NorfolkShooter01
(.224 member)
01/12/22 05:25 AM
Sako 85 brown bear 500 J

Alright lads!

I was in the process of having a 500j built. The smith has basically pulled out as he didnt realise how much work would be involved.

So the next option is a Sako 85 in the same calibre. Have any of you hod or got one?? If so what are your thoughts??? I think I might want a smaller front bead, better recoil pad and some more weight.

Thanks in advance as always


Marrakai
(.416 member)
01/12/22 02:08 PM
Re: Sako 85 brown bear 500 J

NS01:
Our local Big Game Rifle Club acquired a Sako Brown Bear .500J a couple of years ago for its Group 3 Nitro club-gun.

Yes, the front bead is way too large, but is exchangeable I believe, and ours has a couple of recoil-reducers in the butt.

The Brown Bear is fairly basic, certainly not an art piece!
...but very well made: everything feeds and functions perfectly and it gives the impression of being indestructible. Being a club, we got a deal on price, but even so the cost of having a custom .500 Jeffery built makes them a pretty good deal even at rrp IMHO.
We certainly like ours as a club-gun.


We load it close to factory ballistics as the BGR rules require, but you can load back by 10 or 15 grains to tame it a bit for range practice.

Ours it quite comfortable to shoot, if you understand recoil.


NorfolkShooter01
(.224 member)
01/12/22 09:28 PM
Re: Sako 85 brown bear 500 J

I have been told by a good source that they have feed and function problems such as cases bouncing off scopes and back into the breach.

But generally I seem to hear good things about them.


Marrakai
(.416 member)
02/12/22 02:46 PM
Re: Sako 85 brown bear 500 J

Quote:

cases bouncing off scopes



What scopes...?



NitroXAdministrator
(.700 member)
02/12/22 04:08 PM
Re: Sako 85 brown bear 500 J

Quote:

Quote:

cases bouncing off scopes



What scopes...?






Good point. Who scopes a 500?!

Just like the videos of guys needing shooting sticks to shoot a buffalo at 50 yards.


crshelton
(.333 member)
03/12/22 09:43 AM
Re: Sako 85 brown bear 500 J

What scopes...?

Love that!


NorfolkShooter01
(.224 member)
03/12/22 09:47 AM
Re: Sako 85 brown bear 500 J

Ok chaps i see your point. There does seem to be this thing of PHs in Africa thinking that us mere mortals cant shoot open sights or a buff at 50 yards without sticks. TBH I shoot better at 50yrd without sticks than I do with. Why?? Because i practice.

Anyway how well does the stock fit most people?


Waidmannsheil
(.400 member)
03/12/22 12:53 PM
Re: Sako 85 brown bear 500 J

Yeah a 500 with a scope would be nasty.

Not sure that any PH would expect you to use a scope with a 500 but then most people wouldn't use a 500 for anything other than big animals which are closer range anyway.

No handycap with open sights on big game at normal ranges.


Matt.


NitroXAdministrator
(.700 member)
03/12/22 06:56 PM
Re: Sako 85 brown bear 500 J

For persons with insufficient eyesight to use iron sights, a big peep sight or a red dot sight is the usual way to go.

PHs or their trackers might rush forward to put up sticks on a close animal but all I did was wave to them to stop. Step toward and fire off handed. They get the message quickly that you are competent.


NorfolkShooter01
(.224 member)
04/12/22 05:47 AM
Re: Sako 85 brown bear 500 J

Quote:



PHs or their trackers might rush forward to put up sticks on a close animal but all I did was wave to them to stop. Step toward and fire off handed. They get the message quickly that you are competent.




got ya mate. my eyesight isnt too bad but I do have a rather nice 1-4 trijicon scope with a fuck ton of eye relief. I always thought it would be a good crack hunting deer with a 500j


chuck375
(.333 member)
13/12/22 10:21 AM
Re: Sako 85 brown bear 500 J

Why not buy a CZ 550 in 500 Jeffery. I have one and love it? Action milled from bar stock, solid as a bank vault, Mauser variant CRF action?


NorfolkShooter01
(.224 member)
15/12/22 09:22 AM
Re: Sako 85 brown bear 500 J

Cant get them in the UK thats why

chuck375
(.333 member)
29/12/22 10:38 AM
Re: Sako 85 brown bear 500 J

Ah, good reason. Btw I have a Leupold 1.5-5x scope in QR Talley steel rings on my 500 Jeffery, love the setup. Also irons.



[img]https://i.imgur.com/BD0shRU.jpg?1[/img]

[image]https://i.imgur.com/BD0shRU.jpg[/image]

https://i.imgur.com/BD0shRU_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium


tinker
(.416 member)
29/12/22 12:00 PM
Re: Sako 85 brown bear 500 J

There was a Sako through the workshop some time back, a 500J rifle, new

The client wanted an additional round down in the box and wanted reliability work done to ensure feeding/extraction/ejection etc

Fellow wanted the rifle to "shoot himself out of a group of Cape Buffalo" if necessary

Great rifle, absolute hammer of a cartridge - and it was accurate

I think there's a video short on John's Facebook from the last handful of cartridges that I'd run through it on the ranch

Broke quite a few large rocks in half with that thing on a trail walk

I would not consider putting a scope on one of these rifles
Dot maybe, but not a scope


NorfolkShooter01
(.224 member)
30/12/22 07:21 AM
Re: Sako 85 brown bear 500 J

Its a shame I cant get my hands on one to feel how they handle for me. None in the UK and they are a special order

JFE
(.224 member)
08/01/23 06:57 AM
Re: Sako 85 brown bear 500 J

If their technical specs are correct, 4.1kg is probably a bit on the light side for a 500J.

chuck375
(.333 member)
27/03/23 11:43 AM
Re: Sako 85 brown bear 500 J

Quote:

If their technical specs are correct, 4.1kg is probably a bit on the light side for a 500J.




It will hurt you!



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