50 EX twist rate

[Rick B]

Have a 50 Ex (50-110) 1886 Winchester with no discernable rifling. Bore is extremely pitted. Interested in relining it. What would be the optimum twist rate for the 51-320P bullet from Accurate molds. 1800-2000 fps velocity range.
Rick

[Blackwater]

If it were me, I think I'd go with something in the 1:22" range, so that it'd take heavier bullets up to about 550 gr., just in case I ever wanted to shoot them. Double check that twist rate though, 'cause I'm just going from memory, and my CRS disease makes that a bit iffy.

[Rick B]

Thanks for the reply. The only twist rate that TJ's Liners offers is a 1-20. Always better to overspin the bullet. The other way doesn't work.
Rick
PS That CRS is awful rampant now a days.

[runfiverun]

1-20 should stabilize boolits down to about 250grs or so just fine.

[herbert buckland]

1-20 should stabilize boolits down to about 250grs or so just fine.This has not been my experience ,I had a Amie Sports 56-50 Spencer that had a 1 in 20 twist rate and with 350gr bullets you could not hit the side of the barn from the inside,with 450gr bullets it was a tack driver at low velocity so it was not the barrel.I would not go quicker than a 1 in 30 twist rate if I was to go for the lighter bullets ,even then it is much faster than Winchester used for this calibre and those old rifles shoot OK

[John Taylor]

The original twist for the 50 EX was 1 in 56". I have seen one as slow as 1 in 60". Later ones were 1 in 48. The 50-100-450 started with 1 in 48" and I think the later ones were 1 in 36". The bullet nose for the 86 has a special shape so it will go through the loading gate. Green Mountain has an octagon blank for the 50 EX with the 1 in 56" twist, http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/wl86-50-winchester-1886-octagon-barrel-50-action-express/

[Rick B]

Thanks for the referral in regards to the Green Mountain barrels. Considering buying one of their round 1886 blanks and having it turned down, to be used as a liner. This is one way I could have a bore with a twist rate that would approximate the original barrel.
Rick

[John Taylor]

Thanks for the referral in regards to the Green Mountain barrels. Considering buying one of their round 1886 blanks and having it turned down, to be used as a liner. This is one way I could have a bore with a twist rate that would approximate the original barrel.
Rick
Probably be easier to just replace the barrel. There are a few places that can do the lettering to make it look original.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
Another advantage of that slow twist is you can use soft mixes in your boolits and still push them to reasonable velocity. 50-50 can get moving right along in a slow twist (1-40 and slower) and when it thwaps into soft critters it wacks with extreme authority.
Short fat boolits just do not need a lot of rotational movement to remain stable.

Thank you Mr. Taylor for that link. I had not seen that barrel option as I am looking into a caliber 50 lever rifle built on a 86 (jap) receiver.
Mike in Peru

[John Taylor]

Good morning
Another advantage of that slow twist is you can use soft mixes in your boolits and still push them to reasonable velocity. 50-50 can get moving right along in a slow twist (1-40 and slower) and when it thwaps into soft critters it wacks with extreme authority.
Short fat boolits just do not need a lot of rotational movement to remain stable.

Thank you Mr. Taylor for that link. I had not seen that barrel option as I am looking into a caliber 50 lever rifle built on a 86 (jap) receiver.
Mike in Peru
If you go with the 50 Alaskan you might get by without altering any of the action parts except the carrier. The 50 EX and 50-100-450 will need some action work to get them to feed and also to be able to get the ammo into the mag tube. The later 86s and 71 have a threaded mag tube which calls for some opening of the loading gate. Also the carrier needs to be opened up a bit because the cartridge is a little fatter than the 45-70.

[missionary5155]

Greetings Mr. Taylor
Thank you for that information. I have decided on the 50 Alaskan simple due to the availability of brass. Already have that and dies and a couple 50-70 molds. The real sway was reading about the easier conversion of the 50-Alaskan. Probably will never get shot by me at the "elephant stomper power" but a 450 grainer at 1350-1500fps would have to be a good cruncher on any critter I will ever see.
Was looking at a rebore... but a new caliber 50 barrel would leave the original intact for a future simple return to original if a son decides to go back to
45-70. Thank you again !
Mike in Peru