by Jay Chambers

The Sako Finnlight is a surprisingly light, high-performance rifle for hunters who make long treks into the wilderness for their game. It’s perfectly trimmed and ideal for young people or those of smaller stature, too.

Sako is well-known and respected for their classic Model 85. The Finnlight is a pared-down version featuring a synthetic stock, fluted barrel, and stainless steel construction. It’s lightweight and extremely durable.

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Operation

Integrated rails atop the receiver allow for scope mounting and the polished bolt body means you get smooth operation when lining up a shot. The bolt handle is 2.5 inches with a teardrop-shaped knob that’s easy to grip and features a finish and action to match the barrel.

When the action is cocked, you know it by a red dot indicator on the base of the bolt shroud. It’s an elegant and easy-to-use rifle that doesn’t compromise performance.

Reliability

The proprietary Controlled Round design gives the cartridge rim direct engagement as it’s taken from the top of the magazine. It’s fed at a precise angle allowing for more control, which improves reliability over other rifle designs.

You can’t underestimate the role that comfort plays in reliability, either. Because of its lightweight but durable design, handling is superb. When it comes to an accurate shot, you can count on its ease of use.

Design

Despite its synthetic construction, this rifle has sporty lines and an accented cheekpiece. It doesn’t look cheap like some synthetic stocks do. The black finish makes it look sleek while keeping it practical.

It’s molded from two plastic pieces, so the butt feels hollow, but the sidewalls are thick, so you won’t experience twisting of the free-floating barrel.

The pistol grip features rubber grip panels with small rings that deviate from the usual checkered pattern, making it look like a modern, premium rifle rather than something we’ve seen time and again. They still enable a good grip even with wet or muddy hands.

The large recoil pad cushions the blow of the .270 cartridge.

Barrel

The primary attraction of the Finnlight is its practicality. The 22-inch barrel is perfect for a variety of uses. It’s not too big, and it’s not too small. Goldilocks would be in love.

It’s easy to control, for extreme accuracy. It’s threaded, too, so you can fit a moderator without it getting too cumbersome.

This sporty, gently tapering design is .637 inches at the muzzle and fluted for most of its length. It has a distinctive look not shared with its competitors. This helps to save weight for greater versatility and control over your accuracy.

Scope mounts feature the Opti-Lok system finished to match the rest of the rifle.

When recoil occurs, bases work to grip the action tighter to secure the system from hitting hard.

Trigger

Most Sako rifles feature a standard single-stage trigger with a 3-pound weight. It’s adjustable from 2 to 4 pounds with an allen key at the back of the magazine well.

The trigger blade is slim with grooves to improve grip. The magazine well and the trigger guard are made from two pieces of aluminum and fitted together to match the rest of the rifle.

With a horizontally sliding safety lever, you can easily move it forward to firing or backward to safe. The safety setting locks both the bolt and the trigger.

Enacting a small plunger in front of the safety lever allows for removing the cartridge while keeping the trigger locked.

The magazine release mechanism is called the “Total Control Latch.” It’s designed to prevent an accidental release, which is incredibly useful on a hunting rifle.

Performance

The .270 cartridge is capable of a lot of velocity, and is highly accurate at 100 yards or less. It’s perfect for deer and other big game hunting. However, it’s versatile enough for lightweight shooting, too.

This high-performance rifle warms up after as little as 10 rounds, so it’s ready to go at a moment’s notice and you won’t have any problems with shifting due to heat.

Thread your Finnlight for a moderator and accommodated .22-250 cartridges and transition easily from big game to an exceptional fox rifle.

Overall

The practicality of its design and performance makes it unmatched in terms of accuracy and reliability. It’s not often you find a manufacturer able to marry an attractive design with durability and a lightweight frame while still achieving these goals.

The Sako Finnlight is a perfect combination of everything you need in a hunting rifle. Men, women, young people, beginners, and experienced shooters will all find something appealing about it.

It has excellent out-of-the-box accuracy with a rugged, no-nonsense style. It’s versatility is also an excellent feature. It handles well with soft recoil. It’s the perfect light rifle with a heavy caliber.