Finland's Next Service Rifle (Mostly): Sako ARG S 40
Forgotten Weapons
•
9m 43s
Finland and Sweden are both in the process of adopting AR-pattern rifles, and for the Finns this will be their first service rifle in 5.56mm NATO. It is a transition that has been anticipated for nearly 20 years, but was finally put into high gear by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Finland's entrance into NATO. The exact pattern of the new service rifle is being determined through testing (it may be DI or a short-stroke piston; we don't know yet) but the National Defence Training Association of Finland (MPK) has chosen and purchased the ARG S 40 as it's new rifle for reservist training. This is the much-anticipated AR pattern rifle manufactured by Sako, which won Finnish military tests.
As acquired by the MPK, the rifle is semiautomatic only, chambered for standard 5.56mm NATO, direct impingement, and features fully ambidextrous controls, collapsing Magpul stock, heavy 16.1" barrel, and M-lok handguard. The military rifles will of course be select-fire and will have some different details, but this is my first look at the general AR pattern from Sako. Overall it handles quite well, and I think it makes a lot of sense for Finland's needs.
Many thanks to the MPK for giving me a chance to film this example, and for providing these rifles as stage guns for shooting at Varusteleka's Finnish Brutality 2025!
Up Next in Forgotten Weapons
-
Q&A: Finland and Finnish Small Arms (...
I figured that Finland would be a good subject for this month's Q&A, as I am visiting the country to shoot Finnish Brutality this month. In fact, this video was filmed during the trip (the match took place last weekend, and its video coverage will be coming soon!).
00:39 - Development of the Suo...
-
Gerat Potsdam: Mauser Copies the Sten...
In the fall of 1944, the Mauser company was given a contract to develop drawings of a direct copy of the British Sten gun (code named Gerät Potsdam), and to manufacture 10,000 of them. In fact, they were to make two different sets of drawings; one suitable for large factory use (like their own) a...
-
Savage 1915 at the BackUp Gun Match
Savage launched its model 1907 pistol with a lot of marketing fanfare. It was "10 Shots Quick!" and promoted with testimonials form personalities like Buffalo Bill Cody and Sheriff Bat Masterson. It was intended as a pocket pistol for personal protection and home defense, with a lot made of how i...
