An 80's Sako AV Deluxe 375 H&H

[Petander]

I finally got myself one of these. 375 is not common here in Finland.

Funny that I'm breaking in a 40 years old barrel... not fired much at all, there is some pitting because of no use, nor care. A butter-smooth bolt, everything is just right. Fast rapid fire, brass ejects great!

This came with a suppressor, thus a low price, no collector value because of the threaded barrel. I'm fine with that, a suppressor makes this shoot like a 308 and from bench I like it. Otherwise suppressor is front heavy and not really needed in hunting. Range,yes.If you hunt with a dog,yes.

I may want a 350 grain NLG mold for this later on. Just need to see how break in goes first with J - bullets. If the barrel stays too rough I won't bother with cast,there are some rough spots.

But all in all, a great deer / moose rifle. 300 Oryx goes (the same as promised in the box) 2570 fps and breaks claybirds @ 75 m, offhand with the B. Nickel scope at 1x.

[Texas by God]

Sako has always made a very fine rifle.
I’m sure that it will shoot cast bullets very well also- and they are way more fun to shoot!
Congratulations on your find.


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[Larry Gibson]

Very nice find, especially with a suppressor also! The three six bits in my M70 Winchester is one of my favorite cast bullet rifles. I doubt that little bit of "pitting" will cause any problems with cast. Please post more of your loads, uses and adventures with this rifle in the future.

[Petander]

Sako has always made a very fine rifle.
I’m sure that it will shoot cast bullets very well also- and they are way more fun to shoot!
Congratulations on your find.


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I wanted a 35 Whelen long time ago, got a mold, dies, gas checks, evrything except the gun. I cast bullets for it in 2002.

Now finally, this is a "Poor man's" 35 Whelen.

[Petander]

This barrel looks new and copper fouls accordingly. In addition to new, there are some pitted spots most probably from 40 years old copper combined with storing the gun with the suppressor attached.

It will get smoothed out, "shoot one,clean copper,shoot one, clean copper... " it is tedious but it works.

We have a moving moose target practise today. I will be cleaning more than shooting but it will be fun anyway. Gonna take other rifles,too.

[sigep1764]

What are those cylinder shaped bore swabs called?

[jonp]

What are those cylinder shaped bore swabs called?

Your not the only one that wants to know. Those in different calibers look sweet.

[725]

Interested in finding out what those things are. Is that an abrasive coating in blue?

[Texas by God]

I think that is copper fouling on those little bitty toilet paper rolls….


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[wmitty]

You might want to try some paper patched cast boolits in this rifle, as they sure seem to leave a barrel nice and clean after a few rounds are fired thru one. I've sized down the Lyman 378674 to .369" and it seems to work really well patched. That is a fine looking rifle you have there!

[Tripplebeards]

Always wanted to try cast in my 375 RUM. Imo just to much case capacity to make fun loads for it. Tried trail boss with 235 grain JWords. Couldn’t hit the broad side of barn with the loads.

[45workhorse]

Mighty fine looking rifle!

[Petander]

Interested in finding out what those things are. Is that an abrasive coating in blue?

These are VFG -brand felt wads. They come in various calibers. Blue comes from Bore Tech CU2 Copper Remover. It turns blue when it finds copper. No abrasives nor ammonia,just chemical. I don't even use brass brushes any more, nylon only. Well you can not use brass with Bore Tech, brass gives false jacket material positives.

[Petander]

I mostly use Bore Tech Carbon Remover. But breaking in, CU2 is nice and efficient. You want all the copper out between shots for a while.

Bore Tech Shotgun Blend removes both lead and plastic. Eliminator removes copper AND carbon. Good stuff.

[Petander]

You might want to try some paper patched cast boolits in this rifle, as they sure seem to leave a barrel nice and clean after a few rounds are fired thru one. I've sized down the Lyman 378674 to .369" and it seems to work really well patched. That is a fine looking rifle you have there!

Thank you. I have not ventured into PP yet, it has been suggested to me by other people who know,too. My cast is now coated, no 375 mold yet... and I know how break-in works with J:s,I just take my time. I can practise with full power loads, just one or two at a time. And the occasional "Dinosaur drill".

It's been a long time since I got my last bruise from a rifle, now bad shouldering and fast fire gave one to me. Blood thinners may have an effect,too. I need more practise!

[Petander]

Always wanted to try cast in my 375 RUM. Imo just to much case capacity to make fun loads for it. Tried trail boss with 235 grain JWords. Couldn’t hit the broad side of barn with the loads.

My 375 H&H cast load would be around 2000 fps, a coated 350 grain boolit.

[jonp]

What are those cylinder shaped bore swabs called?

https://www.brownells.com/tools-clea...ystem-pellets/

[Petander]

One 270 Interlock from a clean barrel still fouls this much. But I'm only at 25 round count.