To Sako owners - trouble

Hun-Ter · #1 10-31-2011, 11:18 PM

I picked up a brand new Sako in 300 wsm on Saturday. I always wanted one, finally I got it and what a big disappointment!
I went to the range on Sunday morning to break in the barrel and sight in the scope, but I couldn't get a group better than 3", mostly 4-5". I haven't fire a rifle in 3 years, but I can't be that bad....
I thought my scope is loose - it was installed in the store - , but the screws were tight.
As I was holding the rifle I was wiggled the barrel, and there it was, clunk - clunk, so I thought, OK, the receiver screws must be loose. Checked them, both were tight! WT???
The barrel was loose, it was about 2-3 thread out of the receiver!!
I could easily turn it out of the receiver.
I called the shop today and told them what's going on. They contacted Stroeger and here is what they said: " just use some red lock tight and hand-tight the barrel back to the action." (note, there was no lock tight on the thread at all, it was actually greasy)
I have to say that I have no confidence of doing this.
I had barrel changed on one of my Rem. 700 and my gunsmith had a hard time to remove it with the special tools he had.
In my opinion a rifle's barrel should not be removed by hands.

I called a gunsmith in the next town and told him what happened and what advice I got from Sako's customer service. He was extremely helpful. His suggestion was to return the entire rifle and ask for a replacement.
He also said to safely secure or remove a rifle barrel would take a special tool and most manufacturer won't even use thread lock, the barrels secured by high torque, and that's it.
Anyway, he will also contact Sako and see what he can do.
I guess if it comes to an exchange it won't be done in few days, the store had only one in stock, and actually it was hard to find this caliber with the laminated stock.

What would you do?

Attempt to repair it and see what will happen?
Return it to Sako and demand a quick replacement due to the middle of the hunting season?
Return it to the store, get my money back and buy something else?
Anyone had the same or similar problem before?
How Stoeger / Sako handled the problem?

Thanks!

Hunter

Rockymtnx · #2 10-31-2011, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hun-Ter

What would you do?

Send it back and get a new one.

Ken07AOVette · #3 10-31-2011, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockymtnx

Send it back and get a new one.

+1

harv3589 · #4 11-01-2011, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken07AOVette

+1

Agree. Send it back. If u can get things all settled with sako u will be happy with rifle. I love mine.

#5 11-01-2011, 05:00 AM

WOW SEND It back you like sakos get another one .

I like whinchester never had a problem good luck .

HIBACKPACKER · #6 11-01-2011, 05:43 AM

Number one would be your safety. The barrel is threaded for a reason HEAD SPACE. Could post pictures of the shells that you did fire and show us how they were blowen out and they should be. Second the shop that you purchased your firearm from should have completed a check of your firearm before it left their store. There should also be an inspection number in the box of who pasted the inspection from the factory. Take all kinds of pictures and return it to the shop that sold it to you with a letter and demand that they give you brand new rifle and a few other things to make things right. You should also send an email with the pictures of the firearm to the head person of stoger. You very lucky that is all that happened to you. Glad your ok!

DarkAisling · #7 11-01-2011, 08:44 AM

I am horrified. Send her back.

catnthehat · #8 11-01-2011, 08:54 AM

One of those instances where a well made product has one fall through the craks - obviously not a design fault.
Every fire arms manufacturer has had problems in the past, and even the custm guys get stuf that sneaks pout of the shop somehow that is not right.
Send it back, get another, and be happy!

Cat

#9 11-01-2011, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catnthehat

One of those instances where a well made product has one fall through the craks - obviously not a design fault.
Every fire arms manufacturer has had problems in the past, and even the custm guys get stuf that sneaks pout of the shop somehow that is not right.
Send it back, get another, and be happy!

Cat

x2

Grizzly Adams · #10 11-01-2011, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catnthehat

One of those instances where a well made product has one fall through the craks - obviously not a design fault.
Every fire arms manufacturer has had problems in the past, and even the custm guys get stuf that sneaks pout of the shop somehow that is not right.
Send it back, get another, and be happy!

Cat

Interesting that we are so tolerant and forgiving about shoddy workmanship and poor quality, in what has come to be regarded as a high grade rifle.

Even more so, that the manufacturer has the same attitude. There is no excuse for this. Matter of safety and one has to assume, given the European requirements, this thing was Proof tested. Now, where's the guy that was knocking Enfields.

Grizz

Hairball · #11 11-03-2011, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catnthehat

One of those instances where a well made product has one fall through the craks - obviously not a design fault.
Every fire arms manufacturer has had problems in the past, and even the custm guys get stuf that sneaks pout of the shop somehow that is not right.
Send it back, get another, and be happy!

Cat

X100, you spend your hard earned money to purchase I gun you wanted for a long time and it's not assembled to manufacture’s specs.....I would return or exchange it 100%, if something else "might" go wrong they could go back to the gunsmith and say it his fault for future issues with the rifle.

gopher · #12 11-01-2011, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HIBACKPACKER

Number one would be your safety. The barrel is threaded for a reason HEAD SPACE. Could post pictures of the shells that you did fire and show us how they were blowen out and they should be. Second the shop that you purchased your firearm from should have completed a check of your firearm before it left their store. There should also be an inspection number in the box of who pasted the inspection from the factory. Take all kinds of pictures and return it to the shop that sold it to you with a letter and demand that they give you brand new rifle and a few other things to make things right. You should also send an email with the pictures of the firearm to the head person of stoger. You very lucky that is all that happened to you. Glad your ok!

Lol ya ok

.257Weatherby · #13 11-03-2011, 04:01 PM

Call my CC company and tell them to cancel the charges , the item is defective and is being returned to point of sale.
there is no way I want a defective rifle with a barrel that is about to fall off.
If you didnt pay by CC, I would be sending it back for warranty via the store I bought it from.
tight groups,
Rob

MattSako · #14 10-15-2014, 03:40 PM

.

Sashi · #15 10-15-2014, 04:55 PM

There is obviously something seriously wrong with the with the rifles engineering that would loosen and allow the barrel to separate from the receiver because of the firing impact. Sounds to me like Sako is fully aware of the problem if they are prepared with a lock tight solution.
Sako should maybe be thinking about putting a recall on these rifles, before someone gets injured.

harv3589 · #16 10-15-2014, 07:27 PM

I have had no issues with mine nor come across any other postings similar to this one...weird how u would get two with the sa,e issue and I can't find any other reports similar on the net

Kurt505 · #17 10-15-2014, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harv3589

I have had no issues with mine nor come across any other postings similar to this one...weird how u would get two with the sa,e issue and I can't find any other reports similar on the net

And to have it happen a year later to the day is even more coincidental. That's some bad luck man.

harv3589 · #18 10-15-2014, 08:15 PM

Sounds like my luck....

MattJanzen · #19 11-10-2014, 01:02 PM

SAKO are GARBAGE!

6.5 shooter · #20 11-13-2014, 05:28 PM

REALLY? I will buy every one you own....

Sashi · #21 11-13-2014, 06:32 PM

I noticed at the range a couple of weeks ago, a fellow with a new Remington 7600 pump action, with a loose barrel. so I guess it happens.

Leef · #22 01-17-2015, 08:38 PM

Returned a sako greywolf 300 wsm this fall. Took about 3 months to get a verdict but it is being replaced. Best grouping I could get was 2.5 inches. Stoeger canada customer service told me that the 300 WSM in the Sako 85 is the caliber they see the most problems with. I am replacing it with a different caliber to be safe. Their customer service is not great in terms of returning calls and I found you need to call until you actually speak to someone. Thank god they back the warranty at the very least!