(Review) Sako’s TRG-42 .338 rifle with Schmidt & Bender PMII 5-25 x 56mm scope
Sako TRG-42 .338 Lapua Target/Sniper Rifle
Sako Ltd. is a Finnish small arms and ammunition company that was established in 1921 and consequently, it has a rich and eventful history. In fact, the company was first established to build and service firearms for Finnish Civil Guard but, played a key role in Finland’s struggle to survive the chaos of WWII. Since that time, they have become known for producing superior quality military, hunting, and target rifles as well as some innovative new cartridges. Thus, by combining their knowledge of both cartridge and rifle development and production, Sako rifles and cartridges provide the shooter with the advantages of uncompromising accuracy and reliability.
In fact, the Sako TRG-42 target/sniper rifle was specifically designed to do just that. Chambered for the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge, the TRG-42 rifle is a true, precision, long range weapon for target or tactical use and it can be equipped with various accessories to make the rifle mission specific. Also, the solid, vault-like, action is cold hammer-forged from special steel alloy and it includes integral, 17 mm, axial, scope mounting rails with integral recoil stop-slots on the top of the receiver. In addition, the sturdy bolt (with three locking lugs) feeds rounds unfailingly from the centerline of a detachable, staggered, 2-row, 5 round, magazine for reliable feeding with various types of ammunition and the bolt lift is only 60° for a fast bolt throw. Plus, the super strong receiver is mated with a 27 1/8”, heavy contour, barrel with a 1:12” twist. Furthermore, the rifle is available in two different configurations: one of which is a black and green, fully adjustable, high-tech, aluminum reinforced, composite stock with a blued barrel and action and the other of which is an all-black, stealth configuration featuring a black, fully adjustable, high-tech, aluminum reinforced, composite stock and bolt with “phosphatized” barrel and action. Last, the rifle has an overall length of 47 1/4″ and weighs 11 3/4 lbs.
Although Sako’s origins are based in civilian marksmanship, they extensively studied the requirements of sniper’s when designing the original TRG-21/41 and, within a decade, these two models evolved into the TRG-22/42 competition/tactical rifle that is available today. In fact, the heart of the TRG system is the cold hammer forged receiver and barrel combined with three massive locking lugs to deliver sub-MOA groups. In addition, the short, 60°, bolt throw makes chambering a new round a very quick process which can be critical in tactical situations. Also, the free-floating, 27 1/8” barrel chambered for the .338 Lapua Magnum has a 1:12” RH twist that is specifically designed to stabilize a 250 gr. bullet traveling at 2,860 fps and the chrome lined bore helps prevent throat erosion and enhances accuracy and barrel life. Plus, the fully adjustable, high-tech, aluminum reinforced, composite stock can be fully customized to fit the anatomy of any individual shooter. Consequently, when this rifle is mated with a superior quality target/tactical scope such as the Schmidt & Bender PMII 5-25 x 56mm scope, it is capable of producing groups as small as five inches at 1,000 yds!
Schmidt & Bender PMII 5-25 x 56mm Target/Sniper Rifle Scope
The German optics company of Schmidt and Bender was founded in 1957 by precision mechanic Helmut Schmidt and master precision engineer Helmut Bender who decided to pursue their “Project Passion”. Consequently, 50 years later, the name Schmidt & Bender is synonymous with quality and precision and now ranks among the world’s top optics suppliers. Also, because each hunt and each hunter is different, Schmidt & Bender offers a wide variety of different scopes in two product lines: the Klassik series which epitomizes the traditional style rifle scope in form and function and, the future oriented Zenith line which is specifically designed to display progress and aesthetic awareness.
Consequently, the Schmidt & Bender PMII 5-25 x 56mm rifle scope is part of their Police and Military Forces series and it features a Field of View of 5.3m to 1.5m at 100m, a Parallax adjustment that ranges from 10m – ∞, an Exit Pupil diameter of 10.95mm – 2.28mm, a light transmission factor of 90%, and an Eye Relief of 90mm. In addition, this scope is available with two different reticle planes and the first reticle can be equipped with your choice of seven different illuminated reticles whereas, the second reticle plane can be equipped with your choice of three different illuminated reticles. Plus, each turret features two turns in the elevation and windage adjustment (Double Turn). Therefore, due to its large magnification factor and comprehensive reticle adjustment range along with the highest quality optical glass available, this scope may be successfully used up to a distance of 2,000 meters.
Consequently, the Schmidt & Bender PMII 5-25 x 56mm rifle scope it is a perfect match for the Sako TRG-42 .338 Lapua Magnum target/sniper rifle since both the rifle and the round are capable of sub-MOA groups when combined with this scope. Also, because both the rifle and the scope have an effective range 2,000 yds, a skilled operator can eliminate targets at extreme ranges with this combination with a high degree of confidence.