![sako riihimaki 222 magazine sako riihimaki 222 magazine](https://image.invaluable.com/housePhotos/bradfordsauction/42/688942/H22021-L233451314.jpg)
The Sako factory was a busy place at that time of course, working on the L461 and L579, and was starting to prototype the L61R. The L461 merged the L46 and L469 actions, all around 1960. These measurements, compared with those above would answer all our questions.Įvery L469 action that I've seen (I can count them all on one hand), have had the L46 shroud. I'd really like to know the length of action opening, mag opening, and bolt face position from a rifle marked L469. 140" was removed from the rear of the magazine opening in both actions. 140 behind the rear opening of both of my 222 mags. When action is open a standard L46 bolt face is even with the rear of the action opening The integral magazine opening in the L461 is about the same. The magazine opening in the 222rem mag L46 is 2.435". (Magazine opening on standard L46's are about 2.292'.) The action openings are both about 2.140", the same as standard L46's. The L46 action is marked RIIHIMAKI #49xxx. I've always wondered if the L-46 and L-469 used the same clip in 222 Mag. nosier custom ammo is loading 222 mag as we speak, so it is available with modern components. I must say that all the info above was researched by my handling guns, not by a factory expert handing a note carved from stone down to me. I plan on building a 222 mag later this year and will modify the bolt stop to fit, or find a stock unit (used) to make it work. I handled a 469 in 222 mag this winter and the bolt retracted back into the receiver a bit further than my 222 did. all the small sakos appear to have the same dimensions. L know the bolt stop/ejector is the only difference between the 222 rem and the 222rem mag and for that mater the 223/5.56. From a practical aspect, and from a handloaders standpoint, it might be handy to have a little extra length. Don't know how much value it might add to a custom though. The few L-469 rifles that come up for sale in original condition command very strong prices because of their scarcity. Is the action any good? I think it would be safe to say that it's every bit the equivalent of a 46 or 461. Since Sako wasn't too strick about using their receivers sequentially, it's hard to tell, but data suggests they may have been chambering both the L-46 and the L-469 for 222 Mag at the same time in '61. Not such a good deal, as I understand you couldn't eject a loaded round. To further muddy up the water, Sako did also chamber the 222 Mag in the standard L-46 action. Regular L-46 production also continued right through this period, up to the introduction of the L-461, somewhere in early '62. The 9 in 469 is thought to represent 1959, and may have begun production midyear, continued through 1960, and perhaps into 1961. The L-469 was created to service the extra length of the 222 Mag, and as far as I know, it was only chambered in 222Mag.