X-Bolt vs Sako 85-my take

 

My tang looks like that too.  I think they want all the recoil bearing on the steel plate in front but they could sure get a little more precise on that inletting. 

 

I've tried every type of grease or lube I have on the cocking surfaces and mine's not gotten any easier either.  I believe you're right it's a design issue that makes the bolt lift so hard.  The cocking surfaces all appear well polished.

 

That is exactly what I was referring to with my comment about the poor wood to metal fit around the tang.  Mine is the same way, as is all Sako 85's I've seen.  Really, this is my only major gripe with these rifles.  I know why they did it though -- this is a common area for stocks to start cracking on bolt action rifles.  If the tang contacts the stock here, repeated recoil can cause the stock to start cracking directly behind the tang.  This cannot happen if there is clearance between the tang and the wood.  However, they certainly could have reduced the size of the gap so it is a little nicer looking there.  Winchester had a good solution by having the M70 tang overlap the stock rather than being inletted into the stock. 

 

The integral receiver mount dovetails are a pain, but I don't blame Sako as much as mount manufacturers for not providing very many mounts.  The design itself is a good idea, and is very rugged.  I do blame Sako for producing the crappy, overpriced Opti-Lock mounts as their solution.  But, as long as Talley provides mounts for Sako, I'm happy.

 

On the stiff bolt lift, that is a normal, unavoidable byproduct of short lift bolt action designs with 3, 6, or 9 locking lugs on 120-deg centers.  With a short bolt lift of 54 - 60 degrees vs. the standard 90-deg lift of a typical 2-lug action (lugs spaced 180-deg apart), you are having to do the same work in loading up the firing pin spring in a shorter travel distance to cock the action.  Therefore, the cocking cam is steeper and it requires more effort to cock.  Installing a lighter spring is not a good idea, as it could potentially reduce reliability and would increase lock time.   The same issue exists to some extent with all short lift bolt actions, including the Browning A-Bolt and X-Bolt, Weatherby Mark V, T/C Icon, Sauer 200/202, etc.  Some manufacturers use longer bolt handles to provide additional leverage to reduce cocking effort on their short bolt throw actions.  The bolt handle shape and size and angle of the knob or gripping surface of the handle also affects your perception of bolt lift stiffness.  On the plus side, the short bolt throw allows you to mount scopes with big oculars lower on the rifle without bolt handle clearance issues. 

 

There is nothing wrong with your rifle in that regard. 

 

I think its great we have so many choices today compared to 40 years ago.......