Sako ARG

Lore & Background

The Sako ARG, previously known as the K22, was developed in collaboration with the Finnish Defence Forces and the Swedish Armed Forces. In October 2025, the Finnish Defence Forces announced field testing of 5.56 mm Sako rifles based on the same design as the ARG, to determine requirements for a replacement of the RK 62 and RK 95 TP as the standard Finnish service rifle. The ARG is also being submitted as a potential replacement for the SA80 in the British military under Project Grayburn.

The design is based on the AR-10 and AR-15 by Eugene Stoner but features a proprietary short-stroke gas piston system, similar to the Heckler & Koch HK416 and other piston versions of AR-15-type assault rifles. Variants include the ARG 40 GP (assault rifle with short-stroke gas piston), ARG 40 DI (direct impingement), ARG S 40 MPK (semi-auto 5.56 mm with 16-inch barrel for the National Defence Training Association of Finland), and ARG S 40 Reserviläinen (semi-auto 5.56 mm for the Finnish civilian market). The ARG 50 GP is a designated marksman rifle variant.

Military variants include the Sako M23 precision rifle variants for the Finnish Defence Forces, such as the 7.62 KIV 23 designated marksman rifle and the 7.62 TKIV 23 sniper rifle. For the Swedish Armed Forces, the Automatkarbin 24 family includes the Ak 24A (5.56 mm, 11.5-inch barrel assault rifle), Ak 24B (5.56 mm, 14.5-inch barrel assault rifle), and Ak 25 (7.62 mm battle rifle).

Reader's Guide

The Sako ARG represents a significant development in Finnish and Swedish military small arms, reflecting a joint design effort between Sako and both nations' armed forces. Its submission for Project Grayburn to replace the British SA80 underscores its international ambition. The rifle family's foundation on the AR-10/AR-15 platform, modified with a proprietary short-stroke gas piston system, places it alongside other modern piston-driven AR-type rifles like the HK416. The ARG's modularity is evident in its range of variants: from the ARG 40 GP assault rifle and ARG 40 DI direct impingement model to the ARG 50 GP designated marksman rifle, as well as the Swedish Ak 24 and Ak 25 series and the Finnish M23 precision rifles. The ongoing field trials by the Finnish Defence Forces in 2025 for a 5.56 mm replacement for the RK 62 and RK 95 TP highlight the ARG's potential to become the standard Finnish service rifle. Its legacy is tied to its role in modernizing the infantry arsenals of Finland and Sweden, and its possible adoption by the British military would mark a major export success.

Did You Know?

• The ARG was previously known as the K22.
• The ARG 40 DI variant uses direct impingement operation, while the ARG 40 GP uses a short-stroke gas piston.