I am a newbie. This is my first posting here. Need advise please! I own a Sako P94S, 22LR, purchased as a used rifle. It developed the following problems; The bolt is heavy/difficult not smooth to manipulate. (As a comparison my other Sako rifle, a Model 85, in .308 has a buttery smooth bolt.) There is often a double feed. Sometimes the rifle fails to fire on the closed bolt. I found out by trial and error that just by rotating the bolt handle up and down corrects this problem. The rifle slam fired twice today by just more vigorously closing the bolt. This means to me that the rifle is unsafe. The trigger is set to about (a measured) 1.5 lb's. Sometimes the bolt don't want to close on a chambered round. Have to repeat the closing motion several times. The rounds often wont feed from a fully loaded 10 round magazine. All 3 magazines I own; 1, 5 round and 2, 10 round magazines are new (ish). The ammo I use is Blazer 40 gr. lead round nose, 525 value pack. This same ammo worked beautifully today and w/o any problems in a newly built Ruger 10/22, which is by the way a tack driver. Back to the Sako; I even suspected today that the action is dirty, which is not the case of course, because I've cleaned the rifle after the last use, so I doused the action, the bolt and the magazines with Ballistol, royally. This smoothened somewhat the feeding problem. On top of everything I've had this same problems already last year, so I called Beretta/Sako. They suggested that I take it to their West Coast repair center in L.A., which I did. After I paid $ 120.00 and I bought it back home used it once, w/o problems. Today was the second time I've used it after the repair/service and unfortunately all the previous problems are here again. Even worse the slam fire is a new and in my opinion a serious safety problem. Probably will need to set the trigger to about 2-2.5 lb's. I suspect there is something wrong with the bolt. All these problems are sort of intermittent, come and go. Otherwise this is a beautiful and accurate rifle, even if I also forgive and forget the hairline crack in the stock behind the left side of the receiver, which I noticed too late after the purchase. Used rifles, buyer beware. If anybody out there could please provide some helpful advise, suggestions, even if it is nothing else but a contact to a reliable and honest gunsmith, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you. lst.
Sako P94S, 22LR, bolt issues
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1st-- Welcome aboard. You have a miss-set/mal-adjusted sear engagement and you're right, it IS dangerous. I'm not familiar with the rifle you have and can't give any advice other than get it to a gunsmith and tell him what it's doing so he can stop it.
JBelk; Thank you for the suggestion. Unfortunately this would be the third time I would be taking this rifle to a gunsmith to resolve my problems. Twice in the past 12 months I did so, paid for the repair and was told it is fixed and it was not. The trigger is adjustable, I could take care of that myself, but the rest of the problems are a mystery to me. Greetings. lst.
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lst---
Unfortunately the trigger is not just out of adjustment, it's probably been altered so the geometry is wrong. From the only drawing I can find, it seems the trigger is a 'standard' Sako over-ride trigger likes been made for nearly 70 years.
Just to explain what is happening---When the gun fails to fire with the bolt closed, its because it 'followed down'. The sear failed to catch on the trigger so the gun closed without cocking. Raising the bolt handle and closing again is re-cocking the sear, but the fire on bolt closure means the sear is slipping off the trigger from just the vibration of the bolt closing. DANGEROUS trigger for sure!! It was probably caused by Bubba trying to 'polish' the sear and got the geometry so wrong it has terrible creep unless the sear engagement is really precarious. That gun should have a 2 1/2-3 lb trigger with NO creep.
I could make some guesses on the feeding problems but really need to see how the extractors and ejector is arranged to try to figure that out.
The trigger can be repaired but might need parts. The rest of it is beyond the help of a long distance analysis.
Those are really fine rifles and its a shame to have one not working right.
Unfortunately the trigger is not just out of adjustment, it's probably been altered so the geometry is wrong. From the only drawing I can find, it seems the trigger is a 'standard' Sako over-ride trigger likes been made for nearly 70 years.
Just to explain what is happening---When the gun fails to fire with the bolt closed, its because it 'followed down'. The sear failed to catch on the trigger so the gun closed without cocking. Raising the bolt handle and closing again is re-cocking the sear, but the fire on bolt closure means the sear is slipping off the trigger from just the vibration of the bolt closing. DANGEROUS trigger for sure!! It was probably caused by Bubba trying to 'polish' the sear and got the geometry so wrong it has terrible creep unless the sear engagement is really precarious. That gun should have a 2 1/2-3 lb trigger with NO creep.
I could make some guesses on the feeding problems but really need to see how the extractors and ejector is arranged to try to figure that out.
The trigger can be repaired but might need parts. The rest of it is beyond the help of a long distance analysis.
Those are really fine rifles and its a shame to have one not working right.
Hello JBelk; Thank you for taking the time and the kind suggestions. Mostly because of the trigger issues I've decided to return the rifle for repairs to Beretta. I've sent detailed information to them about all the problems I've experienced and the 2 local repair attempts, which did not bring a solution. My luck with local gunsmiths or a lack of thereof, also played a role in the decision to send in the rifle. Also it is obvious that there are unscrupulous people out there, who do not hesitate to sell a faulty used rifle, for practically new price. This was the second time I've bought a used firearm. Both have had problems. I never will buy a used firearm again! Shall report back on the repairs and their cost by Beretta in due time. Greetings. lst
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I never heard of that rifle and looked it up. WOW! beautiful rifle. Saw three on I think it was Gun Broker? First one was $1900, second ws $1750 and the third was $200. The third one was absolutely beautiful! Wish I had $200 to spare now, that rifle could calm my desire for a Rem 541S and leave a lot of money left over! **** that rifle was beautiful!
Welcome to the shooters forum.
I agree with you the rifle is dangerous as is. A detailed cleaning including the trigger may resolve this issue. If there is something mechanically wrong, cleaning obviously won't fix it.
Ever consider holding the feet of the previous smiths to the fire? You paid for it and the rifle isn't fixed!
I agree with you the rifle is dangerous as is. A detailed cleaning including the trigger may resolve this issue. If there is something mechanically wrong, cleaning obviously won't fix it.
Ever consider holding the feet of the previous smiths to the fire? You paid for it and the rifle isn't fixed!
I had to see what beautiful P94S was selling for $200, so I looked it up on GB. Well, not so fast!
The opening bid is $200, but BIN is $1595 and it has a reserve, so, I expect the reserve is a LOT more than $200! Just for reference, the last P94S sporter I bought, about two years ago, was $700 NIB, and has the cheekpiece stock, not just the plain monte carlo, altho the wood on mine is plain ugly, which is typical for most P94S's.1 - 11 of 11 Posts
