Good Morning from Maryland Shooters,

I am in the market for a single shot .308. I know I want stainless steel finish with either synthetic or laminate. I’d prefer the later of the two. I have two models in mind that I have been researching. The Sako Custom Single Shot and the Ruger Single Shot. Both meet my criteria. I would like to hear some opinions on both and other suggestions. I am looking to spend no more then $1200.00. Any help in my quest would be most appreciated. -Scott

If your strictly limited to that 1200 dollar amount your research can stop. The Sako that lists at over $3100 is out of reach. I have owned several Sako's. One in 223 in their smallest action with a heavy bbl that was a beautiful rifle to shoot and hold. One a 375 Weatherby in their biggest action.

This was before the prices went heavenward. I do own a Ruger #1 B in 243 and it shoots nice 1 inch groups off of my bench rest.

You can get this gun in 308 in the gray on black laminate stock in stainless for under $1000 about anywhere ruger's are sold.

As for the choice there are several considerations.

1. Is this gun going to be for general hunting? The Custom Sako is a solid bottom single shot designed for bench rest or varmiting. The 308 calibre is not really a good choice for varmiting because of the cost and rocoil. i.e. you can shoot a lot more 22-250 or 243 rounds a day for less cost and a lot less recoil. If your choice is for deer hunting the 308 is an excellent round with a lot of good bullet choices.

2. If you are looking for the last word in accuracy your gonna find the Sako will outshoot the Ruger by a bunch, but at a cost of three times as much. Also I personally consider the Sako just a bolt action converted to single shot. I really don't see any other single shots on the market either in that price range or worthy of consideration.

3. If your stuck on limiting yourself to that $1200 threshold you will be able to buy the Ruger and a nice scope for that kind of money. The Ruger comes with a set of rings.

Not knowing exactly what the gun is intended for makes it harder to give you an exact recommendation. All I can tell you for sure is the Ruger #1B with the 26 inch BBl I own was built in 1979 and is as beautiful gun as I have ever owned and now at almost 60 I have owned a lot of them. It shoots well enough to hunt ground squirrels out to 300 yards plus and I think I might try in on deer this fall.

The 375 and 223 Sako's are long gone, but well remembered. They were fine guns that shot well, though no better than a lot of other bolt actions I've owned.

The only other consideration I would think you might want to consider is to get into reloading. Go for a Lee Anniversery kit and a set of dies for under a hundred dollar bill at Midway Shooters supply. This one purchase will multiply your shooting experience by 1000% and not break your bank at the same time.

Sure hope this helps you some.

Thanks or your detailed reply faucettb. I really appreciate your input. I guess I left a gray area as far as the use for the rifle. I plan on using it strictly for white tail and elk in both Alaska as well as Colorado and possibly a northern trip up to NYand of course it will be use in adverse weather conditions so the SS finish is very important to me. My Sako 75 Hunter is SS with a synthetic stock. I live in Maryland currently and have become a method hunter for the past 6-years. Due to strict laws here in central and southern Maryland, there is no open rifle season or shotgun season for white tail so I have become accustomed to muzzle loading. I Currently use a T/C Omega Stainless Steel gray laminate .50 cal. I have brought home 2 bucks and three does in the last 5 years with it and enjoy it very much. The Method hunter in me want to get into the single shot with the rifle as well. Go out with one .308 cart. and come home with one deer. I'm a good shot with a scope. Being the Sako custom single shot is that expensive, that leaves me with the Ruger No. 1. I think that stainless steel with the gray lam stock is very attractive and looks like my Omega. It actually looks nearly the same. Once I put a nice Simmons AETACH scope on it, the Ruger will harvest some meat. I also like the fact that the Ruger No. 1 ejects the shells.

-Scott

Scott

I use the Simmons ATECH on My 8mm Rem magnum and the ruger #1B. It has stood up to the test of about 200 rounds on the 8 Mag with no problems. It is the brightest scope in that price range I have ever used. Bought it at Wally World for $158. I use an 8-32 Tasco target dot on the #1 for varmits in the spring then put the 2.5-10 ATEC back on for coyote's and deer in the fall.

As far as the Ruger #1 you can set it to eject or just extract by setting the ejector tension under the for-arm.

We have some neat Muzzle loading seasons here in Idaho and I am going to chase Elk late in the season with my Remington 700ML. It's in .54 Calibre. It's stainless with the black composite stock. I'm thinking of putting on one of Richards Microfit gray on black laminate dual grip thumbhole stocks on it. I wish we could use scopes, but, Idaho will not let you shoot them on muzzle loaders.

I think for your uses you would find the Ruger exactly what you want. I sure love mine. By the way Brownells sells a single set trigger for around $180 that gives you a beautiful three pound trigger for hunting and by pushing it forward it gives you a several oz trigger for varmits.

Good luck in your single shot quest.