Sako is a well-known Finnish firearms manufacturer with over 100 years of tradition in the development and manufacture of precision firearms for hunting, sports and law enforcement. The company was founded in 1921 and is now part of the Beretta Holding Group. Sako is also one of the leading European manufacturers of bolt-action rifles with an annual production of around 160,000 rifles.
This time we tried out the recently introduced Sako 90 Grizzly and Finnlight Black models in combination with modern ammunition from Norma, high-performance silencers from the Norwegian manufacturer Svemko and scopes from Steiner.
Sako 90 Grizzly – Rugged elegance for demanding applications
The Sako 90 Grizzly is a bolt-action rifle that is characterised in particular by its robust construction and high-quality workmanship. The stock is made of fine walnut wood with a straight -comb stock, which is not only visually appealing, but also supports pleasant shooting behaviour.
Technical features of the Sako 90 Grizzly:
- Receiver and barrel: Both are made entirely of stainless steel and have a Cerakote coating for additional protection.
- Barrel: Fluted, with a muzzle diameter of 18.5 mm, ready for silencer or muzzle brake mounting.
- Trigger: Adjustable in five weight-of-pull settings, crisp with no slack; additionally adjustable in length.
- Magazine: 5-round steel magazine with safety against accidental release.
- QD sling swivel sockets: New to the Grizzly series, enable quick and secure mounting of a carrying strap.
The Sako 90 Grizzly is ideal for hunters who want to combine a classic look with modern technology and expect maximum comfort and safety when stalking or hunting from the high seat. A powerful all-rounder that is a pleasure to hold, the Grizzly is the ideal companion for hunters who want to see uncompromising robustness, Scandinavian manufacturing quality and modern technology combined in one rifle. The Sako 90 Grizzly is available in the following calibers:
- .308 Winchester (1:10" twist)
- .30-06 Springfield (1:10" twist)
- 6.5 Creedmoor (1:8" twist)
- 8x57 IS (1:9.5" twist)
- 9.3x62 (1:12" twist)
The barrel lengths vary from 508 mm to 569 mm depending on the caliber. The weight is between 3.1 and 3.3 kilograms, also depending on the caliber.
Sako 90 Finnlight Black, a lightweight with premium standards
The Sako 90 Finnlight Black was developed with a focus on low weight, high accuracy and adaptability for the active hunter, combining high-quality features with an attractive price-performance ratio in the mid-price segment.
The following calibers are available for the Sako 90 Finnlight Black:
- .243 Winchester (1:8" twist)
- .308 Winchester (1:10" twist)
- 6.5x55 SE (1:8" twist)
- .270 Winchester (1:10" twist)
- .22-250 Remington (1:14" twist)
- .30-06 Springfield (1:10" twist)
- 6.5 Creedmoor (1:8" twist)
- 8x57 IS (1:9.5" twist)
- 9.3x62 (1:14" twist)
- 7mm Remington Magnum (1:8" twist)
- 7mm 08 Remington (1:9" twist)
- .300 Winchester Magnum (1:10" twist)
- 7 mm PRC (1:8" twist)
Barrel lengths vary from 508 mm to 620 mm depending on the caliber. The weight is between 3.2 and 3.8 kilograms.
Technical features:
- Stock: Ergonomically designed synthetic stock with adjustable cheek rest and non-slip surfaces for a secure grip even in wet conditions.
- Receiver and barrel: Stainless steel, Cerakote-coated.
- Barrel: Fluted, with muzzle thread
- Trigger: Adjustable in five weight-of-pull settings, crisp with no slack; additionally adjustable in length.
- QD sling swivel sockets: fitted as standard.
- Weight: Very light weight, ideal for movement-intensive hunting
Steiner Ranger 8 riflescopes – Premium riflescopes for hunting
The Steiner Ranger 8 series stands for state-of-the-art optics technology with an 8x zoom factor, developed for hunters who demand maximum accuracy at a wide range of distances. Whether on a driven hunt, stalking or hunting from the high-seat, with the Steiner Ranger 8 you can keep an overview in any light and in any situation. Rugged construction, brilliant image quality and intuitive operation make these models reliable companions for demanding hunting missions.
Models such as the Ranger 8 1-8x24, 2-16x50 or 3-24x56 impress with a particularly wide field of view and high light transmission, brilliant image sharpness right to the edge and high resolution even in poor light conditions. The extremely robust design with pressure-water tightness and shock-resistant aluminum housing ensures that the riflescope works reliably even under the toughest conditions.
Thanks to the smart illuminated reticle and ease of use, the Steiner Ranger 8 models are the ideal choice for all those who expect maximum accuracy and hunting success. Made in Germany riflescopes for hunters with the highest demands.
Svemko silencer & Norma ammunition in use
Both gun models were tested with high-quality Svemko Pure silencers:
Pure S: For the Finnlight Black – particularly lightweight (approx. 195 g), hardly noticeable in swing behaviour.
Pure M: For the Grizzly – also still very lightweight (under 300 g), rugged and maintenance-free, also suitable for high firing loads.
Various types of ammunition such as Norma Whitetail, Norma Ecostrike and Norma Bondstrike (180 grain/11.7 g) were tested. Both rifles showed very good accuracy performance, often with groups below half-MOA – i.e. a group of shots smaller than 1.5 cm at 100 meters. The firing load on this day was several hundred rounds for both rifles. Both rifles worked perfectly, without any malfunctions.
Our verdict on the Sako 90 Grizzly and the Sako 90 Finnlight Black
The Sako 90 Finnlight Black is the ideal choice for the active, price-conscious hunter who does not want to compromise on high quality. The Sako 90 Grizzly is a stylish, classic hunting rifle with modern technology. Both models represent the precision and quality for which Sako is known as Europe's largest manufacturer of bolt-action rifles.
For more information please visit the Sako website.
