50-70????

[x101airborne]

Well, after much looking and talking, the 50 beowulf in a lever gun is not going to come to life. Not that it isn't possible, it just isn't practical. Still want a 50 cal lever gun, though. Someone suggested a 50-70. Now that is a neat looking cartrige, industry standard, and easily done. From what I have heard, can be loaded with FFg or all the way up to maximum pressure. Will handle the same boolits as the 50 beowulf, and brass is easily formed from 45-70. What do you guys think? All that would really be needed is a barrel and a stock 45-70, I think.

[Rafe Covington]

You could get a Uberti 1876 Lever action rifle in 50-95 WCF, I have one and like it alot.

Rafe

[rockrat]

Buy a 45-70 Marlin and send it to JES reboring for a 50 alaskan

[Aaron]

Rockrat hit right on. BTW- 50 Beowulf, 500 S&W, 500 JRH etc shoot different boolit diameters than 50 Alaskan, 500 Linebaugh, 50/70 etc., .500ish vs .510ish.

Aaron

[6pt-sika]

Rockrat hit right on. BTW-

Yep JES is more cost effective then Wild West and unless Wild West has changed all they did for the 50 AK barrels was rebore factory ones rather then installing new unused barrels .

[Nobade]

Buy a 45-70 Marlin and send it to JES reboring for a 50 alaskan

Man, that barrel would be some kind of thin where it's relieved for the mag tube. He really does those?

[Ragnarok]

There's always the .50-110 Winchester too.

[bravokilo]

"and brass is easily formed from 45-70. What do you guys think? All that would really be needed is a barrel and a stock 45-70, I think. "

Having and loading both calibers I would like somebody to explain how this is accomplished. [smilie=1: :mrgreen:



BK

[MT Chambers]

I want the particulars on the 50/70 cases outta 45/70s as well....could save me alot of money.

[x101airborne]

Well, I only say that out of "internet knowledge", no real experience. I was reading several different sites that say to anneal the necks and light load 45-70 brass and fire them in the 50 chamber. I dont know if it would work or not, but it sounds possible. I have never had a 50 cal levergun, so I am having to learn as I go.

[x101airborne]

See? That is why I need you guys. Thank you for educating me. I am still thinking about a 50 levergun. I just need to lock down a caliber.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
You will be hard pressed to make 45-70 into 50-70.. I shoot both calibers.
50-70 rims are .660 with a head diameter of.565.
45-70 rims are .608 with a head diameter of .504.
Starline Brass sells 50-70 and is a good place to start looking. The 50-70 will defeat all critters this side of our world.
MIke in Peru

[45nut]

See? That is why I need you guys. Thank you for educating me. I am still thinking about a 50 levergun. I just need to lock down a caliber.

50 Alaskan is your answer.

[bob208]

the .45-70 to .50-70 had me wondering too.
but you can make .50-70 from .348 win. as .348 is .50-110 necked down.

[StrawHat]

I shoot a 50-70 Trapdoor and have a rolling block action waiting to be worked into a 50-70. I do not recall any lever rifle, or other repeating rifle, available in 50 Gov't. Are there any?

[doubledown]

50 Alaskan is your answer.

+1 50AK is a monster.

[JesterGrin_1]

I shoot a 50-70 Trapdoor and have a rolling block action waiting to be worked into a 50-70. I do not recall any lever rifle, or other repeating rifle, available in 50 Gov't. Are there any?

What do you think of that 50-70 Trap Door?

I have a Trap Door Carbine that needs a re bore.

[Multigunner]

There was a Colt Pump action rifle in 50-90 Express.
The 1886 Winchester came in some large bore chamberings, but I don't remember seeing a .50 listed among them.
The 50-70 was pretty much obsolete by the time any really robust lever actions came along.

[StrawHat]

The Winchester 1886 was available in two 50 caliber chamberings, the 1876 was avaible in one. Neither was popular enough to continue the chambering for long.

[NickSS]

I have several 50-70 rifles all are single shots and three are trapdoors of various models. As for hunting two years ago I shot a cow Buffalo at 125 paces with an original 1866 2nd Allen Conversion trapdoor rifle with a Lyman 450 gr slug and 70 gr of FFG black powder. The slug was sized .515" and cast from 30-1 alloy. At the shot nothing appeared to have happened to the animal once the smoke cleared all I saw was that she was walking around. So I reloaded and was going to fire a second round when I noticed her legs were wobbly and a second later she fell over. She was dead when I got to her. The bullet went in right behind the front leg and came out the other side breaking a rib going out. As it only takes a few seconds to reload the animal did not stand long before falling over,

[x101airborne]

Well, this is really my father's fault. Him and his 50 beowulf thing. I think a 50 lever would be a lot more cool, but may have to settle for another black rifle. I like hearing all the stories from you guys. I have never seen a 50 govt rifle. Could anyone post a pic or something?

[StrawHat]

... I have never seen a 50 govt rifle. Could anyone post a pic or something?...

Mine is a 2nd Model Allin that made a trip to Bannerman's Armory and then survived a trip to my workbench where the barreled action was mated to the stock and lock from a replica 1841 Mississippi rifle.

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc194/StrawHat/Conversions001.jpg

The 2nd Allin was made by taking the left over muzzle loading rifles and machining the breech area away. An anchor block was soldered and screwed to the barrel to hold the breechblock in place. The bore was drilled out and a three diameter barrel sleeve was installed. The hammer was reshaped to strike the firing pin and various small parts (ejector, springs, etc.) were added to make it complete. This was continued until the Model of 1868 when a seperate reciever was manufactured and sometimes new barrels also. I believe the Model 1870 was produced from new parts with some surplus small parts and by the time the 1873 (smallbore 45-70) was introduced, all the surplus parts had been used and the rifle was totally new made.

Additional photos and info can be found here:

http://www.trapdoorcollector.com/

[bigted]

strawhat... that is an awesome rifle there. love the old makings of history. tell me that the revolver is an 1860 original colt conversion? im sure its not unless you or someone had it re-finished....cool photo tho and im jealous of the rifle...big time.

[Cannoneer]

Get one of the reproduction Winchester M1886's and rebore it to 50-70. Make sure you have a rifling twist for the heaviest bolit you intend to use.

[Nobade]

Or even better a Browning '86 or '71 from the 1980's - that way you don't have the rebounding hammer or tang safety. Or you can get Doug Turnbull to build it on a modern made Winchester. He fixes those issues and case colors the receiver for just a few hundred bucks more than the base rifle. Way nicer!

[StrawHat]

Get one of the reproduction Winchester M1886's and rebore it to 50-70. Make sure you have a rifling twist for the heaviest bolit you intend to use.

Will the 50-70 fit in the 1886? They were not origianlly offered in that chambering and Winchester introduced the 50-110 (?) to fill the 50 caliber void.
I believe the case is too big for the lever rifle.

[StrawHat]

strawhat... that is an awesome rifle there. love the old makings of history. tell me that the revolver is an 1860 original colt conversion? im sure its not unless you or someone had it re-finished....cool photo tho and im jealous of the rifle...big time.


The revolver is the Armi San Marco version of the Richards conversion of the 1860. They got some things correct and some things wrong but I like it. It is chambered for the 44 Colt, same as the original.

[Nobade]

Will the 50-70 fit in the 1886? They were not origianlly offered in that chambering and Winchester introduced the 50-110 (?) to fill the 50 caliber void.
I believe the case is too big for the lever rifle.

Shouldn't be a problem - 348 has the same size case head but is longer. Probably have to do some mods on the lifter to work with the shorter case. 50 Alaska is just a blown out 348 and those work fine, made just for the M71.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
There was a 50-95 Winchester in the 1876 rifle. There are repros made today. This is a bottleneck type which would give a good powder capacity gain over the 50-70 (I shoot those). The drawback is the 1876 action.. not built to be hot rodded. But the 50-95 can slay any critter out there so I recon it would be a great tool to use. Roadrunner (AZ) sells these repros for a very good looking price.
Mike in Peru

[greywuuf]

Not to Hijak but has anyone ever shot the 45-75 ? I was always interested in that one ..... Sorta reminded me of a Giant 44-40

[greywuuf]

oh and I see people mentioning the 50 AK being a blown out 348, just my$.02 but the starline new 50 Ak brass will likely be easier to find than the .348 winchester brass.

[mroliver77]

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/anderson/50_alaskan.htm

heres a 50 AK built on a 336 Marlin!
J