Sako L61R Finnbear

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The History of Sako

Sako (Suojeluskuntain Ase- ja Konepaja Oy) is rifle and ammunition manufacturer located in Riihimäki, Finland. It was founded in 1921, after the rifle repair workshop, opened in former Helsinki brewery, became independent of the civil guard. The workshop grew into a weapons factory, which produced hunting rifles as well as cartridges and moved its headquarters from Helsinki to Riihimäki. The first civilian rifle bearing the name Sako, was the L42, prototyped in 1942 and commercially manufactured a few years later.

After the World War II, domestic hunting culture thrived and Sako invested in development of hunting rifles. Due to this investment, domestic sales increased along with export to the USA and the rest of the world. In the 1980s, Sako merged with another firearm manufacturer, Tikkakoski and gained a valuable rifle line called Tikka. The production of military and law enforcement weapons started when Finnish defence forces ordered assault rifles and cartridges from Sako.

The company has changed multiple owners since 1921, but has ultimately been sold to Italian Beretta Holding in 2000. In 2006, Sako celebrated its 85th anniversary by launching a new hunting rifle family, Sako 85. In 2020, Sako introduced S20, the first truly hybrid rifle, designed for both; hunters and tactical shooters. Another novelty presented by Sako in 2020 was a brand new, lead-free Sako Powerhead bullet.

Sako L61R Finnbear Rifle Review

Introduced by Sako in 1961 for long cartridge shooting, the Finnbear quickly developed a reputation as one of the finest production rifles ever made. This push feed rifle features a tapered dovetail for mounting purpose, with the wide part in the front and narrow part in the back. Mounts made for modern day rifle Sako 85 of receiver length L will fit on this rifle. The L61R covers calibres that fit into 2 different modern-day rifle Sako 85 receiver sizes – M and L, which means the receiver of L61R may not be as rigid as the one of Sako 85 rifles.

These same rifles are also named AIII Finnbear, but they are more or less the same rifle as L61R Finnbear.

Sako L61R Finnbear, chambered for .300 Win. Mag.

Figure 1: Sako L61R Finnbear, chambered for .300 Win. Mag. (Source: https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/sako-rifles/sako---l61r-finnbear----300-win--mag-.cfm?gun_id=100977087)

Sako L61R Finnbear Calibers

L61R is chambered for:

6.5x55
7x64
.270 Win.
.300 Win. Mag.
7mm Rem Mag
.338 Win. Mag.
.30-06 Spr.
.375 H&H Mag.
.25-06 Rem.
9.3x62

Sako L61R Finnbear Variants

The rifle is available in the following variants:

hunter
classic
bavarian
classic deluxe
safari
safari 90 anniversary
hunter stainless
hunter laminated stainless
synthetic stainless
finnlight
kodiak
brown bear
long range

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Sako L61R Finnbear

One thing worth pointing out when it comes to rifle mounts is that Sako has been using the same tapered dovetail mounting system for a few decades already. This means that some Sako rifles have the same mounting surface on the receiver, despite being decades apart considering their production date. With this, Sako achieved mounting system consistency, so even mounts made for today’s “Sako 85” series of rifles will fit the receivers of older Sako rifles. Rifle mounts manufacturers mainly use only present day Sako rifles (Sako 85) to designate which mount fits which receiver length. Then it’s up to the user to do the research, whether the mount will fit their rifle if they don’t have the newest rifle model.

The receiver of Sako L61R Finnbear, chambered for .300 Win. Mag.

Figure 2. The receiver of Sako L61R Finnbear, chambered for .300 Win. Mag. (Source: https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/sako-rifles/sako---l61r-finnbear----300-win--mag-.cfm?gun_id=100977087)

Rifles which have the same mounting surface as Sako L61R Finnbear:

Sako 85 L
Sako MA 05 L

So, if you want to buy mounts for Sako L61R Finnbear or any other rifle from the list above, there is a high probability they will have Sako 85 L written in their name, because Sako 85 is currently the newest Sako model with tapered dovetail.

Best Scope Mounts for Sako L61R Finnbear

Fixed Scope Mounts for Sako L61R Finnbear

For fixed mounts on this rifle, we recommend Optilock Sako Long or Sako Extended mounting bases. We can insert rings onto these bases, but we must be careful, because Sako Optilock rings are available only for 1inch (25.4mm), 30mm and 34mm diameter scope tubes. One special feature of the Optilock rings are the polymer inserts (except the 34mm ring, which does not include inserts), which prevent scratches on the scope. If we want to install scopes with rails or scopes with tube diameters other than these of Optilock rings, we need to reach for rings of other companies like Recknagel, EAW or Osuma, and they fit Optilock bases as well.

Sako long base Sako extended

Detachable Repeatable Scope Mounts for Sako L61R Finnbear

The only Dentler rails available for Sako L61R rifles are Dentler BASIS, which allow only Dentler mounts to be installed on them. It is one of the most reliable and accurate quick release mounts for Sako L61R on the market. Unfortunately, Dentler BASIS bases don't support adjustments on the bases, meaning they are not as revolutionary as the Dentler BASIS VARIO.

An explanation of Dentler mounts can be seen in our Roundtable video:

If you would prefer pivot mounts, we would recommend purchasing MAKlassic two piece design mount, because they are the lowest of all pivot mounts. Pivot mounts are usually not among the lowest, but with Sako rifles, they are usually even higher than on an average rifle because of their special tapered dovetail mounting system.

Picatinny Rails for Sako L61R Finnbear

All of the Picatinny rails for Sako L61R are made similarly, all of them made from multiple parts.

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

If you have this rifle or any other rifle at home, we would really appreciate it if you could send us some photos of the rifle receiver (mounting surface of the rifle when there are no mounts installed), because it would help us expand our rifle mounts database. If you send us a photo of rifle receiver which we don’t already have, that would be of great value to us and we will definitely reward you for your help.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: info@optics-trade.eu

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ERA-TAC picatinny rail - Sako 75 / MAO5 I / II / III, 85 / MAO05 XS / SM / S

$115.00

Sako L61R Finnbear

Sub Categories

The History of Sako

Sako L61R Finnbear Rifle Review

Sako L61R Finnbear Calibers

Sako L61R Finnbear Variants

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Sako L61R Finnbear

Rifles which have the same mounting surface as Sako L61R Finnbear:

Best Scope Mounts for Sako L61R Finnbear

Fixed Scope Mounts for Sako L61R Finnbear

Detachable Repeatable Scope Mounts for Sako L61R Finnbear

Picatinny Rails for Sako L61R Finnbear

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

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