.50 Alaskan Cases In a .50-110

[1886 45-90]

Is it possible to use .50 Alaskan cases in a modern manufacture .50-110 for bullets that have a longer nose than will feed through an 1886 action with full length cases?

I can't think of anything wrong with this - on par with using .45-70 cases in a .45-90 or the short Hornady cases in a .45-70, but I wanted to ask before doing something potentially stupid...

[Rockrat]

Looking at case dimensions, the 50-110 case base diameter is .565" and the 50 AK case is .549", so you have a difference of .016" there. You would have a pretty good bulge there. Might work for low pressure loads but would have to use the 50-110 dies to size as would be afraid that if you used the 50 AK dies you would end up overworking the brass and you would develop cracks in short order

[1886 45-90]

Measuring cases, a Starline .50-110 case has a base diameter of .543. A sized case with my .50-110 CH4D dies is the same. I measured a fired case and got maybe .5435, maybe .543 just eyeballing it. That was with a softball ~35KPSI nitro load. I don't have a cast for my chamber.

My first thought is that .50AK's parent is .348win and the parent of that is .50-110. So if the case head is different in practice I'd wonder why?

I've ordered a set of Starline cases, so I'll have dimensions there. My guess is they're the same as their .50-110 but who knows?

Any cases fired with a hot nitro load will be retired or used only for softballs regardless. I can't anticipating shooting 100 .50 cal full power hunting loads in my life, but if I'm wrong I'll be more than happy to buy another box of cases.

[buckeyeshooter]

I have both a Turnbull Marlin 50 Alaskan and a Turnbull made 1886 in 50-110. I have never tried the Starline 50 ak cases in the 50-110, but the specs are the same on both as far as starline cases that I have in 50ak and 50-110. As a matter for fact, I just bought a 50-110 sizer (I had the alaskan made first) and use the RCBS 50 AK set for both unless I am full length sizing 50-110.
I have no idea if other cases run the same, as I only use starline.
My guess is that if the length overall is in spec with an alaskan case it would feed ok. The cost is pretty much the same for cases, so I would just order the correct ones.

[1886 45-90]

My objective is to allow the feeding of bullets that would give an OAL longer than an 1886 could feed if a .50-110 case were used. For example a 535gr A-Frame with the nose flattened has an ogive to tip length of about 0.5"

[1886 45-90]

I received the new Starline cases, and they seem to be the same at the Starline .50-110 cases in every dimension but length.

Here's a .50AK case on the right along side a .50-110 case. The .50-110 case has a 510gr Cutting Edge solid. The .50AK case has a 535gr A-Frame with the nose flattened to give 520gr and 1.115" bullet length.
http://luminousrabbit.com/wp-content/up ... 550712.jpg

The A-Frame's ogive would be right at or slightly past the case mouth with .50-110 brass. So I think the .50 AK cases serve a purpose for this bullet. They also hit the crimp groove exactly if I don't flatten the nose, but I want both the extra margin against detonation and the extra case capacity I can get by doing so.

Both feed through my gun at an OAL of 2.78.

[JFE]

It’s the 50/90 Sharps case that has a base diameter of 0.565. The 50 AK is just a shortened 50/110. Doing what your proposing is the same as shooting a 38 spec in a 357, only the 50 Ak is tapered and will slump to the bottom of the chamber, so may affect accuracy. I prefer not to use shorter brass at all.

With respect to bullets, I use cast but you can buy jacketed bullets designed to fit. Woodleigh make a 500gr FN Weldcore bullet as well as a Hydrostatic solid designed for the 50/110. Both have the crimp groove in the right location for a 50/110 case.

[Bronco]

I have a Turnbull Brownchester M71 in 50-110 !
I can get a 547 gr cast Bullet in it that cycles with 50-110 cases. ! Mold was from LBT made so crimp groove is in the right spot.
Do not know how heavy of a bullet you want to go, but pushing that 547 grs @ high 1900's fps ain't fun! I just shot them at that load to find what I figured was max for that bullet. Don't think I have shot that load for years, but I got it if I need it
I have 4 molds for it from 350 - 547 grs. The number in the mold is lower a little, but that is what they weigh when gas checked and lubed.
I ain't a tack driver, but a train stopper. Off bench with Caldwell lead sled I can get about 4" groups at 150 to 200 yds.

[1886 45-90]

It’s the 50/90 Sharps case that has a base diameter of 0.565. The 50 AK is just a shortened 50/110. Doing what your proposing is the same as shooting a 38 spec in a 357, only the 50 Ak is tapered and will slump to the bottom of the chamber, so may affect accuracy. I prefer not to use shorter brass at all.

With respect to bullets, I use cast but you can buy jacketed bullets designed to fit. Woodleigh make a 500gr FN Weldcore bullet as well as a Hydrostatic solid designed for the 50/110. Both have the crimp groove in the right location for a 50/110 case.

I'll have to measure how much the diameter differs due to taper. I tried to measure it and didn't see much, but that's probably just sloppy caliper work on my part.

I terms of bullets I have the Woodleighs and may still use them. But I prefer the A-Frame and Cutting edge, and if I can get them to velocity with suitable accuracy I'll go that way.

[crs]

1886 45-90,
I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHAT GAME YOU WILL BE AFTER WITH THOSE BIG BORE HEAVY LOADS.

Whales or has something big and bad been eating ele bulls or snacking on Kodiak bears? If so and you need backup, I can bring my .45-90 ele rifle.

[Bronco]

Those big bore heavies are just the ticket for , when they are in season, the tyranowhatchamacallits . AND the charging wounded ground squirrel

[1886 45-90]

1886 45-90,
I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHAT GAME YOU WILL BE AFTER WITH THOSE BIG BORE HEAVY LOADS.

Whales or has something big and bad been eating ele bulls or snacking on Kodiak bears? If so and you need backup, I can bring my .45-90 ele rifle.

Well you were a big help in getting my .45-90 up to snuff. But I do want to explore what the .50-110 can do. If it turns into an Africa hunt at some point, that would be great. If not, predator call black bear hunts are exciting enough, not that the .45-90 isn't plenty sufficient.

But basically because it's there