Sako S20 Hunter in .308 Win £1,955

This innovative rifle can be reconfigured quickly to meet the needs of hunters and precision shooters alike. Bruce Potts is impressed

- Bruce Potts

Every now and then a rifle is developed that really is something different. Judging by the huge demand for its new S20 rifle, manufacturer Sako has an absolute winner on its hands.

We have all seen guns with interchangeable barrels, two-piece stocks, adjustable parts and so on, but Sako has taxed its little grey cells and come up with a truly game-changing rifle.

Described by Sako as ‘the first true hybrid rifle’, the S20 combines excellent accuracy straight from the box — less than 1in at 10 yards (minute of angle) — with strong and durable construction and operation for real-world hunting environments. But best of all is the innovative, quick-detachable stock and instant exchange of parts to reconfigure the rifle from a Hunter version (thumbhole) to a Precision (target shooting) version.

With just two screws loosened, the rear stock slides off and the S20 can be stored or transported in a small package but, most importantly, with the scope still attached so there is absolutely no loss of zero.

Quality

Combine this with a new integral scope mount and excellent choice of one-piece mounts, detachable magazine, Cerakote Tungsten weather-beating finish, fluted barrel, M-Lok attachment points for slings and bipods, and an adjustable rear stock for length, cheek height and recoil pad angle — and top it off with Sako’s unparalleled build quality — and you have all you truly need from a centrefire rifle.

IN-DEPTH