Gday tribb
I also miss those mountains & the memories you created in those hills will stay with you forever I'm sure
I'm a floor plate fan also but can use a magazine although not my favourite especially in the 75 as if you are in a position of catching the release latch & can result in a lost magazine or @ best a pain & your sneak & peak has possibility of it occurring so that is about only deficiency I've really seen with the 75 & shot around 1/2 mil rounds in field conditions through the various 75 I've had
The bolt is also a little smoother on the 75 especially after a lot of use ( it's not like new but holds up better than the 85 over pretty substantial use & either is better than the clone fierce or a lot of other actions
Yes I like sako & a supporter of that club because they have worked ( I've had to replace odd springs etc but overall I've found them sound over the way I use them & that's as a tool )
Sorry back to magazines ( I got sidetracked lol ) The 85 series fixed this by requiring a 2 stage process that I've not seen a issue although I would rather top load anyway & rarely remove a magazine on the sakos I own ( 7 ) today & just top load them all
Next part of difference between the 2 is the way the brass is ejected & overall the 85 has a issue of ejection @ a higher angle & this for your 257 bee is one I'd watch now can be eliminated somewhat by higher rings but cheek weld on factor stocks then becomes a issue but some of the aftermarket stocks would most likely fix it but one I don't like on the 85 series ( it's more common in long actions ) also a slimmer profile scope or turning the scope so windage knob not in the way but also I'm not a fan of that
Overall I like the 75 series better & I've put that action through some very hard /trying conditions from major dust , mud , ice etc not that the 85 has failed it's not as good imo
& the sako optilox I'm a fan of that systems ability to hold zero under very trying conditions that I've put it through sometimes
Hope that helps any other questions fire away
Cheers