My very first varmint rifle was an Ithica LSA-55 Deluxe in 22-250. I shot it with Hornady 53 grain HP bullets and it was an absolute tack driver. After I had it awhile, I didn't care for the checkering and I took the original finish off and had Steve Billeb recut the checkering. At that time, Steve lived in Bozeman.

Later I decided I wanted a nicer rifle and bought a Colt Sauer in 22-250. After I had that awhile, I decided I wanted a Sako Deluxe. I have been using Sakos ever since.

I saw this LSA-65 advertized on the Campfire and it reminded me of years ago and my first varmint rifle, so I bought it. I thought the LSA-55 was the shorter action for the 22-250 sized cartridges, but evidently this LSA-65 is correct, as that is how the gun is marked and it is a 243 caliber.

They were made in Finland by Tikkakoski, no relation to Sako at all. They used Bofors steel for their barrels, the same as
Sako did prior to 1972. The stock is finished with rosewood gripcap and fore-end. They were imported to America between 1969 and 1977.

They are extremely well made guns and I am now looking for rings to get this thing scoped and shooting...













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Really nice Schnapnel. I saw posting on this one and was waiting to hear the responses as to whether it was a LSA-65 Deluxe or not. I had the same rifle in 6mm and it was a LSA-65 Deluxe. What an accurate and well made rifle. Unfortunately I sold it years ago and regretted it ever since.

Very nice, Shrapnel; I am jealous; again.

Shrapnel,

Everything I have always read about these state that the LSA-55 was a short action, and the LSA-65 was a long action. (Including my 1977 Ithaca catalog)

That being said, it's obvious that anomolys exist. It looks like yours is a long action???

I remember back in 1975 or '76 fondling a LSA-65 Dlx in .25/06! I thought that was the purtiest rifle I'd ever seen. Oh, How I wanted that rifle... But Alas, I was going thru a divorce at the time, and it was just NOT affordable.

I now own a LSA-55 std. in 7mm/08. (No, it's not original... It's a rebored .22/250)

Scope rings are about next to impossible to find. About the only viable option I know of is to use Weaver bases...

As has been noted, these rifles were produced prior to Sako's acquistion of Tikka...

GH

The rails look different than Sako. Are they tapered?

Beauty....if I had seen that one before you did Shrap, it woulda been mine! I'm still looking in case you find another one.

Millet for Sako might adjust enough to work. No experience with them but I think they have a fair bit of adjustment.

Actually the gun books list the 65 as a long action too, but this isn't a long action. It is marked LSA 65 plainly on the side of the action and is a 243 with the correct magazine.

I am looking for bases now and I have a Zeiss 30mm scope to go on it...

I couldn't really tell from the pics if it was long or short.

As far as rings goes, My gunsmith fitted a set of Millett rings to mine. I think they were either for a Tikka T-3 or a Sako. He used the ones with the recoil stub on the bottom and milled it off. I'm not particularly fond of them, but they do work. Sooner or later, I'll find a set of proper rings.

Oh! and BTW, Don't lose the magazine. They are might near impossible to find...

GH

All scoped up now...

Is your rifle drilled? What rings did you find.
Nice rifle by the way. Always wanted a LSA they are way nice..as you know

All my Ithaca's are drilled and I believe they use the same spacing as the Tikka M595, M695 and the T3's

They are not tapered, they are parallel, Tikka did make rings that looked similar to Sako that clamped on the grooves of the action...

Pretty nice, Shrap!

Where's my 10 bucks???

You weren't there this morning!

I left a pepsi can under your blanket, though...

AAGGH!

Pretty nice for not being a Sako.



Travis

Where's my 40 bucks???

Shrapnel,

Pretty nice ring set-up. Are those Talley's? Did you have to D&T it?

Since yours is marked LSA-65, I presume that it was mis-marked at the factory?

GH

Talked to a gentleman today at the gunshow here and at one time he had every one of the Ithaca models and funny thing was his .243 was stamped Lsa-65 also.

Do I owe you $40.00? I usually go off-grid when I owe folks money.



Travis

Sako sight hood and shipping for the special 222 mag. I still have the brass, I am holding it ransom. Ship me money, maybe even more and I could send the ransomed brass...