Beretta, which now owns both SAKO and Tikka, has just introduced the new SAKO A7, based on the SAKO 75, but designed to sell at a lower price point. It retains many of the better features of the SAKO 75, including adjustable trigger (2.2 lb. minimum pull), three-lug bolt with 70° throw, and ergonomic stock. The A7 offers a new 3-round detachable magazine, with an improved latching mechanism drawn from the SAKO 85.
To learn more about the A7, visit www.SakoA7.net, a whiz-bang Flash-enabled website with photos and specs. Caution–the site has obnoxious sound effects and navigation like a video game, but we guess Beretta’s marketing gurus decided “bells and whistles” would sell more rifles.
Unlike most SAKOs, the A7 lacks a dovetail on the top of the receiver that would allow you to mount rings directly to the action without the need for a separate scope rail. In deference to American shooters, who seem to prefer separate mounting rails, The A7 ships with Weaver-style scope mounting blocks front and rear. In our view, the dovetail is actually a cleaner, lower-profile, and more rigid set-up for a hunting rifle, but this is one more example of building a product the consumer thinks he wants, whether it makes sense or not.
Notably, Beretta is marketing the new SAKO A7 with an accuracy guarantee — One MOA for five shots. While that’s not spectacular, few other major gun companies (Cooper being the notable exception) provide accuracy guarantees for their hunting rifles. SAKO claims that “Each rifle must place five shots within one inch at 100 yards or it doesn’t ship.” Sako A7 gun weight (without scope) averages 6.5 pounds, while length of pull is 14 inches. Calibers and twist rates are shown below. Unfortunately, no fast-twist 6mm barrels are offered with the .243 Win chambering.
Maybe they should have spent some marketing dollars on spell-check. The opening page says “wolrd-class accuracy”
Comment by Marksman — January 30, 2008 @ 11 pm
I’m becoming rather upset with what Beretta has done to Sakos. I don’t care for the genetic experiment that is the 85. When someone wants a Sako they want a European styled gun, Monte Carlo, Palm Swell, simple, elegant lines.
I will keep my 75 in 300 Wby (a round hard to get). I tried for years to get a 75 Finnlite in 6.5×55, why ya reckon, if you can find one at all, they go for twice the original price? Duh, Beretta, get a clue.
So I will also hold onto what is the next best thing, my Tikka T3Lite in 6.5×55. I’d consider one of these T7s if they didn’t come with what annoys me about the T3-the three round chintzy clip.
But when it comes down to the wire my T3 puts ‘em all in a quarter at one hundred, wicked sub MOA.
And the scope I got on it cost more than the $500 I paid for the rifle.
You blew it again Beretta.
Sakos have never been for the Eric, Tim and Bubba set anyway.
Comment by cwebefree — June 11, 2008 @ 11 am
Wow that looks a lot like my new Savage Hunting Rifle.
Comment by Hunting Rifle — July 10, 2008 @ 3 pm
Now days “new”, “improved” etc. are just euphemisms for cost cutting. Cheaper materials, less features (”lacks a dovetail on the top of the receiver”)and overall degradation in quality.
Guaranteed one MOA. “With better out of the box accuracy that any other rifle on the planet”……… Sheeesh!!!
When all that matters is the bottom line………what else would you expect.
Sakos have always been for shooters that appreciate quality and are happy to pay that bit extra that goes into it.
I agree with cwebefree..Eric, Tim and Bubba have got plenty of plastic rifles to buy that are quite adequate.
Berreta should be ashamed. It can take decades to build a good reputation but only a couple of years to ruin it.
“beginning of a new era” all right…….unfortunately.
Comment by Neil — July 12, 2008 @ 6 am
I bought a stainless in .308, like it, A LOT. I have a Tikka, best gun for the $ period. For $200 more, the A7 is obviously better.
Comment by Phil — July 27, 2008 @ 10 am
I believe Beretta is well on its way to ruining Sako. Even the 85 Deluxe is obviously not a deluxe grade weapon. Tikkas by the way have PLASTIC bolt shrouds & trigger guards..PLASTIC!!! I’m afraid the last quality production bolt rifles will be the CZ 550 and the T/C Icon..maybe the new Win. M70, but I haven’t seen one yet. By the quality rifles while they’re still available.
Comment by Daniel — July 29, 2008 @ 6 pm
All but # 5 sounds a bunch of whiners. I resemble that Tim and Bubba remark!
The A7 is a great rifle. I am going to send a crying towel to the other 5
ps I forgot my spell check
Comment by Tim — August 17, 2008 @ 5 am
sako A7 is at the top of list hope to own one soon
Comment by joe diaz — August 23, 2008 @ 8 pm
Hi Joe
I want to buy a sako A7 in 7.08. Give me advice : good rifle ? accurate etc…
regards
jm truvan
Comment by truvan — July 2, 2009 @ 12 am
just cut deal on A7 SAKO in 7-08 i will let you all know how it shoots
Comment by joe diaz — August 23, 2008 @ 8 pm
i have a new sako bavarian in 243,shoots fantastic,also a finnbear in 270,and with that rifle i never ever miss.as i live in nz red deer are plentiful and the hunting is free and year round.i found the bubba remarks amusing.
Comment by terry pahl — September 13, 2008 @ 1 am
I am buying an A7 .308 Win. I am very excited and think its a great gun for the money. Handles great and fit and finish impressed me.
Comment by Alan — September 19, 2008 @ 10 pm
Hope to see it in a Camo Stainless model soon. Till then I will hold onto my $$$.
Comment by Hunts Biggame — October 1, 2008 @ 5 pm
I totally agree with Beretta wrecking things in general – I used to love the company but my opinion of them has dropped to an all-time low over the past couple of years. I know of two friends with their products (one with a Storm carbine another their top-end auto-loading trap shotgun) that had issues and received the biggest run-around with respect to warranty I’ve ever heard. They are a tight-wad frugal company that cares about money first and customers somewhere further down their priority list. Not the greatest way to do business. I plan on getting a Sako A7, but I sure hope it’s perfect and don’t have to use the warranty process.
As far as the mag on Tikka T3’s or the new A7 being cheap or chintzy – just because it’s plastic doesn’t make it bad. Glock has worldwide success and a reputation for reliability and they’re about as plastic a firearm as you can get…including their mags. There are quality plastic products and cheap plastic products, but Sako/Tikka doesn’t make the latter. You may not like plastic, and you have the right to your opinion, but keep in mind that’s your opinion. There’s nothing factual about plastic mags being sub-standard. They’re just different. The SIG 550/551/552 rifles use plastic mags and they’re one of the gold standards in military rifles. Plastic never rusts – remember that. As far as plastic bolt shrouds – you can bet someone will release a metal version on the aftermarket if they haven’t already (if it makes you feel better). Plastic trigger guards – see my comments about mags. Doesn’t matter people.
As far as bubbas and wanting max bang for the buck – get a Weatherby Vanguard series rifle. They’re $399 at Cabelas and they’re darn good. Savage makes a fine lower-priced good-shooting rifle, too. Remember, Vanguards are Howas, so you could get a Howa and be fine with one, too.
Poster #4 (Neil) made a comment about lacking dovetails on the A7. That’s the best thing Sako has ever done. I know Sako-style ringmounts are supposedly good for precise scope alignment, but if they were superior to everything else on the market, then you would see the custom rifle builders using them…and you don’t! Custom builders can do what they want, they’re not confined to factory standards – they create their own. It’s hard to argue the finest bolt-action rifle builder in the nation and possibly the world, TacOps (www.tacticaloperations.com), uses Weaver/picatinny style bases and rings. It’s almost impossible to find someone more picky than TacOps about their builds, and if they’re not using dovetail ring-mounts, then you know that technology is not worth a sh*t. Period! Sure, their rifles start at around $3000 or more, but none leave the house that shoot worse than 1/4 MOA @ 100 and he exclusively uses Leupold MkIV rings/bases. So, short story long, all Tikka/Sako products would be best served using the picatinny/weaver STANDARD.
Can’t wait to get my A7…
C
Comment by Chad — October 20, 2008 @ 5 pm
I own a sako 75 deluxe in 30-06. I totally love the gun. One thing that browning has gotten WRONG is the detachable mag. Why in hell would anyone want this, I reload and the number one thing in regards to accuracy is the depth of seating a bullet. I want to seat a bullet to my particular chamber not to a magazine. with a detachable magazine you might never realize the full accuracy of that rifle, Thats just the hard core facts. I wish that they offered the floorplate for all rifles in their line. Needless to say I wont be buying a model 85 or 75 in a finnlight or hunter in the future just because of the magazine.
Comment by Robert — December 5, 2008 @ 8 am
i own a 300 win mag tikka t3 with a heavy barrel
its by far the best rifle i ever had and i wouldint trade it
againts any thing else i would trade my woman way before lol !!!
every body is talking about the new a7 i cant wait to try it
if its that good i might think about buying one but im septic!!!
can t wait to get them in canada !!!!
Comment by chris — December 5, 2008 @ 5 pm
They have been available in Canada for some time now (spring) depending on who your source is. I just picked one up myself. I bought it for what it is not for what it isn’t lol. Prices are going up up up…
Comment by Randy — January 8, 2009 @ 2 pm
I have the Sako A7 S in 300WSM.
Very, very accurate.I believe this rifle is the way of the future, technology over craftmanship. Steel and plastic, computer controlled machining,tight tolerances,durability and light weight all show us the less expensive but funcitonally superior practicality of the modern age, doesn’t it? Change comes hard and I miss the
art of the old ways even if the mechanical superiority of today is here to stay. We can’t complain how this thing shoots and handles.
Comment by oglethorpe cleo — January 31, 2009 @ 10 pm
hi guys,enjoyed reading some of the comments on the 75,i own a 75 varmint in .243….fantastic rifle!!..ill be pushing up the daisys before i change it!
Comment by glenn jarvis — February 7, 2009 @ 2 pm
anyone know where or who in canada carries the sako A7 already?
Comment by ricky — February 15, 2009 @ 1 pm
How is the recoil on that A-7 300WSM ?
Comment by Rocky — February 22, 2009 @ 7 am
handled the A7 at a hunting show, these are really nice, until you try to get one, no one has them, nobody can tell you when they will be available, prices ?? good luck, you will pay whatever they ask and be lucky if you can even get your hand on one, way to go Sako !! keep up the lousy customer service up and be ready to suffer the price when some other gun manufacturer will actually come up with a quality product and have them available to all interested.
This is not a complaint about the product, but here in BC trying to buy what you want from the few pathetic stores that exist in the lower mainland is a nightmare all by itself, if you can stand being snobbed, taken for a fool, or downright ignored by mostly incompetent salesmen ( exception to the friendly and knowledgeable staff of Wholesale sports in Kamloops) .
Comment by jp — March 12, 2009 @ 5 pm
I purchased the A7 last year in .270 WSM. Shot it last Sunday with 130 grain Berger VLD with 61 grains of IMR 4350. 4 shot group was covered by a quarter. I am saying I was all around a 1/2 moa. I paid 800 for mine and wouldn’t take anything for it so far. Recoil is very managable despite the weight. And the gun feels good. Mounted a Leupold VX-III 4.5-14×40LR with Boone and Crockett reticle. Awesome set up with Leupold rings for 1500.00.
I don’t understand why people think you have to spend 3k on a set up for it to shoot. I see folks complaining above about the stock, magazine and trigger guard of the A7… it’s meant to be shot, not used as a bush ax.
Comment by brian — March 28, 2009 @ 8 pm
Why can’t they make this rifles in any of the fast .30’s or .338’s?
Comment by Frank — April 4, 2009 @ 2 pm
Hi.
Do you have a new Sako A7,300 WSM for left hand?
Itaru
Comment by Itaru Tanaka — April 16, 2009 @ 3 am
I agree…the Sako dovetail as seen on the 85 and T3 is by far the world’s best mounting system with something like Warne dovetail rings.
Not a crappy rear windage screw to be seen with that rig.
The A7 has few real advantages over the T3.
My T3 triggers break like low strength glass….all shoot 3 shot MOA , including a .270 W which I’ve always found the hardest calibre to tune at power loads.
You get a metal lipped mag…ok.
And the A7s biggest plus, a receiver opening that allows easy finger loading unlike the T3.
But you want this over a T3, why?
Comment by Bill — May 29, 2009 @ 2 am