A Visit to Sako: Finland’s Home of Precision

11 June 2026

David, one of our Gunshop Sales Assistants and resident Rifle Expert, recently had the opportunity to visit the renowned Sako factory in Finland, gaining first-hand insight into the craftsmanship, innovation and precision behind one of the world’s leading rifle and ammunition manufacturers.

This week I was fortunate to represent Ian Coley Sporting on a visit to the Sako rifle and ammunition factory in Finland as a guest of their UK distributor, GMK. This was extremely exciting as I have always wanted to visit both Scandinavia and Sako.

A short 2.5-hour flight from Heathrow soon had us landing in Helsinki, and after a coach journey of just over an hour, we arrived on the hallowed ground of the Sako facility in the town of Riihimäki.

First Impressions & A Few Secrets…

Sako is world-renowned for the production of high-quality precision hunting rifles and ammunition and is also the parent company of Tikka firearms, whose rifles are hugely successful worldwide.

Our first afternoon began with an introduction to the company in their museum, hosted by the marketing and product teams. We were given a full overview of the current rifle and ammunition range, before being shown some exciting upcoming launches… as well as some top-secret developments.

So top secret, in fact, that I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement before I could even hear about them. Sadly, that means certain highlights of the trip will have to stay firmly under wraps!

Finnish Hospitality (and Lots of Food)

Following an excellent light lunch, we made our way to the hotel for check-in before heading out for dinner.

The frequency of eating quickly became a running joke throughout the trip. Finnish hospitality is second to none, and over the next few days it became very clear that going hungry was not going to be an issue.

Inside the Factory

Day two started early with a fantastic buffet breakfast before heading back to the factory for a presentation from Sako’s senior management team.

We then spent time in their impressive showroom, seeing the full Sako and Tikka range, including AR-style combat rifles manufactured for the Swedish and Finnish military. Always interesting to see three positions on a safety catch – safe, semi-auto and full auto… although sadly, no opportunity to try them!

The highlight of the morning was touring both the ammunition and rifle production facilities. As you’d expect from a site manufacturing military firearms and ammunition, no photography was permitted, but both operations were incredibly impressive – highly efficient, meticulously clean, and run with the precision the brand is famous for.

Gallery

Click or tap on the images to view the gallery.

Time to Shoot – Loppi Shooting Centre

After lunch (yes, more food), we travelled to the Loppi Shooting Centre, where we had the opportunity to shoot a range of Sako and Tikka rifles and test ammunition performance.

The facility itself is outstanding, with:

Multiple rifle ranges (including a 1000m range in development)
Five shotgun layouts (sporting, trap, skeet, and sport trap)
50m running boar and 100m running moose ranges
Dynamic IPSC layouts for practical shooting and 3-gun

We tested rifles on the 300m range, including the Sako 90 Quest, Tikka Ace, Tikka T3X, and the Sako TRG-1 in .338 Lapua Magnum… as you do.

We also had the chance to try a brand-new model… which, unfortunately, I can’t tell you about. Remember the NDA.

Gallery

Click or tap on the images to view the gallery.

Ballistic Testing – Up Close

Next (after a quick snack and coffee — of course), we moved to the 100m range for a ballistic gel test of Sako Blade copper ammunition.

The aim was to demonstrate bullet performance at 200, 300, and 400 metres – all conducted on a 100m range. This is achieved by carefully adjusting powder loads so the projectile replicates the exact velocity of those longer distances at just 20m. Very clever stuff.

The bullets were recovered from the gel blocks, allowing us to analyse penetration and expansion. Having seen this type of testing online many times, it was fantastic to see it carried out by the engineers who design and manufacture the ammunition themselves.

Sako is one of the very few companies globally that produces both precision rifles and their own high-quality ammunition – something that really sets them apart.

A Fitting End to the Finland Trip

After further shooting, we returned to the hotel where the day concluded with an excellent dinner of wild boar, great wine, and plenty of conversation reflecting on what had been a superb experience

A big thank you to the staff at Sako for their fantastic hospitality and for hosting us so well throughout the trip.

If you ever get the opportunity to visit Finland, I would highly recommend it — a beautiful country, fantastic food, and genuinely warm, welcoming people.

Sako: A Brief History

The name “Sako” comes from Suojeluskuntain Ase- ja Konepaja Oy, which translates to “Civil Guard Gun and Machining Works Ltd.”

A Brief History

1919 – Founded as a repair workshop under the Civil Guard Supreme Staff in Helsinki
1921 – Becomes a separate company under the Civil Guard
1927 – Established as a limited company and relocates to Riihimäki (its home ever since)
1945 – Acquired by the Finnish Red Cross
1962–1999 – Passes through several owners including Valmet, Tikkakoski, Nokia, and Metso
2000 – Acquired by Beretta Holding Group, leading to significant investment and growth
2021 – Celebrates its centenary with the launch of SAKO 100

Today, Sako Oy is a highly successful international company and remains one of the few manufacturers in the world to produce both rifles and ammunition. With continued long-term investment from Beretta Holding Group, the future looks just as precise as its products.