SAKO 75 questions

[eddiep]

Greetings everyone. I have a few questions regarding a SAKO 75 30.06 left hand rifle. I came across a new one yesterday at a hunting supply store. It was stickered around $1000, but the owner said he'd sell it for around $850 since it's a lefty and the 75 model has now been replaced by the 85.

I've been looking for a left-handed rifle for a few years but haven't decided on one yet. I currently use a Winchester Model 70 XTR 7x57 Mauser for whitetail. It's a great gun and caliber, except it's a right-hand bolt and I'm a lefty.

I normally wouldn't consider a SAKO, as I'd like to keep the price under the 1K mark, but I'm very tempted by the model 75 I saw yesterday. One thing that concerns me is it's a heavy gun. It weight 8.9 lbs w/o a scope, so I figure it will hit the 10 lb mark once I add the glass and rings. That's a bit heavy, as most rifles seem to be around the 7lb range minus the scope. My 7x57 weighs in at 8.1 lbs w/ scope.

I do have a separated shoulder, so recoil is a concern. I know the heavier SAKO will reduce the recoil somewhat, but is a 10lb rifle too heavy? I could always get a lighter rifle and use the low-recoil ammo, as most of my deer are taken within 100-150 yards anyway.

So here are my questions:

1. Is the $850 price on the SAKO 75 reasonable, or should I expect to pay less since it's no longer made, it's a lefty, and it's heavy? It's already been in the store for a few years, probably for the reasons I just mentioned.

2. Assuming the price is right, should I be concerned by the gun weight and look for a lighter rifle and/or caliber? If it's a hassle to carry when we make drives through the woods, perhaps I should go lighter.

3. How much is the recoil reduced by the heavier SAKO? (~10lbs vs. ~8lbs shooting 150gr bullets, barrel length 22 7/8").

I like the gun a lot; I just don't want to overpay, or buy a gun that's too heavy to carry around in the woods.

Any advice is appreciated!