Tried out the 50 Alaskan today

[Brad]

Having had enough recoil In the past I opt to doe up

 

[Missionary]

Well I admit those 54 and 55 grain loads got my attention. There was no need to go faster than 1850 fps so we decided 53 grains was more than enough to deal with any Volsker Vagon that needed dealt with at o-dark-thirty.
But sitting on a rise with cross sticks those 500 grain slugs will sure end a ground hogs day suddenly.

 

[RicinYakima]

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

They shoot side to side thru buffalo, so maybe.

 

[Glaciers]

I'm thinking 500 Smith in a carbine would be more than enough. Penetration is the game, the bullet is already expanded before you pull the trigger. Best of both worlds.

 

[Glaciers]

I'm going to load up some with 4198 and see what's what. The Lyman 515141is a plain base bullet so, 1400 going to be about it. Hoping to get to do some shooting by Tuesday.

 

[Glaciers]

Finally figured out how to shrink photos with my new phone. I think. Thought I'd post a couple pictures of the 50.








38 1/2 inches and 8 pounds 2 ounces. Basically a new rifle, it was hardly fired by the previous owner and I never fired it as a 348, so action tight.

 

[Rick H]

That rifle is a beauty!

 

[Intel6]

I am shooting a 20 inch Katahdin barrel on my Encore frame in 500 S&W. My standard shooting load is the Lee 450 gr WFN doing 1,560 fps which thumps pretty hard. I also cast the big 700 gr. bullets and push them out at 1,150 fps.

Here is a pic with a 2x7 scope, perfect power for the cartridge:

 

[Missionary]

That is a beautiful M71 !!!
Our 86 weights right near 10 lbs. with the 26 inch octagon barrel bored .512 groove. Shooting from cross sticks is a fine afternoon.

 

[RBHarter]

Having recently experimented with 250 and 350 gr 45s looking for 2000 fps I'm just going to pass . I think a subsonic 500 gr "ogival WC" in 45 cal will wreck about anything in the lower 48 short of a zoo break paciderm in rut or those African Buff .

 

[Ian]

Agreed, RB. A .459" hole through several feet of animal is a bad day for said animal regardless of velocity. All increasing velocity will do is kill faster, maybe, which could be a critical factor if you have a single-shot and encounters are likely to be at bad-breath distance.

I'll stick with my 458 Socom with 505 grains of freight at 1030 fps muzzle velocity and nine more automatic reloads on tap, or if that don't work I can always drag out the Shiloh 45/90 and double the velocity.

 

[RBHarter]

.451-3 will probably be sufficient too . At 50 yd the pistol alloy 350s at 900 sprayed on steel . No idea what impact speed was but I expect in anything less than say a pigs forehead it would expand some .

 

[Missionary]

You fellers really need to get out of the caliber .45 rut and step into caliber .50. Bigger holes are always better.

 

[RBHarter]

I picked up a 50AE Desert Eagle and a 500 S&W . Once each . I think I can eek by with "only" a sickly 45 .
I could step up to a 69 cal I have a .690 RB and a 12ga or 2 . Full snort of 4198 and 32" of barrel ought to do the job .

Na I'm good .

 

[RicinYakima]

I have an old Stevens 311 with plastic Tenite stocks that I shoot with black powder and brass cases. 125 grains of FFF and .69 round ball in one barrel and 14 OO buck in the other. That is just for leopards that may get loose and I need to sort out.

 

[RBHarter]

I knew the guy that went out to pick up the lion that stopped up traffic some 20 yr ago up there right on the Idaho border way up north not quite to Sandy Point .......city name escapes me now .

He told the story so matter of fact . Yeah they called me and said Leo (name changed) was out and out on the highway . So I'm thinking what the heck am I going to do so I grabbed the tranque gun a net and a couple of his downs and a lift sling and take off . Well I get there Leo is just freaked from the noise and cars I guess , and doing this honestly really terrifying half crouch run , turn , stop , search , repeat thing . It's different when you're not inside the zoo it's like there's no rules . (Like rules would matter to an 800# male lion) . The HP waves me up the line to a turn around . When I pulled up Leo just locked on to the truck , honestly I couldn't say if it was a happy to see me or a Gazel look but I was hoping it would be to come home for dinner not come for dinner . I opened the tailgate and yelled at him " come on Leo time to go home " . Could have knocked me over with dandy lion he just ran over and jumped in the truck like it was something he'd done 1000 times .

I really miss Bob Healy , great guy , fine pilot .

 

[RicinYakima]

Animals raised in captivity are more afraid of being loose than you can imagine. My vet friends till me it is sensory overload.

 

[Ian]

Yes, very much so. An indoor-only housecat will panic to the point of hyperventilating if let outside. Rabbits just freeze.