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Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Single Shots & Combination Guns
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tecman
.224 member


Reged: 24/02/05
Posts: 6
Loc: Austin Tx
50 Alaskan
      #70724 - 03/02/07 09:22 AM

I recently started studying the 50 Alaskan but am still largely unfamiliar with it. Most of the 50 Alaskans I have heard of are built on a lever action. Buffalo Bore Ammunition states on their website that their ammo is loaded to max. tolerances and that one of the actions that can handle it is the Ruger #1. That immediately got my attention as I would like to have one eventually. Has anybody had any experience with one of these? I would think that you could then load a round nose solid or soft to similiar tolerances and possibly improve ballistics and penetration. Any ideas on this?

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Otto
.300 member


Reged: 15/09/05
Posts: 111
Loc: Arizona, USA
Re: 50 Alaskan [Re: tecman]
      #70755 - 04/02/07 12:03 AM

I put a 50-110 on a #1. There's litle to choose from between the 50-110 and the 50 Alaskan, ballistics wize. My rifle has a Douglas .510 barrel with 36" twist, and handles bullets up to 550gr just fine...haven't tried heavier. Starline makes reasonably priced cases for both cartridges And reloading dies are pricey for both cartridges. The #1 conversion requires relieving the block recess to clear the rim, but everything else is normal. You can chamber a 500-3" in a #1 with no more effort. I chose the 50-110 over the 500 Nitro since it is easier to load without fillers, gives all the performance I can stand, and I was set up to load for it in an 86 Winchester.

Otto

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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26587
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: 50 Alaskan [Re: tecman]
      #70859 - 06/02/07 04:10 AM

I used a McGowen 24" twist .500/.510 barrel in .50 Alaskan on an Italian rolling block. It was very accurate. brass is cheap and easy to buy. It also is easy to form.
: I would not go with a slower twist than 28" due to possible bullet instability after impact on game. Bullets in the 450gr. weight range would probably be fine in the 36" twist, in my opinion, but not the longer ones. Greenwell's chart says 500gr. bulelts are OK, but the formula twist given is the SLOWEST that is usable, not the best or ultimate. Black powder shooters who know these things, suggest subtracting 2" from the formula, at least.
: I drove 450gr. form 1,300fps to 2,000fps in the RBlock with no problems with 1-1/2" at 100 and same 1-1/2" at 200yards for 5 shot groups using a tang mounted peep sight and post front sight, shot off bags.
: From light loads to heavy loads, it shot well and gave the same group size. It was not particular to lube, either. I used only cast bullets.
: Lever action (m71 Winchester) data can be found in Hodgdon's 2006 annual manual, as well as from Accurate Arms. Other data can be developed form there by a knowledgable handloader.
: Big Bore Rifles and Ctgs, from Wolf publishing also has data for Lever actions in .50 Alaskan.
: The 2-1/2" Sharps case with it's capacity advantage over the 2.1" .50 Alaskan, will develope higher velocities if loaded to the same pressure - simple math.
: .348 Winchester brass for making .50 Alaskan's is cheaper than .50 2-1/2" brass and is probably stronger as well, but there's no problem with the .50 2-1/2" brass available.
: One of the guys here on nitroexpress.com makes double rifles in .50 2-1/2" and they apparently get 2,100fps with 500gr. and heavier bullets. The .50 Alaskan can probably not obtain that velocity with a 500gr. bullet short of 50,000psi - it would be too much for anything short of the #1, custom high pressure single action or a bolt gun.
; I just re-read your post - yes, you could do the 2,000fps with a 500 to 550gr. in a Ruger #1 - certainly - but the 2-1/2" case would do it with less pressure & exceed that velocity as well - brass can be purchased from www.trackofthewolf.com

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

Edited by Daryl_S (06/02/07 04:13 AM)

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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26587
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: 50 Alaskan [Re: DarylS]
      #70861 - 06/02/07 04:18 AM

Subsequent to the above, I remember now that some time ago, I almost did the .50 Alaskan re-barrel to my #1 too.
: Since the ballistics available to that case is certainly enough for my North American hunting, the longer 2-1/2" case in not necessary. There would be no discernable trajectoy difference, either, and the .50 Alaskan would use less powder to obtain it's velocities. The longer case needs slightly more to match the smaller case, is what I'm saying.
; For big bears, there are no flies on a 500gr. flat nosed bullet coasting along at between 1,800fps and 2,000fps. Even wheel weights shoots well in that calibre at those speeds.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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tecman
.224 member


Reged: 24/02/05
Posts: 6
Loc: Austin Tx
Re: 50 Alaskan [Re: DarylS]
      #71198 - 11/02/07 07:53 AM

Thanks for all of the good info.

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KDMCustom
.224 member


Reged: 01/04/07
Posts: 38
Loc: Arizona, USA
Re: 50 Alaskan [Re: tecman]
      #78080 - 06/05/07 07:37 AM

I have a Thompson Center Encore rifle with a custom 50 Alaskan barrel from SSK. I can use factory ammo from Grizzly or Buffalo Bore. I really like the Grizzly ammo. I also hand load it with 570 grain Woodleighs and 725 grain WFNGC cast bullets.

There are some photos on my website, www.kdm-custom-bullets.com.

--------------------
KDM Custom
Big Bore Reloading Service
Your Brass + My Labor

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AZDAVE
.275 member


Reged: 12/02/09
Posts: 75
Loc: Arizona, USA
Re: 50 Alaskan [Re: KDMCustom]
      #130091 - 20/03/09 01:15 PM

I have just had Regan Nonneman (http://www.leveractions.com/) re barrel my #1 in 50 Alaskan. He did a custom octagon barrel and it shoot very well I am completely satisfied. I have been shooting 525 gas checked hard cast with H4198 at 1950fps. Planning on using it on big bear and moose in a few years.

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DuggaBoy
.300 member


Reged: 03/03/09
Posts: 106
Loc: Tx
Re: 50 Alaskan [Re: tecman]
      #130108 - 20/03/09 10:48 PM

Built mine on a Siamese Mauser.
Use .348 cases.

--------------------
DuggaBoy
NRA-Life
Whittington-Life
TSRA-Life
DSC

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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26587
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: 50 Alaskan [Re: DuggaBoy]
      #130126 - 21/03/09 02:29 AM

I should also add that Harold Johnson of Coopers Landing, Alaska was pretty much the originator of the .50 Alaskan. His rifle of choice was the M71 Winchester or M86, re-barreled and chambered. They kept pressures down in the mid 40,000CUP range for the lever gun but still approached 2,000fps with 500gr.

Harold's favorite bullet for brown bears was a .50 Browning 750gr. steel core bullet, nose cut off, to 450gr. weight, then seated upside down over the powder, so the 'cupped' base became the nose. It is written that Harold never recovered a bullet from a bear - all exited the bear, although that cup-pointed 'solid' produced impressive cavitation and damage to the bear's innards. the bullet looked like a modern truncated cone, but with a short hollowed point or cup-point.

Although FPE, bullet weight and velocities were almost identical to the .450 Alaskan, the effect on bears showed a LOT more effectiveness for the .50 cal. version over the .45 version. Just a bit of history to help, I hope.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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