awful comments. Keep up the good work, mate and don't be discouraged.

I know this an old video, but I’ll chuck my two bob’s worth in. I own a Tikka T3x in .243 and a mate has the Sako 85 in the same calibre. The Sako is clearly a higher quality package overall. The stock, for example is beautiful. When you have the two rifles side by side, it is obvious what the extra money buys. For how I use a firearm, I will buy another Tikka. I prefer the value of the Tikka. I really appreciate the aesthetics of the Sako, but the practical difference in performance is indistinguishable, based upon my observation.

Idk for the price I'd take the tikka and buy a $1000 scope for it. Then later buy the after market bottom metal, bolt shroud. The safety is a non issue for me and tikka has a nice adjustable trigger and an aftermarket one. Barrels will be pretty much the same.

Thanks for this video. I didn't realise Sako had that extra relief machined out to allow that semi-controlled round feeding, or that it had a blade ejector. That's fairly unique as far as I'm aware, most rifles seem to either be completely push feed or Mauser claw

I took three tikkas and turned them into one sako... won’t ever look back

Tikka is the most popular brand by sales in Australia, and .243 is the most popular caliber. Sako 85's are expensive and about 2.5 times the price of a Tikka, the Tikka is great value for money.

Dude, thanks for your opinion, I own two Tikka’s and have been contemplating buying a Sako. But after watching this video I can’t in my wildest dreams justify the extra $1300.00 it would take to buy a Sako over another Tikka. Thanks so much for this video sometime it takes a demo like this to realize how great the value of a tikka really is.

Good review, but as the owner of a Sako and a Winchester 70, I can't really see the advantage of the three lug design. The surface area of the lugs holding the bolt in place are about the same.

I had to grab my T3 and give it a try 😂 no issues loading it upside down or holding it 90deg on either side

I have a friend that owns a Browning X-Bolt Medallion, or it might be the White Gold can't remember off hand, and the model is not important, his gun has a stock finish that you can part your hair in, it's like a mirror, Sakos' are the same. Problem is he's so afraid of scratching the finish he wont use it in the bush for hunting, so what's the good of it? I own two synthetic stock Tikka's, those guns have been beat to death in the bush, still look reasonably good and still shoot tacks! what more can a hunter ask for?

My father only used Sako and he converted me after I got out of the Military. Finland and Austrian/German craftsmanship is second to none....

I enjoyed the video, and I totally see the point the gentleman is trying to make, and I agree with his points! Tikka rifles are awesome, very nice and well built. For some reason though I see many used ones available at gun shops and stores. I own several sako rifles, in many different calibers, and my father has a Sako rifle from the 1960s that he still uses for hunting deer, elk and everything else. I can tell you that my father's sako rifle still operates like a new rifle and better than any rifle I have ever touched or shot. It is amazingly smooth, solid, and the bolt/action assembly is absolute perfection. Not to mention, the finish and the condition of the rifle is stunning, after 50+ years of heavy use and even being in a scabbard on horseback year after year. My cycle rifles are equally as nice, and all of these rifles I'm talking about use premium parts and Percision is the upmost importance. Tikkas are nice, but are no comparison to the quality, fit, finish, and longevity that Sako rifles give you. Hands-down they are worth every penny, and are the best rifles out there in my opinion

Good comparison.. I was looking at both in .270 winchester.

Absolutely agree. I have a T3 in 260 and regularity shoot my friends 75 and 85 in 243 and 308 and find that Sako is far superior over the Tikka.

sako and tikka are both from same factory. but sako is better

The Tikka T3 was replaced with the T3x about the time this video was made. The T3x has a metal bolt shroud; the aluminum barrel lug was replaced with a steel one, and the ejection port was enlarged. I think 3 bolt lugs instead of 2 is to reduce the lift angle, not so much for strength. Reduced lift *is* a nice feature. Controlled round feed vs push feed is just not important unless you go against dangerous game without another rifle backing you up -- which is virtually never. I always place a hand over the ejection port to capture my shells for reloading anyway and you can do that with either type ejector. A single stack magazine feeds more smoothly than double stack, which is more important to me than extra capacity. If you don't like the bottom plastic on the Tikka, you can buy a metal replacement if you don't mind the weight increase (which is why it is plastic in the first place). I have heard of inaccurate Sakos and inaccurate Tikkas but most people are pleased with the accuracy of their Tikkas. If money was no object, I wouldn't be buying either one.

Nothing wrong with Tikkas...good , accurate well designed rifle. They are very different to sakos but shoot just as well. All my rifles (except for my Marlin s/s .22) are sakos I chose sakos because I was sick of buying rifles particularly Rem something with obvious "defects" and spending more $$ to try and get them sorted and to shoot straight. I f I were to buy another American manufactured rifle it would probably be a Ruger.

I have had both rifles and can tell you that there is nothing wrong with Tika rifles whatsoever. I don't think that's the point of this video. I constantly also hear how they and Sako are the same rifle built in the same factory with a different nameplate. Well, from my experience it just isn't so. GMC has factories that produce high end sports cars and family sedans in the same plant but everyone knows that they are NOT the same vehicles with different tags. The same is true here. I recently just purchased a Sako A7 Big Game in 308. I can tell you now that this rife is not to be confused with any Tika I have had. You can just feel the difference in your hands and in your shots. Tika is wonderful and I will probably buy one soon enough but I can tell you that the Sako is a cut above and you can feel it in every shot. There is nothing to prove this on paper in my opinion. It's more like driving a good car and an excellent car. On paper they may look the same but when you get behind the wheel and drive them, that's when you can feel the difference. If you afford the few extra dollars get the Sako. If you need the money right now, get the Tika, they will both hit your target. It's a matter of the person pulling the trigger more than anything else. Any real shooter knows this.

The trigger is one of the things that are the same on both rifles. That push forward feature is an option for both rifles and its the same mechanism. Your SAKO must just have that factory option

Sa'ko pronunciation the manufacturing company would be happy. Good video

Great review!

good comparison I was looking at these 2 rifles & went with the Sako 85 in 30.06 I got mine on sale & saved $500 off the regular list price. about $300 more than the Tika I was looking at.

Good vid man, you clearly know both of these rifles well. I'm wondering how Tikka has changed since this was made. Some of the things you mentioned I think have been upgraded on the new Tikkas. Regardless, both very worthy rifles. Well done.

The rifles aren't made in the same factory but I can assure you that the barrels are.

I have a Haenel Jaeger 10 which is a 3 lug bolt well made and in my view equal to a T3. I agree with the other comments in that you won’t be disappointed with a t3. My 303 is a rear locking bolt and it’s a proven design. I wouldn’t be so fuss over the bolt.

My perfect 1973 ITHACA LSA 55 in .308 is very beautiful and accurate . It has an era correct leupold 4x12 scope , it has a proprietary dovetail milled in the reciever so the only rings I could get are cone-trol highly polished and with hidden fasteners $200 but very nice . I finished it up with an era correct leather strap . The bbl is marked Bofors steel , anyone else have one ?

Tikka are made, on the same CNC Machine, in the same factory, with the same quality control as Sako. Tikka have always had a reputation for accuracy. 9 out 10 New Zealand hunters use Tikka for Deer stalking. The high quality plastick magazine, is not a problem, as its stronger and lighter than the Sako metal magazine. Bang for your buck its hard to beat.

I have a T3 in a 223 that shoots 5 shot groups that can be covered with a dime and sometimes into one ragged hole. It holds its own against my cooper 204 ruger so yea, I'll take that kind of accuracy from a 500 dollar rifle lol.

Great review finally someone has done it i always get looked down upon just because i spent $3000 on my Sako Bavarian..... Just a thought dry firing is not recommended as it can break the needle inside your bolt..... but i am assuming you had the bolt cocked off so the needle was not out ready for firing.......

Some of the most desirable SAKO's like the L579 Forester I own have a two lug bolt and it was a mainstay at SAKO for years. Bofors Steel barrels are another hallmark of pre-Garcia SAKO's. They just don't make them like that anymore.

Gave you a thumbs up good review, I personally have the Tikka t3 lite .308 I love the rifle and shoots great for the price. Can you answer a question, are the barrel and trigger not the same as the Sako? Just curious.. Thanks for the video.

Nice comparisment vid i agree two completly diffrent rifles except for the precision i have a .300 win mag T3 Tac and i tried my friends Sako with heavy barell same great grouping Tikka is a gret rifle for the money Sako also you get that beautiful finish and the wood work options on some models are amazing

Any problems with ejecting the spent cases straight up into the scope with the 85?

First of set triggers are not standard on sako you have to pay more ,if you are a good rifleman it doesn't make a bit of difference ,a rifle is a working tool ,not a picture to look at ,I have a rifle to shoot not to look at, three things when buying a rifle ,functional,accurate and reliable that's it

Bottom line is accuracy in a gun. The Tikka and Sako are both accurate. But if you want a wood stock and maybe a better milled action the Sako is better. I think they are a bit over priced for what you get though. Its mostly bragging rights owning a Sako, nice wood or laminate, great fit n finish. But what if you had a Saka that shot .8" groups and you got a Tikka that shot .4" groups at 100 yards? I think the Sako owner might have a little buyers remorse. Bang for the buck Tikka all the way.

Sako 85 and tikka t3 shoot the same groups, both are durable, the tikka is the better price point for close to as much rifle, get yourself a tikka in your favorite cal and spend the rest on good glass 👌

Tikka comes with a set trigger if you want it

it's cool if you like to spend money and feel good about 'fit and finish' but to me a rifle is a tool, not a luxury good to impress other people with. if they're functionally the same but the sako just looks and feels more expensive then imo it's a product designed to separate shallow people from their excess of money.

hi interesting vid looking at sako and tikka along with some other rifles. Can you single feed a round in the chamber with a controlled feed i some times target shooting and like to single feed when i do so (never owned a controlled feed rifle) .... also the mag dont look very long could be a problem with the high b.c target bullets.Could you please tell me the length of the inside if the mag would love to know if my 260rem bullets will fit ... think

Considering a Sako 85 Varmint. Is yours in .223? did you go with 1 in 12 or 1 in 8? Cant decide, I'm leaning towards 1 in 8, but, concerned it will not shoot 55 grains well.....40 grain will likely be out of the question.

Hey mate what brand and height rings do you run on the Sako with the 50mm reticle scope

I'm having a real hard time hearing you

Hello I have a tikka t3 lite and I can take my rifle and load it from any angle

In the .22LR department I have an Anschutz 1416 where my son has a CZ452. My Anschutz was almost double the price of his CZ but I wouldn't say mine is any where near twice as good as his- though it is better in many respects. I've had my heart on a Sako for quite some time but money is a factor. Do you reckon the extra money for the Sako is justified? Do you think it's worth hanging off and saving more to get the Sako?

Sako (saw-coh) is a rifle. Seiko (say-coh) is a wrist watch.

Any push feed will load upside down. This is tiring to hear.

I've also had both.. My advice will be don't buy either but but a second hand Sako 75.. Will be cheaper than a new tikka & better that the 85... Wen the barrel is shot out buy a new one and for the same money a tikka would cost new you will have a 75 with a match grade barrel

Bolt lugs dont effect your hand loading limits. Youre going to blast your face off long before two lug desing is going to failure. Also Sako 85's semi-controlled feed has nothing to do with ejection of the case, which in sako 85's throws the case to your scope tube every time and sometimes case ends up backwards in your action, Berettas fix for this is: "Use higher scope rings". T3 push feed is 100% reliable in any position, if you know how to operate your gun. Dont get me wrong, Sako's overall quality is better, but ridicilous ejection is a real joke. For the price of Sako 85, You can buy Tikka t3 with set trigger and quality glass on it, and 85 wouldnt do anything better.

What scope do you have on there?

The SAKO is more expensive for s reason.

I own a tikka it shoots great but i just don't like it

Good video but learn to pronounce Sako correctly. It's not "Say-co" it's more like "Sock-o".

Do all sako 85s have a set trigger?

Mate before you slag off the T3 tell us how many deer you shoot per year. We shoot over 100 to 150 with a T3 223.We have a Sako 75 Finnlight in 243 so we know about Sako's.

Thank-you .......... We have received your nomination for the Short Stroking committee. We will advise you where and when you will be required for another public exhibition ! You haven't got a clue ........

Horrible audio

Parabellum. war gun

How about doing your homework before trying to make a video and speaking clearly.