Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Price check on MK 85

Came across a MK-85 this morning stainless with a laminated stock. Has a Leopold fixed 4x scope on it. Having never seeing a laminated stock on one of these rifles I thought it was aftermarket. Done some research on it and I think it is a MK-85 stalker. Part of a collection of a gunsmith. Looks to be in good shape barrel looks good. # 11 cap. Asking $450.00 but that is just a starting rice. Thinking of offering $250-$300. Is that to much or in the ball park. Has a black/light gray stock What does the fire think is reasonable offer/value
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Good rifle and the scope has some value. My old BK-92 is dead reliable with the #11 cap ignition. Assuming excellent condition, $300-350 seems right to me.

I agree with WRMs assessment. The laminated stocks aren't that uncommon. I have one still in the box that has "Predator SS" on the label. Maybe a difference in barrel length?

I offered $300 he wanted $ 375 settled on $350. Doesn't appeared to have be shot, if so, very little. Will pick it up Tuesday.

IMO you did well. I’m not looking for one now but I’d have bought it for that. Those are solid rifles with good barrels and good triggers. The scope is also in demand. Good snag.

Laminate TH stock MKs are quite uncommon and very desirable. If its a Predator with a TH stock its special order. Predators were SS with either a composite or laminate straight stock. Grand American was the only SS MK85 that came with a TH laminate stock as the standard offering. They all had Timney triggers. Early models had either Numrich, Lothar or Wise barrels. Everything after that were Green Mountain. IIRC the Lothar and Wise were 6 or 7 land. All GM barrels should be 8 land. The VERY early Numrich barrels were i think McMillian and a slow twist. The rest should be 1-28 in 54 and 50cal.

BTW, pay attention to the set screw on the left side if its a earlier MK. You need to loosen that screw before trying to unscrew the "bolt" assembly. Many owners did not and boogered them up.

Thanks for the information. Plan on picking it up tomorrow. It is not a thumbhole stock but a straight stock, black and gray laminate stock. Will try to post picture of it.

If the stock is pristine you might want to keep an eye out for a beater composite for hunting. Even a round receiver stock from LKs, Wolverines or Bighorns ect will fit. A DISC stock will fit also, it will just be notched for the bolt handle.

Picked up the rifle today. Serial #315xx. It does have the black set screw on the left side of barrel. Would appreciate any info about what to do with the screw before breaking down the bolt assembly.

Are you talking about the set screw? I would say just back it out a bit or take it completely out It just tightens down against the striker assembly threads to keep the assembly from starting to loosen. If you don’t back it out it will damage the striker assembly threads as you unscrew the assembly because it will rake against them.

Yes, I was referring to the set screw on the side of of the action.

I just bought a mk 85 composite thumbhole stock that appears unfired. I took it apart and it is very well made.

I gave 250 for the one I bought and felt it was a steal.

Overkill,
Who made the thumb hole composite (black) stocks on the early mk-85s?
Thanks!

Definitely a steel. I traded J-lock 700 in 308 win for my MK-85 in 54 cal. I don't regret the trade. My MK is very accurate and I like the trigger. The 54 cal roars when burning 120gr of FFg Black Powder. I don't do the substitutes. I found out Black powder can be very accurate so that what I'm burning. Wet patch, dry patch reload

I shot my mk85 today. I found that it shot 777 fff from 70-80grs under a 495 no excuses. 503 shot better than I can.

Increasing to 95 opened the groups from 1.25" to 6".

I'm very impressed and now will look to adding a set of williams globes to this rig.

Gunshop not far from my house has an MK85 stainless and composite stock for 200 out the door. I cannot get it to cock so there is a trigger issue or something else going on .

The trigger has to be removed to clean the rifle. Good chance it was put back in cockeyed. That happened in my brother's Wolverine. Should be as simple as removing and reinstalling unless the trigger is gunked up by poor cleaning, which is unlikely.

Thanks for the info, I had one of these a very long time ago . I would not imagine it would take much to fix it , probably no one bought it because they could not cock it .