sako 85 mounts

I went to a local gun store today and picked out a sako 85 hunter in a 30-06. I was seriously considering conetrol mounts but after talking with the sako dealer I am pretty sure I want to go with the optilock (sako factory) rings and bases. They are about 50 bucks each and if price is judge, I'd say they are more than adequate for my setup. The scope I have is a S&B Zenith 3-12x50. I do not have a need for any sort of quick detach. The dealer I talked to told me that in his experience with the sako rifles they sell and a centered scope, there will be very minimal windage adjustments necessary.

Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations on this?

Thanks in advance!

I like the Talley rings for Sako.  Here they are on my Sako 75, which uses the same mounts as the Sako 85:

I've never had any problems whatsoever with Conetrols, but I've never used their DapTar bases, which you would use for the Sako, so I don't have any basis of comparison on their Sako mounts.  I have never had any Conetrol mount not hold up to rugged use.

I have mixed feelings about the OptiLok mounts -- they perfectly match your Sako's finish, so they look nice, and they have the self aligning inserts.  However, they're also WAY too high and the screw heads seem to strip very easily!  I would personally pass on the OptiLoks and get either the Talley, Warne, or maybe Conetrol.  The Leupold Ringmounts seem pretty decent as well.

Ahubel,

Here are the Optilok "LOW" stainless finish rings on my Sako 75 Varmint.  That's a 50mm objective scope mounted on the rifle, yet there's still about 3/16" of clearance between the objective bell and the barrel -- and again, those are "LOW" rings!  Height isn't too bad with a 50mm scope, but with any objective diameter smaller than 50mm, even the low rings are too high IMO!  The really thick bases are what makes these mounts so $#Q!#%! high!  I don't understand the purpose for the bases and why Sako didn't choose to design the rings to mount directly to the integral receiver grooves.  They show integral OL ringmounts on their website, but I called Beretta about them and best I can tell, they aren't available in the U.S.

The screws were on the verge of stripping while I was torquing them when initially installing the scope, using the 2.5mm hex key provided with the rings.  I don't understand why all ring manufacturers don't use Torx screws in this day and age.  I don't think the OLs are bad rings, they just wouldn't be my first choice if I had it to do over again.  Again, I do like the fact they have the ring inserts.

You can also try calling Warne.  They have 30mm rings for Sako.  The 85 uses the same mounts as the 75, and the rings mount directly to the receiver, not requiring a separate base.

http://web.mac.com/warnemounts/iWeb/Warne%20Scope%20Mounts/C hart%20Scope%20Rings.html

Whether you're talking to Warne, Talley, Conetrol, S&K or whomever, just let them know your 3-12X50 Zenith has a 5.6" mounting length and they should be able to tell you whether or not their mounts will fit your scope when installed on a Sako 85 long action.  One of the advantages of Conetrol is that they have rings to fit pretty much any conceivable combination of rifle and scope.

ahuebel,

Did you ever get your scope ring issue sorted out?  I'm anxious to see pics of your new rig!