Tried out the 50 Alaskan today

[Glaciers]

Put together some loads to see if all the bugs in the feeding and light primer strikes have finally been worked out. And the answer seems to be yes, by golly. About time. A six year saga.


Looking over the Browning 71, thru the sky screens at the target. Going to like this shooting shed. In the next week or two, when the dozer work is done the shed will be moved back and about 30 feet to the right.



Lyman 515141 sized to .511 plain base painted with PBTP's yellow green. Just using Trail Boss to get the rifle on line, but, now going to move up to IMR 4198 and maybe R7. The rifle was almost unfired when I picked it up, so the action is stiff and crispy. Needs to be cycled with authority. 303 Savage for comparison.


Getting it close. The last 3 were one inch center to center, 50 yards. Will post some pictures of the rifle tomorrow as they are on my laptop. Also did some shooting of my Savage Perch Belly 1899 in 303. Pictures on my laptop as well. This old Savage is some nice eye candy.

 

[Glaciers]

Here's a couple of pictures of the Browning 50
Well if I could figure out how to reduce the picture size, I post a couple more. But you get the idea. Compact rifle with a 20 inch barrel. Needs a Decelerator pad.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

That should stop anything you have up there.
How heavy is it?

 

[Glaciers]

I will have to weigh it, but I believe it's under 8 pounds.
I was making it to do just that, stop anything, as I was taking clients ashore in remote parts of Prince William Sound. 550 grains, .510 diameter at 2000 ought to do it. Just got to do your part. Shooting a critter in the paw won't be but an aggravation to that party.

 

[Glaciers]

I will have to weigh it, but I believe it's under 8 pounds.
I was making it to do just that, stop anything, as I was taking clients ashore in remote parts of Prince William Sound. 550 grains, .510 diameter at 2000 ought to do it. Just got to do your part. Shooting a critter in the paw won't be but an aggravation to that party.

 

[Missionary]

Good morning
We have an 86 Winchester (jap) we converted to 50 Alaskan about the same time. It has the 26 inch octagon barrel.
4198 is the powder we settled on. Did all the reading for the 525 grainers. Looked like about 56 grains was the load to get to 1850 fps. So with our rifle started at 48 grains and took it up one grain at a time. WW with a GC. NOE mold 525 grains spire point. Sized .5135 for our .512 groove

At 50 grains decided I needed a better recoil pad than that curved steel shoulder dislocator so fixed that issue. We also do our shooting of big thwapers off cross sticks. Much nicer to be able to drive home from the range with two functional arms.
So back at the range went through 51-55 grains. The interesting part was at 50 yards all groups were never more than 1.5 inches 5 shots. At 54 grains velocity was around 1835 fps and 1 1/4 inch group. At 55 grains there seemed to be a sharper snap to the recoil. No pressure issues nor any indication that there was a near an overload. Another 1 1/4 inch group at 1868 fps. No leading with any charge.
That is where we stopped. Actually 54 grains is our decided max with 525 grainers. 500 grainers act the same way also.

NOE has FN designs that feed fine and make the corner going into the mag much easier.
Be sure your lifter is opened up enough so the case slides in an out with no binding. The straight sided 50 Alaskan case is a different animal.

 

[Glaciers]

Somehow doubled up, no idea.

 

[Missionary]

When we get north next time we are going to PC the NOE PB FN 500 grain. I will not be surprised to see the same groups with no leading.

 

[Glaciers]

Yeah Mike it feeds reliably now, it didn't the first couple of go-a-rounds.
IMR 4198 is what I've used in similar cartridges, straight wall with heavy's. R 7 has worked well also, but I did have spiking difficulties in my 458 x 2 American. Keep coming back to 4198.
Anyway, my needs for the 50 are no longer there, so the 50 is going to be on the block, now that I have confidence that the bugs are gone.

 

[Rick H]

I would think 50 cal. 500 gr. at 1800 fps would be plenty for any critter walking in N. or S. America within 150 yds or so. Even ticked off ones.

 

[Missionary]

No doubt about that !!

 

[todd]

heck, i'm one of those weak limped shoulder guys that the 50 alaskan eats up!!! so i use a tc encore in a 23" MGM barrel in 500 linebaugh. it will do a 450gr lfn gc with 16.5gr of hs-6 going 1235fps. i was going to 50 alaskan but i feel that the velocity is just too much for what i hunt(deer/black bear), close cover 50 yards and less.

i like the browning tho!!!

 

[Missionary]

A caliber .50 450 grain chugging along at 1250 fps is hotter than the 50-70 which filled box cars with hides.
What is nice about the 50 Alaskan is that we can down load to any velocity (like you can) or step it up to "bad bear buster"loads. But again your load will take care of 95% of any critter on earth.

 

[Ian]

shoulder cannon. Ouchee.

 

[RicinYakima]

I have always been a .50 caliber fan, but have only kept the C. Sharps Arms 50/70 Hunters Rifle. When younger and thought I may get a chance to hunt brown bears, I always wanted a 50 Alaskan. The 50 S&W and converted 50 Linebaugh carbines were really more than I needed for black timber elk and moose.

 

[Missionary]

I had always wanted a 50 lever action but the old 76 & 86 Winchesters always were way out there
Then came the 1876 repros in 50-95 Yahoo ! Then the jap 86 Repros !!! Our 45-70 26 octangular was JES bored as soon as he announced he did 50 Alaskan
A happy lever flipper I am !!

 

[Glaciers]

shoulder cannon. Ouchee.

Buck up Dude

 

[Glaciers]

I have always been a .50 caliber fan, but have only kept the C. Sharps Arms 50/70 Hunters Rifle. When younger and thought I may get a chance to hunt brown bears, I always wanted a 50 Alaskan. The 50 S&W and converted 50 Linebaugh carbines were really more than I needed for black timber elk and moose.

I suspect if you load 'em hot they would work on anything, even Brownies.

 

[Ian]

Buck up Dude

In due time.

 

[Glaciers]

Yeah I forgot your still mending I'm sure. You get a temporary pass. But, don't milk it.