1886 conversion to 50 Alaskan

[GL49]

Anyone here had experience with converting an 1886 45-70 to a 50 Alaskan? Is it as simple as sending it to Jesse Ocumpaugh (JES reboring) and just having it reamed out/rebored to 50 Alaskan? Or are there other "issues" that must be dealt with?

[beechbum444]

Im not sure about the 1886, but ive read of win 1894's and 1895 Marlins being converted to 50 Alaskan....

[M-Tecs]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?29914-Converting-to-50-Alaskan

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

[indian joe]

Anyone here had experience with converting an 1886 45-70 to a 50 Alaskan? Is it as simple as sending it to Jesse Ocumpaugh (JES reboring) and just having it reamed out/rebored to 50 Alaskan? Or are there other "issues" that must be dealt with?

I think that is a straightforward conversion - maybe some fiddling with the cartridge lifter - perhaps not appropriate to an original winchester but the newer browning / miroku or a model 71 for sure

[Texas by God]

Im not sure about the 1886, but ive read of win 1894's and 1895 Marlins being converted to 50 Alaskan....As far as I know the .50 Alaskan is a .348 Win. necked up- it won't fit in a Win 94 or a Marlin.

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[cwtebay]

As far as I know the .50 Alaskan is a .348 Win. necked up- it won't fit in a Win 94 or a Marlin.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using TapatalkThe '86 should be alright. The 348's parent case is the 50-110. But I haven't seen a 94 or Marlin monkeyed with enough to accept the cartridge length necessary - but I'll bet someone has tried it!

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[veeman]

Just out of curiosity, what will a .50 Alaskan kill that a 45/70 won't? Just have a want for something bigger? I guess I don't get the whole wildcatting conversion thing. Not saying you shouldn't, just curious.

[Drm50]

I had a m71 Win in 450 Alaskan. My gunsmith had done the work and got stuck with the rifle. It was rebarreled with a Douglas. This was in 60s and he had been doing several because it was the subject of a lot of gun rags at the time. I think on the original 71s the only thing that needed twinked was the cartridge guides. I don't remember if carrier had to be contoured. I know he turned down at least one request to build a 50 Alaskan on a 1886 in 33Win. Now days good 86s and 71s are worth so much you don't see many getting customized to wildcats.

[CrystalShip]

Well That brainstorm will ruin the value of that Winchester

[HawkCreek]

The .50 Alaskan is based on the .348 case which is based on the .50-110 case which was an original chambering in the 1886 Winchester... Why not go with the .50-110 if you're going with a custom conversion like this?



Well That brainstorm will ruin the value of that Winchester

He could be talking about a new Miroku made Winchester...

[Shawlerbrook]

According to Regan Nonnemann a Marlin 336 will work for a 50 Alaskan conversion.
243346




As far as I know the .50 Alaskan is a .348 Win. necked up- it won't fit in a Win 94 or a Marlin.

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[GregLaROCHE]

Why would you want to do it? A .45/70 is enough gun for North America, including Alaska. Sell or keep it and buy another gun, if that’s really what you want.

[Shawlerbrook]

I do agree that I would not alter an original 1886 or 71 unless it was a basket case.

[Texas by God]

Re: 336 Marlin/ 94 Win- gonna have to thin an already thin action to put that big old rim in there. But I see that it's being done- not for me thanks. I agree with the 45-70 recommendations.

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[GL49]

Well, I've already got a Browning 1886 SRC in 45-70, and for those of you that question whether anything bigger than 45-70 is necessary, you're right, it isn't. No argument here.

And I surely wouldn't convert a real Winchester.

I would be converting a Miroku made "Winchester" that's already had some modifications to the barrel. The reason? Best answer I can give is "just because I can", and would be changing something that has already been modified. I know I wouldn't even consider converting a stock unchanged Miroku.

Bigger, fatter, a little more unusual, I dunno.... I just kinda had an itch for something different. Mostly just one more reason to buy more reloading stuff, I guess. Dies, moulds, sizing dies, brass, probably a different powder.....more moulds....the garage isn't full enough yet. And then hours and hours of figuring out the best load.... Dang! this rifle is too heavy to carry in the woods, the muzzle blast will knock you down, and I haven't seen any tyrannosaurs....Not even a grizzley in my neck of the woods. Doggone thing is sure gonna hurt my shoulder....And how do I rationally explain to my wife it was worth it?

I had thought about the 50-110, but I believe it's a little longer, where the 50 Alaskan is the same length as the 45-70, I was trying to steer away from as many feeding problems as possible.

Keep workin' guys, maybe you can talk me out of this.
( I was trying to add one of those big smiley-faces here, but can't get it to work)

[HawkCreek]

Check out the youtube channel Leverguns 50... He's got a Miroku Browning 1886 converted to .50-110, it'll make you want one!

[GL49]

Check out the youtube channel Leverguns 50... He's got a Miroku Browning 1886 converted to .50-110, it'll make you want one!

I'll do that. I'm not locked into the 50 Alaskan, it just seemed a bit easier. I'll have to find out.

[indian joe]

Well, I've already got a Browning 1886 SRC in 45-70, and for those of you that question whether anything bigger than 45-70 is necessary, you're right, it isn't. No argument here.

And I surely wouldn't convert a real Winchester.

I would be converting a Miroku made "Winchester" that's already had some modifications to the barrel. The reason? Best answer I can give is "just because I can", and would be changing something that has already been modified. I know I wouldn't even consider converting a stock unchanged Miroku.

Bigger, fatter, a little more unusual, I dunno.... I just kinda had an itch for something different. Mostly just one more reason to buy more reloading stuff, I guess. Dies, moulds, sizing dies, brass, probably a different powder.....more moulds....the garage isn't full enough yet. And then hours and hours of figuring out the best load.... Dang! this rifle is too heavy to carry in the woods, the muzzle blast will knock you down, and I haven't seen any tyrannosaurs....Not even a grizzley in my neck of the woods. Doggone thing is sure gonna hurt my shoulder....And how do I rationally explain to my wife it was worth it?

I had thought about the 50-110, but I believe it's a little longer, where the 50 Alaskan is the same length as the 45-70, I was trying to steer away from as many feeding problems as possible.

Keep workin' guys, maybe you can talk me out of this.
( I was trying to add one of those big smiley-faces here, but can't get it to work)

why would we wanna talk you out of it ? when you get done you can post lots of cool pics of big boolits blowing up concrete blocks and punching holes in railway track plates. I have been tempted a couple times to convert my B71 .....but then I watched my daddy recover from a shoulder reconstruction .....................................an that 71 is nice like it is.

[M-Tecs]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPN83_NtrYw

[M-Tecs]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFLXjfiklnQ

[M-Tecs]

I am planning on doing a Browning 71 in .50-110.

http://exclusive.multibriefs.com/content/the-mighty-and-unsung-.50-110-winchester/recreation-leisure

https://www.starlinebrass.com/brass-cases/50-110-Win-Brass/

https://www.levergunscommunity.org/viewtopic.php?t=23625

[John Taylor]

Going to a 50-110 you need to hog a bunch of metal out of the action so you can get the big fat round into the mag tube. Also a little off the end of the lever to allow the loading gate to open a little more. The carrier needs to be opened up a little also, not because of the rim size but the body diameter. Feed rails need to have about .020" taken off for the fatter cartridge. Also the chamber needs to be polished and the bottom radius. The 50 Alaskan may not need as much work to get it into the mag. You may also want to install a shotgun butt plate. Some day I will get around to finishing mine, built on a model 71 action.

[beltfed]

Back in the 60s, a friend had a M71 converted to 450 Alaskan.
In addition to all that John T pointed out, The mag tube/ front of forearm
was converted to a barrel band arrangement.
Reason was that with the heavy recoil, the std mag tube/forearm would
come loose
beltfed/arnie

[John Taylor]

Back in the 60s, a friend had a M71 converted to 450 Alaskan.
In addition to all that John T pointed out, The mag tube/ front of forearm
was converted to a barrel band arrangement.
Reason was that with the heavy recoil, the std mag tube/forearm would
come loose
beltfed/arnie

The model 71 has the mag tube threaded to the action. This has come up on other lever rifles and some have cut a notch in the bottom of the barrel and silver soldered a lug on the mag tube to fit the notch.

[bgmkithaca]

I have done the marlin 1895 in the 50 Alaskan just to see if I could. It took a bit of tweaking to get smooth feeding and had Reg Noneman re-tap the receiver threads out about 20 thousandths with a special tap he has to get a bit more chamber wall thickness. The heavier charges are not for the faint hearted. I don't shoot it anymore since getting a rotator cuff repair along with anything else above a 38-55 WCF.

[GL49]

I've just about decided to go with the 50 Alaskan, seems like an easier conversion to get the cartridges to load and feed. I watched the video of the 50-110. Wowee!
When I first got my Browning 45-70, I thought I'd begin with the recommended starting load for lever action rifles on the IMR/Hodgdon reloading page. Sooo.... I loaded up 20 rounds, using 51grs. of 3031 as a recommended starting load for lever action rifles with a 400gr. bullet, and headed to the gun club. Shot the first one and went back home to double-check to see that I had read the info correctly. I musta made a mistake. I think I shot seven that day. Now it's 8 or 9 years later and I still have 5 left. The others were shot by unsuspecting victims who wanted to shoot "something big". Contrary to popular belief that 51 grains is a good starting load? It was a fine finishing load. Once I started casting for the 45-70, there was no need (or desire) to try to load it to the max. I don't know that I would want to try the loads under the heading "Modern Rifles"

The 50 Alaskan conversion is just because I can, I'd like to load it up just to see what it's like. Then back off a bit and enjoy myself.

There's a bit of a second reason, one of the apprentice electricians that works for me is 100% Native American. She's 28 now, every year her dad keeps telling her, "Kalyn, it's time for you to come back to South Dakota to hunt Buffalo on the reservation". She said next year she's going to go, I told her I'd give her a choice of three rifles to take along. An 1876 in 50-95, and 1886 in 45-70, or an 1886 in 50 Alaskan. We're going to figure a good black powder load for each, and, off she goes. She's invited me along just to watch, we'll see if that works out.

Kudos to Starline Brass, they've given me specific case dimensions, quoting base diameters of cases and rim diameters for the 45-70, 348 Winchester, 50 Alaskan and 50-110. Hunter Pilant, Process Manager and Chief Ballistician at Starline was also giving me information about the best case to modify for conversion to 50-95 brass for my 1876 rifle. The only drawing I've come up with, (so far), on the 50-95 case shows the base diameter in mm, converted to inches it's .5605. Part of his reply is quoted next, just in case anybody's interested.

"We don’t have a case print on the .50 Alaskan, but the base diameter is .545”, which I believe is a little small for the .50-95. I think you may have to step up to the .50-90, it has a .561” base diameter. Both cases have rims that would need modified for .50-95 as well, as I think the .50-95 runs a little bit thinner rim than either one."
"Our .348, .50 AK, and 50-110 all have the .545” base diameter, the .553” diameter on the .348 is the SAAMI max diameter just in front of the rim and the tolerance is -.008”, but the max diameter is .547”(-.008”)@ .200” from head. I think the .50-95 is around .560” diameter, so it would probably work better if made from our .50-90 brass. I’m sure plenty have been formed from the Alaskan, but I think they end up bigger diameter at the shoulder than they are at the base."
Look at that, hi-jacked my own thread.
Thanks to everyone for their replies.
Larry

[John Taylor]

Several years back I ordered a reamer for the 50-95 and got one that was about .015" undersize at the base. The reamer company thought I was going to be using 348 brass so they made a small base diameter.

[GL49]

My plan was to have JES reboring work on the 1886 rifle, I'll have brass available for him when I get the 1886 rebored to 50 Alaskan.

The 1876 in 50-95 is a Uberti, I'll have to check the chamber and see how everything fits. We have two milling machines and two lathes at work, one of the machinists owes me a favor, (60 #s of free lead for a boat anchor). I'm hoping he can make a cutter and I'll approach the spinning 50-90 brass from the side, thinning the rim and reducing the diameter at the same time if necessary. I've got to research this a little more and get his advice.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
We did a 86 jap rifle about 5 years ago to 50 Alaskan. Be prepared to work on the feeding and mag tube area especially if using slugs with long noses. But it is all do-able and you will not regret the magnificent thwap a 500 grain caliber 50 FN slug at 1850 fps (or faster) will place on anything it slams into.
What will a caliber 50 do that a 45-70 will not... make a bigger hole.
Mike in Peru

[Kev18]

A 50 alaskan has already been done and there is pictures to prove it. It might be a 71 but its the same thing.

here:
https://www.google.ca/search?biw=1920&bih=937&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=Q7AJXcXZMIOe_QaViLGIAg&q=50+alaskan+mdoel+71&oq=50+alaskan+mdoel+71&gs_l=img.3...6056.8371..8577...0.0..0.84.894.12... ...0....1..gws-wiz-img.......35i39j0i8i30j0j0i30j0i24.TLLGFFKCTLo#img rc=6QjrH2lHr5HFwM:

I know people are asking whats the point... But if you want to... you can :)

[Spooksar]

Wild West Guns uses a Marlin 1895 as the base for their 50 Alaskan