Sako S20 Precision caliber choice

[thexman]

My local dealer is going to get the 308, 6.5CM, 6.5PRC, 7mm and 300wm calibers for the precision model.

I am hesitating which caliber I should pick. Wonder if I can get some suggestions/recommendations from people in here.

Having 6.5CM and .308 now. Preferably picking a new caliber if possible. Haven't started reloading yet, at least not until I can finish all the factory ammo I got, so it will be for a while for existing calibers I have.

More towards to the 300wm or 6.5PRC, at least if I don't reload for a while, the factory ammo price will be slightly cheaper than the 7mm. Will be using this rifle for precision/long range target shooting, local F-class, PR matches etc, not very serious competitions, practicing will be up to 300yard only, match range is up to 1000yard.

I can see 300wm is bit high on the recoil, lower muzzle velocity and higher energy and 6.5PRC is completely the other way, and designed for precision shooting.

Don't want to pick some caliber which will get unpopular or dying(hard to get ammo/or casing, projectile if I start reloading) in a few years time.

Thank you.

 

[ToddM]

I really only see the S20 as a hunting rifle, as such I think *I* would lean to the 300wm. I know they are billing it as a "precision rifle" and perhaps for Scandinavian based competitions it is, but the reality is here in the states, while I don't really like it, heavy rifles in tiny calibers like 6mm with 4oz triggers are dominating competition rifles because they mask the most shooter errors and the rules allow it. For example in F-class you'd have to shoot F-open with a max weight of 22lb, I'd bet most guys are not shooting 10-11lb guns after you put an optic on it. A couple years ago .284 was very popular in F-Open, with some 6.5 and 6mm's. No clue anymore.

I'm not an expert but to me the 6.5 PRC is the most risky from a longevity standpoint. If you want something that's going absolutely to be around in a few years I'd say the 6.5cm is the next best thing out to 1000.

If you were looking for a hunting rig that you could dabble in F-class/PRS I might say go for the S20 precision model in 300wm, but it sounds like playing around in some competitions is your goal, and for that I'd get something that is more tailored to the game. That said I hate the trend of these 20+lb 6mm's with 4oz triggers so I applaud your desire to use an actual PRACTICAL rifle that doesn't require a golf card to tote it from the car to the shooting line in "Practical" Rifle competitions.

 

[perttime]

7mm and 300wm are overkill, unless you want to kill something.
6.5PRC is more velocity and less barrel life.
6.5CM will do what you say you want to do.

 

[thexman]

I really only see the S20 as a hunting rifle, as such I think *I* would lean to the 300wm. I know they are billing it as a "precision rifle" and perhaps for Scandinavian based competitions it is, but the reality is here in the states, while I don't really like it, heavy rifles in tiny calibers like 6mm with 4oz triggers are dominating competition rifles because they mask the most shooter errors and the rules allow it. For example in F-class you'd have to shoot F-open with a max weight of 22lb, I'd bet most guys are not shooting 10-11lb guns after you put an optic on it. A couple years ago .284 was very popular in F-Open, with some 6.5 and 6mm's. No clue anymore.

I'm not an expert but to me the 6.5 PRC is the most risky from a longevity standpoint. If you want something that's going absolutely to be around in a few years I'd say the 6.5cm is the next best thing out to 1000.

If you were looking for a hunting rig that you could dabble in F-class/PRS I might say go for the S20 precision model in 300wm, but it sounds like playing around in some competitions is your goal, and for that I'd get something that is more tailored to the game. That said I hate the trend of these 20+lb 6mm's with 4oz triggers so I applaud your desire to use an actual PRACTICAL rifle that doesn't require a golf card to tote it from the car to the shooting line in "Practical" Rifle competitions.

Thanks for your detailed information. Really appreciated.

Sounds like the S20 precision is Sako's hybird version of their hunting line with some TRG line aspects, in a Tikka T3X Tac A1 price range rifle.

Sounds like I don't really need it unless I want something from Sako more affordable than a TRG one, but not in .308 or 6.5Creedmoor, I'd better pick the 300WM caliber to have a try.

 

[BillyD]

Thanks for your detailed information. Really appreciated.

Sounds like the S20 precision is Sako's hybird version of their hunting line with some TRG line aspects, in a Tikka T3X Tac A1 price range rifle.

Sounds like I don't really need it unless I want something from Sako more affordable than a TRG one, but not in .308 or 6.5Creedmoor, I'd better pick the 300WM caliber to have a try.

I have an S20 in 300wm that I’ll be listing for sale soon because I ended up with 2 from a trade. Holler if interested