bullet for an early slow twist MK-85

[JohnDeere]

I've always admired the old MK85's with laminated stocks and recently picked one up in 54 cal. It showed up in the mail yesterday. I see that the front sight is a brass bead and am assuming this is an early MK85. My purpose for the rifle is hunting elk. When possible I like to use full bore, heavier lead. My initial preference would normally lean to the 444 flat point powerbelt. Unlike other's experience I've had great success. I have to use non-plated lead bullets to be legal in Washington. Anyway, does anyone have some bullet/load suggestions in case it truns out to be a slow twist barrel? Usually slow twist means short/fat slugs stabilize better--not my favorite elk bullet description. Also, I was rather hoping to find a powder charge on the hot side, not being afraid to burn powder.

If you have any suggestions for a replacement front ramp fiber optic, I'd love to hear it. My favorite rear peep is the XS (Ashley) Sight Systems ghost ring. Hard to beat a fiber optic front in our gloomy reprod.

Thanks, guys.

John

 

[bluedog]

I have one!

I have one of the old MK-85 stainless in .54 cal which I bought new in 86-87 and of all the rifles that have been through my hands over the years, that one has never left me....it is the most accurate ML I have ever fired.....this rifle will shoot MOA with pratically any bullet you put in it.....but I believe it has a 1:28 twist which is not slow! It's preferred powder charge is 115 grains of BlackMag3. I started with full size conicals and the Hornady Great Plains 425 grain worked well.....the best bullets I have used for both accuracy and game performance is the Harvester 400 grain and 330 grain hard cast flat nose bullets.....the Barnes .54/.50 sabot/copper hollow point in 275 grain or 325 grain shoot extremely well as well but are expensive. Hope this helps!

 

[JohnDeere]

Thanks, Bluedog. I had just heard that the early MK85's were slow twist numbers and assumed I had better be prepared for slug stabilization problems. I've always meant to try Harvester's hard cast. Guess I can probably look down the bore of this MK85 I just got and compare it to the bore of my T/C that I know to be a fast twist. The difference in appearance ought to be pretty obvious. I once saw a post on this forum that claimed the earliest MK85's had 1 in 66" twists, that moved to a 1 in 32" twist, that settled on a 1 in 28" twist.

John

 

[bluedog]

PM Sent

JohnDeere, PM sent to you regarding MK-85.