Sako's sniper: The TRG-22 precision rifle; Sako, a name well respected by sporting riflemen, is set to capture the precision rifle market

Guns Magazine, April, 2002 by David M. Fortier

There was a time not so long ago when military snipers had to make due with slightly modified service rifles. These "sniper rifles" had their start by being selected from their brethren for displaying superior accuracy. This was usually done during preliminary testing at the factory. Rifles that shot particularly well, say five rounds into less than 1 1/4 inches would be set aside. They would then be modified by the addition of mounts and optics to become sniper rifles. Some countries went to great lengths such as the British, which built its No. 4 MK I (T) sniper rifles. Others, such as Russia at the height of World War II. simply mounted optics onto rifles already known to shoot well. Yet the end result was basically the same: a superior shooting standard issue combat rifle.

While robust and often surprisingly accurate most of these sniper rifles had serious shortcomings for true sniper work. Most problems could be traced to the simple fact that they had originally been designed to serve as combat rifles. White they could be tweaked, their designs didn't lend them for use as a dedicated sniper's weapon.

Genesis of Sako

One company that recognized this was Sako of Finland. So when Finland's military began trying to modify Tsaristera Mosin-Nagant actions into modem sniper rifles in the 1980s, Sako felt it was a dead-end street. The designers at Sako were well-aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the Russian Mosin-Nagant action. After all, the company's origins reached buck to 1919 when a government-owned repair shop was established for the Civil Guard in an old brewery in Helsinki. It was here, repairing M1891 Mosin-Nagant rifles, that Sako was born. As the years passed, the company grew, and eventually the arsenal was moved north of the capital to Riihimaki in 1927. That same year, it became a limited liability company under the name "Suojeluskuntain Ase- ja Konepaja Osakeyhtio" (Civil Guard Arms & Machine-shop Co. Ltd.), better known simply as SAKO (pronounced sock-O). SAKO produced rifles for the Finish Army during the Winter War of 19391940 and the Continuation War of 194 1-1944 with the Soviet Union. As a result, th e company learned quite a bit about the needs of snipers.

Sako's engineers knew that simply adding a heavy match barrel, synthetic pistol grip stock with adjustable comb, bipod, silencer, and modern optics to a Mosin wouldn't turn it into a world-class sniper rifle. The engineers knew, that the. action was the heart of any rifle and felt that they could, do much better. This desire to build the best led to the creation of one of the finest sniper rifles ever fielded, the Sako TRG-21. I fell in love with the TRG-21, a truly fine rifle, the first, time I had an opportunity to use and train with one, At the time, I didn't think it could get any better. However, I'm glad to say that I was wrong, and Sako has improved and upgraded the rifle to become the new TRG-22.

Setting New Standards

Like many current European sniper rifles, the TRG-22 is based on a successful target rifle. Sako used its TR-6 target rifle as 'the foundation for the .308 TRG-22. To enhance' accuracy, the rifle's receiver is a massive cold hammer-forged unit enclosed on top with an ejection port on the right side. It features an integral 17mm dovetail rail that facilitates the mounting of optics or target sights. Inside the receiver rides a "resistance free" bolt that features three symmetrical lugs with a total locking surface of 75mm. The bolt sports a large claw extractor and a conventional-style spring-loaded ejector. It's easily manipulated via an oversized Tactical bolt handle and features a short 60-degree throw.

Mated to the receiver is a free-floating, cold hammer-forged match barrel. Length is 26 inches with four grooves and a right hand twist of 1:11. The muzzle is threaded to allow mounting an iron front sight and/or muzzlebrake. In addition, a suppressor can be mounted, and the rifling twist of 1:11 was utilized specifically for best accuracy with subsonic ammunition. Being able, to easily affix a suppressor to the weapon increases both the weapon's usefulness and a sniper's survivability on the modern battlefield.

The receiver is mated via three screws to an aluminum alloy bedding block. Encompassing the bedding block is an ergonomic injection-molded polyurethane two-piece stock. The stock design belies its, target rifle heritage and can be used as a sniper rifle, UIT standard rifle, or CISM Military rapid fire rifle. While very different from the stock on a U.S. M24 or M40A1 sniper rifle, it nonetheless is well thought-out and comfortable. The forend is wide, and slightly beavertailed, with an accessory rail, yet it's not blocky like that of the Accuracy International AWP, and it carries' well. The butt features a prominent pistolgrip, angled for a comfortable hold.

To ensure a perfect fit, the, rifle's stock is fully adjustable. The shooter can adjust not only for length-of-pull, but also the buttplate's height and pitch. Similarly, the comb can be adjusted for both height and pitch. One thing that I like about the Sako system is that to make 'adjustments, spacers are added or removed to, facilitate adjustments. While not as quick as a thumbwheel system, once adjusted, it stays put. And let's be honest, once you've set the rifle up to fit, that's where you want it to stay. I personally prefer this type of system over one that can come out of adjustment simply by being dragged around while on a stalk. In addition, these adjustments allow the rifle to be tailored to fit the individual rifleman, whether right- or left-handed.