Finland · 1961–1985

Sako L61R Finnbear

Out of production

Specifications

Maker: Sako
Type: Rifle
Action: Bolt action
Era: Modern (1946–1999)
Produced: 1961–1985
Magazine: 5 rounds
Swedish class: 1

Chambered in

.270 Winchester
.30-06 Springfield
.300 Winchester Magnum
.375 H&H Magnum

Stock

Wood

What it is worth

$986–$997

Well-worn to unfired · priced 2026-08-05

TrueGunValuevalue guide$986–$997 2026-08-05
Blue Book of Gun Valuesvalue guide$995 2026-08-05

Indicative only. A second-hand gun is worth what its condition, chambering and provenance say — these are published figures, not an offer.

Chapter 01

Overview

The L61R Finnbear of 1961 was Sako’s big-game rifle, built for long cartridges such as the .30-06 and 6.5×55. With the L461 and L579 it completed the three-action range that carried Sako until the 1990s.

Chapter 02

How it works

The 1961 action locked on three lugs, two at the front and one at the rear of the bolt; the 1972 revision went to two front lugs. Like every Sako hunting rifle before the 75 except the L46 and L579, it feeds from a fixed magazine with a hinged floorplate, the release at the front of the trigger guard.

Chapter 03

Variants

The 1961 standard rifle came in .264, .270 and .30-06, with a magnum version in calibres up to .375 H&H. From 1972 the standard list became .25-06, 6.5×55, .270, 7×64, .30-06 and 9.3×62, and from 1987 the action was sold in Europe as the AV, with a Safari model on the magnum.

Chapter 04

In the field

From 1972 it was offered in 6.5×55 and 9.3×62, and 6.5×55 meets Swedish class 1, so the Finnbear is a moose rifle in the cartridge Sweden hunts moose with. The magnum version adds .300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag and .375 H&H for those who want more.

Sources

Written from: SAKO — Wikipedia, Sako — Wikipedia (fi), Gevär m/96 — Wikipedia (sv) — read 2026-10-29

Cross-reference