A FINE LINE

IF YOU ARE a fan of Sako rifles, you’ll have noticed the Finnish company quietly stopped manufacturing the 85 series in early 2022, focusing its marketing efforts instead on the Sako 20 and the then new Sako 100. But there was a definite gap between those two models that the 85 once filled, and Sako was pretty tight-lipped about whether there would be a replacement. The answer arrived this past May when the company officially launched the new Sako 90 line of rifles.

The first thing you’ll notice is these rifles are very similar in appearance to the 85 series, but with several refine- ments. For starters, the receiver has been stiffened to increase accuracy, and the ejection port has been enlarged to help prevent ejection problems that seemed to affect a small number of the 85s. The trigger has also been upgraded with a positive click-style pull weight adjustment; it can also now be moved forward or backward to accommodate different finger lengths. As well, the addition of a Picatinny rail on some models adds more scope mounting options.

In terms of specific Sako 90 models, the Peak replaces the Carbonlight 85 and uses the same carbon-fibre stock. It weighs in at a scant 2.6 kilograms for the short action, making it one of the lightest production rifles now on the market. The Peak is sure to be a hit with Canadian mountain hunters in search of a lightweight rifle.

The Quest, meanwhile, replaces the Carbon Wolf, and it’s available with a stainless steel or carbon-fibre barrel (the model with the carbon-fibre barrel is called the Quest Ultra). Rather than use carbon barrels from other manufacturers—as most North American firearms makers do—Sako has now designed and is making its own. Watch for it on other models in the future.

Next is the Adventure, which replaces the Finnlight II. It features the same adjustable composite stock, but with an upgraded coating that is more durable and impervious to chemicals (all composite stocks in the Sako 90 line will also have this coating). There is no replacement for the original Finnlight.

Rounding out the line are the Bavarian, Hunter and Varmint, all with wooden stocks. As with the previous 85 line-up, five action lengths are available, with a similar variety of chamberings. A lefthanded version of the Sako 90 and a wider variety of chamberings will also be reportedly available in the future.

When I first heard Sako was launch- result, the Finnish people are not only familiar with firearms, they’re also avid shooters.

Per capita, in fact, Finland has more licensed gun owners than Canada—11 per cent of their population versus our eight per cent. The difference is even more significant when you compare hunter numbers. In Canada, roughly 3.4 per cent of the population buys a hunting licence each year, while in Finland that number jumps to more than six per cent. That definitely shoots holes in the theory that hunting across Europe is only for the rich.

In Canada, hunting is still largely an individual pursuit, with small informal groups occasionally hunting together, usually family members or a few close friends. In Finland, however, the bulk of hunting takes place through more than 2,500 hunting clubs. Membership typically includes the use of a shooting ing this new line of rifles, I was worried it would abandon the 85 completely, so I was pleasantly surprised when I got my first look at the new Sako 90s. And you can tell the Finnish company clearly had North American hunters in its sights with the Adventure (pictured above) and Peak—both rifles will be right at home in the Canadian woods and mountains. For those who prefer a wood stock, meanwhile, there’s the Hunter model.

Having now shot the 90, I would simply say that Sako took a great rifle—the 85—and made it even better.

—T.J. SCHWANKY

range and, more importantly, access to private land, where the clubs manage both the hunting and the wildlife. When I hunted in Poland, it was a very similar system. With access to private land being one of the biggest challenges facing Canadian hunters, it’s easy for us to understand the popularity of these clubs.

ON THIS TRIP , I was joined by several other outdoor writers from the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Australia to test the new Sako 90 rifles at one of the hunting

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THE T I P O F T H E SPEA R I SN ’ T A SPEA R A T AL L

I had practised extensively before leaving for Finland, I had to take the test with a new Sako 90, a rifle model I’d never seen before, let alone fired. As it turned out, I was actually fairly familiar with the rifle, as it is essentially a refinement of the discontinued Sako 85 series (see “A fine line” on page 70).

When it was finally time to prepare for the hunt, we all excitedly formed a line in front of the club house, where the hunt master went over the rules. For many of us, me included, this was our first driven hunt. We would be placed in various stands on the club property, and a group of drivers would then push the game in our direction. We were to have three drives in the morning and two in the afternoon. White-tailed bucks, lone does and fawns were all fair game, as were bull moose, lone cows and calves. Females accompanied by young were off limits.

We were all fitted with headsets progress of the drivers, and to let us know once the moose quota had been reached and they could no longer be hunted. We then toasted the hunt, and in the bottom of our shot glasses were the numbers of the stands each of us were assigned to.

The first two drives were uneventful for me, but the chatter over the radio indicated some of the others had been lucky. My third stand offered a much greater view than the first two, and about 15 minutes into the drive, a whitetail doe and fawn crossed a trail just below me. The fawn was fair game, but I elected not to take the shot hoping something else would come my way.

A few minutes later, there was a flurry of shots to the north and two excited hunters announced over the radio that two moose were down. A short time later, the hunt master declared no more moose could be taken. Less than two minutes later, a fat cow sauntered into sight and stopped, standing broadside

I could do was laugh at my misfortune and watch as she melted back into the forest.

The day ended without me firing a shot, but being part of the driven hunt was an amazing experience. That evening, we celebrated with a big feast, paying homage to the hunt and the harvested animals. You could tell this was a deep-rooted tradition with the Finnish hunters joining us, and we were honoured to have shared it with them.

It was also easy to see why hunting remains so popular in Finland, with the tradition, camaraderie and ease of access ensuring high hunter participation well into the future. We Canadians could learn a few lessons from the Finns, but travelling to hunt once again also made me appreciate just how blessed we are with the opportunities we enjoy here at home. OC

ALBERTA-BASED CONTRIBUTOR

T.J. SCHWANKY TRAVELLED TO FIN-

BY ROBERT PYE