That's an excellent question! Usually the wood or synthetic stocked versions are cheaper than the laminated ones. In the Sako 75's, the laminated Grey Wolf ones were more expensive than the wooden stocked rifles too. Perhaps with the 85's they have developed a streamlined (cheaper) process when the laminates are produced. Heck, maybe they are contracting out the laminate stocks to a cheaper source... like China for example. Who knows, not me that's for sure.