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Sako 90 Finnlight Review: A Lightweight Stalking Legend Reborn
- Last updated: 05/09/2025
The Finnlight is back! Among all the new Sako 90 models entering the market, its absence was glaring. A firm favourite in the 75 and 85 series, it earned a reputation as an affordable, all-round stalking rifle that British shooters loved.
This new model comes in a range of calibres from .22-250 to 9.3x62mm. It is priced at £1,899, and is likely to appeal to stalkers who appreciate Sako’s renowned out-of-the-box accuracy and reliability. It is available in both right and left-handed configurations.
The stainless steel action, bolt, and barrel make the Finnlight ideal for serious hunters, with a choice of 20” or 22.4” fluted barrels. The composite stock is a practical alternative to carbon-fibre, as it is slightly heavier but just as rugged.
In a nutshell, the new Sako 90 Finnlight combines lightweight materials with built-in durability and excellent handling. I bet it will be Sako’s best-selling 90 model.
The 90 supersedes the 75 and 85 models, yet it retains the same lovely, smooth bolt operation, along with some great new features.
Action sizes match the length of the cartridge, so you can have a lighter rifle depending on what you shoot. This means that with this .308 Win version, the medium-sized action is used.
The stainless steel action beds to the stock via a flat-bottom receiver, with a small tenon that engages into a steel mortise that is secured to the stock. This arrangement provides a strong and consistent union between the action and stock so that good accuracy is maintained in all weathers.
Up top, the 90 has an integral Picatinny mounting system and a recontoured action top, allowing you to load the magazine in situ. Equally, the oversized ejection port is not obstructed by a mounted scope, making this part of the 90 action equally user-friendly.
The 90 uses a push-feed bolt face rather than controlled feed, and what I like most about the bolt is that Sako has opted to incorporate a twin-plunger ejection system for very positive cartridge expulsion. Extraction is via a single claw on the face of the bolt. The whole bolt operation is super smooth, and the lock-up is fast and precise.
The three-lug bolt geometry, now commonplace, offers a lower bolt lift than a two-lug system. The straight bolt handle shows a comfortable, rounded knob, which can be swapped for a larger one if preferred.
On the bolt shroud is a small plunger or bolt assist that makes decocking the bolt or disassembly extremely easy.
Inside the bolt body, Sako has worked hard to develop as short a lock time as possible for the greatest accuracy.
The safety is still a lever type, with a push button that lets you open the bolt while the safety is engaged, allowing the safe removal of a chambered round.
The trigger has a nice, broad, smooth blade that can be positioned to your liking, and the new weight adjustment system uses a rotary, five-position indexed adjuster that sets the sear weight from 1lb 14oz to 3lbs 10oz on this rifle when tested with my gauge. This is a great addition, and I used the mid setting, which gave a crisp release and a safe weight.
Sako magazines have always been reliable. This stainless steel, double-stacked five-shot version sits flush with the stock and can be top-loaded through the action. It features a two-point release system: a slight push upwards at the front, followed by the magazine catch, which pops it out.
Sako has long been known for producing high-quality, long-lasting barrels, and the Finnlight’s free-floated, fluted, cold hammer-forged tube delivers spot-on accuracy straight from the box. It features a smooth inner bore that needs no running in and a non-reflective, ‘glass-peened’ matte finish that helps reduce glare in the field.
There are three .308 Win models available: two with 20” barrels and either 5/8 UNEF or 15x1 muzzle threads, and one with a 22.4” barrel threaded 15x1. All have a rifling twist rate of 1:10”, which is a bit faster than some of the earlier models, which were 1:11”. This is no doubt to cater for the more common use of lead-free ammunition. The test rifle was the 20” option, which measured 39.7” overall.
The overall design of the stock is very pleasing visually, but even better when shouldered, as it just feels right. It shows a durable finish with a textured surface for optimal feel and grip. It’s a moulded composite synthetic, so cheaper than carbon-fibre, and the slight weight gain is no real problem. This rifle weighs 7lbs, whereas a similar spec Sako 90 Peak is 5lbs 12oz with carbon-fibre furniture.
I like the special synthetic leather material on the pistol grip and fore-end, which maximises grip and control with a good degree of comfort too.
New QD sling sockets replace the old swivel studs to provide quick and secure attachment of slings, but I needed an adaptor for my Harris bipod.
Finished in Hunter green with black grip sections, the stock’s clean lines and ergonomics offer an ideal shooting posture and perfect balance for smooth bolt operation, with stippled areas around the bolt release, handle and safety adding visual appeal and extra resistance to wear.
The adjustable, spring-loaded cheekpiece has the same soft faux leather trim as the grip areas, and the whole mechanism is very solid.
The length of pull is 14”, making it comfortable for most people, and it can be fine-tuned by moving the trigger blade.
A soft black rubber recoil pad ensures a correct mount and secures the rifle in the aim, too. Although the .308 Win isn’t a heavy kicker, recoil was mild and felt straighter than usual, thanks to the stock’s effective geometry.
In keeping with the lightweight theme, GMK included a short, light Steiner Ranger 8 1-8x24 scope. I like short scopes, and for the intended woodland stalking in Scotland, it would be ideal. I then fitted a very light 15x1 Freyr & Devik titanium moderator.
Factory load tests were conducted at 100 yards off the bench, and velocities were recorded with an FX True Ballistic chronograph. Although conditions were breezy with light rain during the test, this did not affect the performance of the Finnlight.
First, a couple of Sako GameHead loads seemed appropriate: a lighter 123gr and a more conventional 150gr projectile. The heavier round produced an average velocity of 2,749fps with 2,518ft/lbs of energy and a 1.01” group. With the lighter load, velocity increased to 2,908fps and 2,311ft/lbs, with a similar group size of 0.98”.
If you appreciate a heavier, stronger-constructed lead-cored bullet, then the Norma Tip Strike 170gr would be a good choice. With a more sedate velocity of 2,575fps, equating to 2,504ft/lbs of energy, and a cracking three-shot group measuring only 0.63”, it’s ideal for reds or boar.
“If you appreciate a heavier, stronger-constructed lead-cored bullet, then the Norma Tip Strike 170gr would be a good choice.”
After a thorough barrel clean, which is always a worthwhile procedure when switching from lead-cored to lead-free bullets, and popping off a few ‘conditioning’ rounds, the first copper bullets were my favourite: Hornady’s International ECX. They did not disappoint with an unbelievable 0.37” group, which is amazing for a factory load and well worth the cost. Velocities from Hornady’s Superformance range were equally impressive at 2,996fps and 2,492ft/lbs.
Next, I tested the Remington Copper 150gr bullets that shot so well in the Mauser 25 rifle, but here we had a large 1.48” group, which demonstrates why we test each rifle to ascertain its dietary requirements. Still, they are more than capable of toppling a stag or fallow, generating 2,760fps and 2,539ft/lbs.
Going lighter obviously favours this Finnlight, as the Geco 136gr lead-free load shot really decent 0.69” groups at 2,819fps and 2,400ft/lbs energy.
I took the Finnlight into the Scottish hills and woods, where its short stature came into its own. I prefer lighter rifles these days, but the Finnlight still feels rugged. The sturdier stock balanced perfectly with the scope and moderator combination, and the faux leather grips performed well in both rain and hot, humid conditions.
An evening trip out yielded one of my best encounters in 47 years of stalking. A small woodland track led to a forestry deer fence and into a two-acre pasture. It’s a great spot that deer use as a passing place from forestry to field, and I settled downwind, 10 yards from the fence. A small roe appeared, walking down the track towards me.
At 75 yards, he continued closing the distance to 50, then 30, before turning and coming straight at me. He had only one antler, and at just 12ft away, was still completely unaware. He then jumped the fence and calmly wandered into the field to feed.
You may wonder why I didn’t take action with the Finnlight, but stalkers will tell you that it’s sometimes moments like these which separate true stalkers from those who simply enjoy shooting game.
I may not have pulled the trigger on that roe buck, but the Finnlight still made a very good impression. It’s one of those rifles that has all you need and won’t let you down. And it is a great price, too. I know plenty of stalkers who love their custom rifles but actually own a Finnlight as their ‘go-to’. There’s no messing around – just pick up a box of factory ammo and off you go.
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