Hey Guys,
If similiar bullet weights are used, which is more powerful.. .50 Alaskan or .50-110 Winchester ?
Thanks, Chris

Hell Chris, and welcome to the forum! I think that they .50-110 has a larger case, giving it greater potential for higher velocity. They are both abusive to shoot in a handgun, and even the really experienced find them difficult to shoot well.

Dear Whitworth,
Thank you for your quick reply! I always wondered.
And thanks for your wellcome but I'v posted before & been a member for acouple of years now, but have been quiet latley. My Grand-Father always told me to keep my mouth shut & ears open ! Its been fun learning on this forum !
Thanks again,
Chris

Don't keep quiet, Chris, join in!

50 Alaskan in full recoil 525 grain bullet just shy of 1600 FPS

quote:

Originally posted by jwp475:
50 Alaskan in full recoil 525 grain bullet just shy of 1600 FPS

No thanks! I'll stick with my little .475.....

quote:

Originally posted by Chris O:
Hey Guys,
If similiar bullet weights are used, which is more powerful.. .50 Alaskan or .50-110 Winchester ?
Thanks, Chris

As Whitworth said the 50-110 has more case capacity, but I would not want to be the guys trying to see which one was more powerful.

quote:

Originally posted by Redhawk1:

quote:

Originally posted by Chris O:
Hey Guys,
If similiar bullet weights are used, which is more powerful.. .50 Alaskan or .50-110 Winchester ?
Thanks, Chris

As Whitworth said the 50-110 has more case capacity, but I would not want to be the guys trying to see which one was more powerful.

Gotta draw the line somewhere.......

Just because one has more case capacity doesn't mean that it is more powerful. It depends on how it's loaded. The larger case capacity should give you more velocity when both are loaded to the same pressure with similar powders and the same bullets. You could go with a fast pistol powder and load to 40,000 psi and get less velocity than if you loaded a rifle powder to 35,000 psi.

Quickload is a great tool for "What If???" It can give you good idea of what to expect, but should always be checked against a load book.

just my two cents.

quote:

Originally posted by Lar45:
Just because one has more case capacity doesn't mean that it is more powerful. It depends on how it's loaded. The larger case capacity should give you more velocity when both are loaded to the same pressure with similar powders and the same bullets. You could go with a fast pistol powder and load to 40,000 psi and get less velocity than if you loaded a rifle powder to 35,000 psi.

Quickload is a great tool for "What If???" It can give you good idea of what to expect, but should always be checked against a load book.

just my two cents.

Depends on what you are talking as more powerful. If both guns shot the same bullet diameter, bullet weight and one has a higher case capacity, (MORE POWDER) it stands to be more powerful as far as velocity and energy.

What else could you compare, case pressure does not mean one thing, except the gun has more case pressure, it does not change the "power" what so ever.

I think you are looking to much at all your variables, you are adding that are not needed. To many what if I use this or that.

How else do you judge power? Case Pressure is not one of them.

A good example of why case pressure is not a good indicator of power. The 45-70 loaded with hot loads will out perform a 454 Casull and do it with a lot less case pressure.

quote:

Originally posted by Redhawk1:

quote:

Originally posted by Lar45:
Just because one has more case capacity doesn't mean that it is more powerful. It depends on how it's loaded.

If both guns shot the same bullet diameter, bullet weight and one has a higher case capacity, (MORE POWDER) it stands to be more powerful as far as velocity and energy.

What else could you compare, case pressure does not mean one thing, , it does not change the "power" what so ever.

How else do you judge power? Case Pressure is not one of them.

A good example of why case pressure is not a good indicator of power. The 45-70 loaded with hot loads will out perform a 454 Casull and do it with a lot less case pressure.

You used pressure as a qualifying statement "The 45-70 loaded with hot loads "
Meaning not the original factory level loads.
The 454 vs 45-70, both 45 cal, both can be had with the same bullet weights(300gn JHP?...)
The 45-70 case has more volume so it must be more powerful?
The 454 should give higher velocity with factory loads(not includeing Garrett...) given the same length barrels...
The 45-70 can be loaded to out perform the 454. I've loaded 405gn cast to 1750 fps from my 10" 45-70 BFR, but factory 300gn JHP go just over 1200 fps.
So just because it's a 45-70 doesn't mean that it is more or less powerful than the 454. It does have the potential to be more powerful, but it depends on how each is loaded.
That's all I was trying to say.

With the short snubbie barrel of the 50-110 BBB, (Bfr Beast Blaster)?, it would be interesting to see what the velocity potential would be compared to the 50 Alaskan or 500 Long(1.6")

I was thinking that maybe Safari Kid could have another cylinder made for it in the shorter round, but by the looks of things, he'd just have another gun made.

I think we were talking the same thing, I was talking the potential to be more powerful, but it depends on how each is loaded.
That is why case capacity can determine power.
I was not talking factory loads.Who buys factory loads..lol

Dang, didn't I say that? Bigger case = bigger potential?

Larger case capacity in a handgun (when talking the type of capacity of these 2) will not always give the most velocity, because of the type of powder used and the revolver length barrels and barrel cylender gap. I know that Tom has loaded his 50-100's to higher velocity than I have my 50 Alaskan. Jack when testing my 50 Alaskan after completeing the build loaded it to higher speeds than I am shooting with the Buffalo Bore factory loads. Jack also found the the Buffalo Bore 50 Alaskan loads are 100 FPS faster than the Grizzly Ammo factory loads in the 50-110

The key is always how much powder you can burn in the length of barrel you have, not how much powder the case can hold.
Seems to me that when the case is longer then the barrel, it is really a torch!

quote:

Originally posted by bfrshooter:
The key is always how much powder you can burn in the length of barrel you have, not how much powder the case can hold.
Seems to me that when the case is longer then the barrel, it is really a torch!

That is almost like a duel purpose handgun, blow torch and bumpkin heaver.

I'd be curious to know in say a 6" revolver how much the 50 alaskan gains over the 500 linebaugh long when operating at the same pressure. I just don't see the 50-110 gaining much of anything in a short barrel.

To me the many super power mega revolvers are more gimmuks than practical hunting tools. When you sacrifice the ability to pack the gun on the hip due to weight, aren't able to shoot it effectively offhand due to weight/balance, and the recoil is untennable w/o a muzzle break, you haven't gained anything in the persuit of "power" and have given up much in a useable gun in the field.

If 400-500 grs of lead at 1200-1300 fps isn't enough, more power isn't going to help you. Those loads will punch a hole clear through most any animal and most any angle.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul H:
I'd be curious to know in say a 6" revolver how much the 50 alaskan gains over the 500 linebaugh long when operating at the same pressure. I just don't see the 50-110 gaining much of anything in a short barrel.

To me the many super power mega revolvers are more gimmuks than practical hunting tools. When you sacrifice the ability to pack the gun on the hip due to weight, aren't able to shoot it effectively offhand due to weight/balance, and the recoil is untennable w/o a muzzle break, you haven't gained anything in the persuit of "power" and have given up much in a useable gun in the field.

If 400-500 grs of lead at 1200-1300 fps isn't enough, more power isn't going to help you. Those loads will punch a hole clear through most any animal and most any angle.

I agree 100% there is no animal that requires a 50 Alaskan and the size of the revolver makes it uncomfortable to pack

Hey, I love watching other people shoot them!

quote:

Originally posted by Paul H:

To me the many super power mega revolvers are more gimmuks than practical hunting tools. When you sacrifice the ability to pack the gun on the hip due to weight, aren't able to shoot it effectively offhand due to weight/balance, and the recoil is untennable w/o a muzzle break, you haven't gained anything in the persuit of "power" and have given up much in a useable gun in the field.

If 400-500 grs of lead at 1200-1300 fps isn't enough, more power isn't going to help you. Those loads will punch a hole clear through most any animal and most any angle.

Paul, I use my handguns as primary hunting implements, I have less of a discomfort carrying them in the field as I do with a rifle.
My S&W 4 inch 500 Mag is very packable on my hip, so is my 2 1/2 in Super Redhawk 454 Casull. I also don't have muzzle breaks on either of them, and can shot them very fast and accurate.

I don't know where you come up with them being unusable in the field. Do you handgun hunt much ?

I'm curious about how many stitches the pictured shooter required?

It didn't actually hit him. It hit his hat, but it did no damage. This is the biggest argument against a lot of velocity -- it makes them kick too damn much!

I love big pistols but, not blood st both ends!!!
Doug

quote:

Originally posted by tred1956:
I love big pistols but, not blood st both ends!!!
Doug

There is indeed a practical limit for me too......

quote:

Originally posted by Chris O:
Hey Guys,
If similiar bullet weights are used, which is more powerful.. .50 Alaskan or .50-110 Winchester ?
Thanks, Chris

The 2 in a handgun can be loaded to indentical power levels. The grizzly Ammo 50-110 loaded with the 525 grain hard cast is 100 FPS slow than the Buffalo Bore 525 grain hard cast in 50 Alaskan. These numbers are not the manufactors claim, but accutal chrono'ed numbers by Jack Huntinton when testing the revolvers after building.

With hand loads they are basicaly equal if loaded to equal pressures.

Boy this whole thread sure sounds like a case of my weenie is bigger than your weenie.....

Or, my weenie is small so I need to compensate......LOL! Good call, Shawn!

Hey Marko I don't have a .500 nitro express double rifle for nuthin ya know....

Truth be known; the shooter neither required stitches, nor did my cap get hit. I'm right-handed and left-eye dominant. This combination keeps me from getting hit in the head, but I've had a wide-brimmed hat tapped a few times.

No harm, no foul!

Hi Fella's, Whitworth, jwp475, Redhawk1 and everyone else.
Its been very exciting & informative reading all you knowledge,experiences & advise on my question ! For some reason I cant figure out, That 50 Alaskan catches my interest. But I do love my SS Redhawk 5 1/2" .44 mag. And the Shootist Mr. John Taffin had it right when he told me there's nothing in PA that my .44 Mag can't handle !
So THANK YOU ALL !!!!!
Chris.

quote:

Originally posted by Chris O:
Hi Fella's, Whitworth, jwp475, Redhawk1 and everyone else.
Its been very exciting & informative reading all you knowledge,experiences & advise on my question ! For some reason I cant figure out, That 50 Alaskan catches my interest. But I do love my SS Redhawk 5 1/2" .44 mag. And the Shootist Mr. John Taffin had it right when he told me there's nothing in PA that my .44 Mag can't handle !
So THANK YOU ALL !!!!!
Chris.

And I am sure you will do fine with your 44 Mag.

You are welcome, Chris. You can never go wrong with a Redhawk in .44 magnum! Keep us posted!