New Rifle: Sako 85 Carbonlight Rifle

I don’t need to tell you how good Sako’s model 85 line is. But if you have not seen the new Carbonlight, I do need to show it to you. Of all the rifles I handled and shot at Range Day, this is probably the most striking and distinctive. It’s build on the 85 S action, and has a fluted, No. 1 contour, 20-inch stainless barrel. The lightest rifle Sako has ever produced, it weighs right around 6 pounds (though the reps I spoke to couldn’t give me an exact weight). But the real standout feature is the new carbon-fiber stock, which not only looks extremely cool but has a soft-touch finish that makes it feel great in the hand. I have seen carbon-fiber stocks before, but this one in special. Bottom line: it’s a beautifully made, one-of-a-kind rifle. I’m told it will retail for right out $3,000, and is chambered for .22/250 Rem., .243 Win., .260 Rem., and .308 Win.