Optilock Front Base Install Issue

chris16371 · April 3, 2018, 10:08 AM

Rifle: Sako 85/S Finnlight 7mm-08
Bases: Sako SS short

I received the bases in the mail yesterday right from Beretta and proceeded to install onto rifle. The rings went on fine and the rear base fit perfectly but I'm having a lot of issues fitting the front base to the tapered dovetail. It won't even go on a quarter of the way, the piece that secures the base to the dovetail is nowhere close to being on the rail. I attached a picture of the base and as you can see the one side is flat instead of the shape of the dovetail, I believe this is my issue but I'm not positive. Any input would be appreciated.

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cw308 · April 3, 2018, 01:23 PM

Isn't the flat side adjustable ?

chris16371 · April 3, 2018, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cw308

Isn't the flat side adjustable ?

I'll have to take a closer look. I'm at work but what I remember is the flat side is solid except 1 little square that tightens to the dovetail.

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chris16371 · April 3, 2018, 05:35 PM

The flat side is not adjustable other than a square insert. I attached another picture so you can see how far on the dovetail it goes before it stops, not very far.

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cw308 · April 3, 2018, 07:35 PM

It's time to give Beretta a call , nice looking mount though. I'm sure they will fix the problem. What a bummer .

chris16371 · April 3, 2018, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cw308

It's time to give Beretta a call , nice looking mount though. I'm sure they will fix the problem. What a bummer .

I emailed them. It shows out of stock online now from Beretta and I'm having trouble finding the ss short bases in stock anywhere.

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cw308 · April 4, 2018, 08:25 AM

I hate when things go wrong like that , here's their number 1 800 929 - 2901

chris16371 · April 4, 2018, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cw308

I hate when things go wrong like that , here's their number 1 800 929 - 2901

Thank you sir, I appreciate it!

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chris16371 · April 4, 2018, 02:41 PM

I called them and I have to send them back and wait 3-4 weeks for a refund. They don't have any in stock to send me a replacement and don't know when they will have more. Luckily I found someone on eBay that sells sets of the bases and rings and he was kind enough to separate the bases and sell them to me for only $50. I spent $82 through Beretta so maybe this happened for the best lol.

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sako2 · April 4, 2018, 03:37 PM

for sako and tikka accessories check https://www.eurooptic.com/rifles/hunting-rifles.aspx out.

chris16371 · April 4, 2018, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sako2

for sako and tikka accessories check https://www.eurooptic.com/rifles/hunting-rifles.aspx out.

Thanks for the recommendation. I was on the website through a Google search for the bases and it said they were sold out but I will definitely keep them in mind for other accessories for my Sako.

Do you happen to know if the long action bases will fit on a short action or is the length of the base longer then the short action dovetail or long action rails shaped different?

I'm really hoping it's the base and not an issue with the tapered dovetail itself.

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sako2 · April 5, 2018, 03:50 AM

not sure on the bases. I have a rail with seekins rings on my 300. give them a call

**4V50 Gary** · April 5, 2018, 09:06 AM

Needs to be thrown onto a milling machine. That should not be the customer's job. I'd send it back.

chris16371 · April 9, 2018, 08:03 PM

So the one I ordered from somewhere else is exactly the same and doesn't fit. I absolutely don't understand. The rifle is a Sako 85/S Finnlight, does anyone know what Optilock base fits this rifle? According to Sako website the Short is suppose to fit but doesn't even come close for the front base but the rear goes on perfectly. I would have to pound on it with a hammer for it to fit right. Is the issue the tapered dovetail rail? This is very frustrating, that's $50 I can't get back lol.

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sako2 · April 9, 2018, 08:27 PM

have you tried turning it around. put the screw on the left side. can you post a picture of the bottom of the rear base.

sako2 · April 9, 2018, 08:38 PM

does it go on if you take the screw and the block out? That little block should have a groove in it. make sure the that groove is at the bottom.

chris16371 · April 10, 2018, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sako2

does it go on if you take the screw and the block out? That little block should have a groove in it. make sure the that groove is at the bottom.

Even with the screw and block out it will not go on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sako2

have you tried turning it around. put the screw on the left side. can you post a picture of the bottom of the rear base.

Yes I've tried turning the base around. Here is a pic of the rear base.

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chris16371 · April 10, 2018, 05:35 AM

My rifle is a Short Action, correct? I haven't sent the short bases back to Beretta yet, I'm thinking of having them send me the long bases just to see what happens. Hard to believe the Dovetail wasn't machined right.

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chris16371 · April 11, 2018, 10:49 AM

Well I found out I'm just an unlucky person lol. Both bases that I received from two different places are Tikka front bases that are in the Sako packaging with Sako rear bases, apparently Sako 85 front bases are shaped like the dovetail and also have a taper where the tikka bases are just straight with one flat side.

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sako2 · April 11, 2018, 03:12 PM

I was looking at that front base and going to say it wasn't right. It should look like the rear. Machined just like the dovetail.

sako2 · April 11, 2018, 03:18 PM

This is what I have on my model 75 300 mag.https://www.eurooptic.com/PH14-20-CONTESSA.aspx

chris16371 · April 11, 2018, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sako2

I was looking at that front base and going to say it wasn't right. It should look like the rear. Machined just like the dovetail.

That's what I was told by someone on the Sako forum, that the Tikka base are square like the one in my picture. Must be a common problem if I received a 2 sets each from a different store, maybe they were from same batch. I ordered from Bass Pro, only place I could find them. My only option after that is to just buy the blued so hopefully they are right bc I have no patients left.

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cw308 · April 11, 2018, 06:34 PM

Chris , what a bummer. I don't know what to say. How could a large company screw up that bad , not once but twice. Hope things work out .

Chris

sako2 · April 11, 2018, 07:40 PM

Can you return them?

chris16371 · April 11, 2018, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sako2

Can you return them?

I can return the one I bought from Beretta, the other ones I bought can't be returned bc it's technically a manufacturer defect and not fault of the eBay seller. Idk if Beretta would do anything about the one I bought elsewhere but give me a replacement but they are out of stock, highly doubt they will give me money back on something I bought elsewhere. Maybe a credit? That would be nice, could use another magazine.

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April 3, 2018, 10:08 AM	#1
chris16371 Member Join Date: December 21, 2017 Posts: 56	Optilock Front Base Install Issue Rifle: Sako 85/S Finnlight 7mm-08 Bases: Sako SS short I received the bases in the mail yesterday right from Beretta and proceeded to install onto rifle. The rings went on fine and the rear base fit perfectly but I'm having a lot of issues fitting the front base to the tapered dovetail. It won't even go on a quarter of the way, the piece that secures the base to the dovetail is nowhere close to being on the rail. I attached a picture of the base and as you can see the one side is flat instead of the shape of the dovetail, I believe this is my issue but I'm not positive. Any input would be appreciated. Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

April 5, 2018, 09:06 AM	#13
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,831	Needs to be thrown onto a milling machine. That should not be the customer's job. I'd send it back. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

April 3, 2018, 01:23 PM	#2
cw308 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Location: Plainview , Long Island NY Posts: 3,863	Isn't the flat side adjustable ?

April 3, 2018, 05:35 PM	#4
chris16371 Member Join Date: December 21, 2017 Posts: 56	The flat side is not adjustable other than a square insert. I attached another picture so you can see how far on the dovetail it goes before it stops, not very far. Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

April 3, 2018, 07:35 PM	#5
cw308 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Location: Plainview , Long Island NY Posts: 3,863	It's time to give Beretta a call , nice looking mount though. I'm sure they will fix the problem. What a bummer .

April 4, 2018, 08:25 AM	#7
cw308 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Location: Plainview , Long Island NY Posts: 3,863	I hate when things go wrong like that , here's their number 1 800 929 - 2901

April 4, 2018, 02:41 PM	#9
chris16371 Member Join Date: December 21, 2017 Posts: 56	I called them and I have to send them back and wait 3-4 weeks for a refund. They don't have any in stock to send me a replacement and don't know when they will have more. Luckily I found someone on eBay that sells sets of the bases and rings and he was kind enough to separate the bases and sell them to me for only $50. I spent $82 through Beretta so maybe this happened for the best lol. Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

April 4, 2018, 03:37 PM	#10
sako2 Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Posts: 738	for sako and tikka accessories check https://www.eurooptic.com/rifles/hunting-rifles.aspx out.

April 5, 2018, 03:50 AM	#12
sako2 Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Posts: 738	not sure on the bases. I have a rail with seekins rings on my 300. give them a call

April 9, 2018, 08:03 PM	#14
chris16371 Member Join Date: December 21, 2017 Posts: 56	So the one I ordered from somewhere else is exactly the same and doesn't fit. I absolutely don't understand. The rifle is a Sako 85/S Finnlight, does anyone know what Optilock base fits this rifle? According to Sako website the Short is suppose to fit but doesn't even come close for the front base but the rear goes on perfectly. I would have to pound on it with a hammer for it to fit right. Is the issue the tapered dovetail rail? This is very frustrating, that's $50 I can't get back lol. Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

April 9, 2018, 08:27 PM	#15
sako2 Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Posts: 738	have you tried turning it around. put the screw on the left side. can you post a picture of the bottom of the rear base.

April 9, 2018, 08:38 PM	#16
sako2 Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Posts: 738	does it go on if you take the screw and the block out? That little block should have a groove in it. make sure the that groove is at the bottom.

April 10, 2018, 05:35 AM	#18
chris16371 Member Join Date: December 21, 2017 Posts: 56	My rifle is a Short Action, correct? I haven't sent the short bases back to Beretta yet, I'm thinking of having them send me the long bases just to see what happens. Hard to believe the Dovetail wasn't machined right. Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

April 11, 2018, 10:49 AM	#19
chris16371 Member Join Date: December 21, 2017 Posts: 56	Well I found out I'm just an unlucky person lol. Both bases that I received from two different places are Tikka front bases that are in the Sako packaging with Sako rear bases, apparently Sako 85 front bases are shaped like the dovetail and also have a taper where the tikka bases are just straight with one flat side. Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

April 11, 2018, 03:12 PM	#20
sako2 Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Posts: 738	I was looking at that front base and going to say it wasn't right. It should look like the rear. Machined just like the dovetail.

April 11, 2018, 03:18 PM	#21
sako2 Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Posts: 738	This is what I have on my model 75 300 mag.https://www.eurooptic.com/PH14-20-CONTESSA.aspx

April 11, 2018, 06:34 PM	#23
cw308 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Location: Plainview , Long Island NY Posts: 3,863	Chris , what a bummer. I don't know what to say. How could a large company screw up that bad , not once but twice. Hope things work out . Chris

April 11, 2018, 07:40 PM	#24
sako2 Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Posts: 738	Can you return them?