Bore issue Sako Vixen (AIII) .270 Mannlicher Stock RESOLUTION UPDATE

[Brad Harshman]

I was sick to my stomach when I saw it, but there is a blemish in the bore of my Sako.  Its about two inches inside the muzzle. It's not shooting like it used too either.  I dont know exactly how it got there.  But thats not why I'm posting this.  Rather I'm looking for advice on what to do.
Angry Perch's thread about reboring got me thinking.   Really I didn't know this was possible.
I also did some research and sent a company an email inquiring if they could produce this barrel for me.  We'll see what they say.
Should I rebore keeping everything as original as possible?  Or should I try and get a new barrel chambered in the original caliber?
Or should I just sell it as is and get another rifle?
I do not have an armory nor do I really want one.  I have this rifle and a 30-06 which shoots great.  So I'm covered for big game. But I've been wanting a smaller coyote getter. 
What would you guys do and why?

[Curly]

Sounds like you'd be better off selling it or trading for a .243.

If you went the rebore route, what would you go with? 30-06?  Then you'd have two 30-06 rifles, but it sounds like you only need one and would like a coyote rifle.

[Brad Harshman]

Curly - that's part of my delimma.  I'm  hoping to hear back from the barrel manufacturing company.  I'm far from a gunsmith, if they can make me a new barrel, how small of caliber could I go with my current action...?

[jay.sharkbait]

Curly - that's part of my delimma.  I'm  hoping to hear back from the barrel manufacturing company.  I'm far from a gunsmith, if they can make me a new barrel, how small of caliber could I go with my current action...?

22-250,220 swift,243,260,6.5 Creedmoor. You need something with a .473 bolt face.

You MIGHT need a simple magazine modification to take the shorter cartridge.

[Bofire]

Nice gun, rebarrel in 7X57 (classy classic) and buy a coyote gun.
Carl

[257 Wby Mag]

Super sexy rifle bud!! There is no hope for it however, trip it and buy a new one....

PS, pm me whatcha want for it.... Grin

[wsmnut]

Nice rifle!
I would NOT sell it.
You might try getting some JB Bore paste and JB Bore polish.  Put some on a patch wrapped around a bore brush so that you end up with a snug fit.  Start with the paste and finish with the polish.  Be careful to not damage the crown. 
Clean it carefully and go try it.  Might save a lot of agony and expense.
     Saved me when I bought my wife a used rifle...

Wsmnut

[Brad Harshman]

Thanks guys for your input.  I think I'm going to try and restore it first and foremost.  If I can't get an original barrel, I'll look more closely at reboring versus installing a custom barrel. 
I took the rifle to a pawnshop to have it appraised and the guys behind the counter were excited to see it walk in their shop.  Plus I got a little emotional thinking about selling it.  It really hit me when they were looking the gun over. 
Guess the sentimental value is higher than I expected. 

[MuleySniper]

Those Vixens are some of the holy grail to Sako collectors I'd hang on to it if I were you. I wonder what scarred the barrel? You handload?

[Brad Harshman]

I dont.  I shoot the blue box federals.  130gr. Soft tips.  I tried remingtons  core lokts, but they didn't shoot as tight of groups.
Anybody been in contact with Sako before?

[257 Wby Mag]

Much as I hate to say it brad, you made the right choice... Was it a family members? Let us know what you come up with on the barrel. Later

[Brad Harshman]

Thanks 257 Wby Mag.
My father bought it while overseas in the early `80's. He put one box through it.  I've put about 8 boxes through it.  I'm really heartbroken over this.  We spoke and he recommended getting rid of it.  But I suspect he was just as heart broke and only said it so I wouldn't feel bad.  I'm really confused how this happened.  I always clean my firearms after taking them out.  But I never check them before I take them out.  I don't know if it I messed up and my solvent etched a very small spot while it was stored in my safe or if dirt got into my muzzle and then I fired a shot.
Eitherway, it's there.  And now I'm looking to fix it.

[coachcw]

You may try some lapping bullets  and  de copper the barrel  . She may
 Shoot well

[j_h_nimrod]

Beretta is the head company for Sako now.  If you were going to contact them about a new barrel I would say you are wasting your time with a gun of that age.  Most reputable gunsmiths should ba able to recreate that barrel. Reboring is an option if you are looking at a 338-06 or a 35 Whelen but it does not sound like you want anything bigger that the 30-06 you already have. While plenty accurate, your Vixen would not be on my short list for a varmint gun donor either. 

That being said, I would find it hard to believe you ruined the barrel that is on there unless you bulged it or really scrubbed the bore. As was mentioned, clean it good with a copper fouling remover and then JB bore paste and you should be shooting again.

When you say not shooting like it used to are you saying it went from 1" to 1.5" groups or 1.5" to 5" groups?  Like I said, I would find it hard to believe the barrel is ruined.

I would not get rid of it, whatever else you decide to do.

[Brad Harshman]

Thanks guys.  I called Beretta today and they said just as you did Nimrod, stock OEM barrels are not available from Sako.  I cleaned the bore with sweets 7.62.  Gonna take it back out to the range soon. A couple years ago I was producing less than 1" 3-shot groups.  Last time out I was shooting 3" 3 shot groups.  We'll see what I can do...
Again, thank you guys.

[Brad Harshman]

I was prepared to start polishing the blemish in the bore at the range today.  A last ditch effort before I ordered a new custom barrel.  But I decided to put the original scope that my father purchased the rifle with, on before I tried anything.  You see a few months before I noticed the blemish in the bore I purchased a scope based on a recommendation from an extended family member who recently retired from the service.  He said it was all the scope a guy needed.  I was interested in a variable power scope since mine was a fixed 6, and who was I to second guess him.  Well today I received a blessing from the Lord and a lesson in humility.
I removed that Simmons 3-9x40 POS and put the original scope on and decided to see what would happen.  We'll the picture tells it all.  I shot the rifle eight times today.  Two shots to get it on the target paper and then two 3-shot groups with a final scope adjustment between these groups.  Both 3-shot groups are less than one inch.  This was from 100yds.  The red line on the target is inch thick. 
I couldn't be happier.  Yes I'm embarrassed to admit it was the cheap scope that gave me all this grief, but that's part of being human.  It happens.  I wanted to share my humility with you guys and hope others will take this into consideration when they find adversity. 
Thanks everyone for your time and advice.  I'm happy to be part of this group.

God bless, 
Brad