I've got a barreled Mauser action chambered to 450 Alaskan. It has good power for a levergun but could be better in the Mauser. If I'm going to all the trouble and expense for a wildcat perhaps I have better options? What could the Alaskan be rechambered to in 45 caliber? Could I go to 458 Lott? What are my options? Thanks in advance.

The Lott case is not as wide as the Alaskan.
Do you have enough barrel length to set it back and start new?
If not, maybe look at a 50-110 case 2.4" or even some of the 50 cal sharps cartridges (for added length) and neck it down to .458".
The 50-110 case is the parent of the .348 case, so the extractor will not need to be altered. The sharps cases have a larger rim diameter (.665" vs. .605") and a slightly larger base (.565" vs. .547").
With the mauser, you are not limited to the short OAL (2.795") of the .450AK in a lever action.

you'll have lots of fun with the casehead diameter. I am assuming you actually mean a 450 alaskan, aka 450x348 improved, rather than a 458x2". If it feeds, and you can get it to digest 400 gr rn, then don't change a thing. You should only be giving up 100 ro 200 fps with a decent barrel length.
I'll trade a Enfield p17 and cash for it.
jeffe

[ 08-20-2002, 08:32: Message edited by: jnc91 ]

Send it to Dave Clay of DRC Custom Guns in Arlington Texas and have him rechamber it to 450/110 based on a necked down full length 50/110 case necked down to .458 inch. Dave is getting 2400 fps with a 430 grain hard cast bullet from an 86 winchester with a 22 inch barrel.

Would be absolutely awesome from a siamese mauser (I'm assuming it is a siamese) or a 98 if it could be made to reliably feed a rimmed cartridge. If you don't want the rim go with one of the heavy express mags at www.heavyexpress.com (I think the url is correct) it is based on a blown out .348 win case with the rim turned off. Winchester copied this round for their short action mags.

Sounds like a fun project report back your results.
Jeff

[ 08-20-2002, 08:37: Message edited by: jnc91 ]

HI,

MR. Clay is the man, but make it a 50-110, thanks,Kev

Contrary to what a lot of people seem to think these days, the .450 Alaskan, originally designed and chambered by Harold Johnson of Cooper Landing, AK, is NOT an improved case in any way. It is the .348 Win. case necked up to .458 with no other changes. Inspection of this case reveals a barely visible "shoulder", if it can be called that!! On the other hand, there is the .450/.348 Improved, as designed by Ackley. This is very definitely an improved .348 case, with sharp shoulder, etc., and is one of a series of different caliber improved rounds Ackley built on the .348 basic case. These Ackley improved rounds all required changes in the M71 action in order to feed, while Johnson's version (sometimes called the .450 Johnson Alaskan), did not require any action changes. As far as I know, ONLY the Johnson version was properly called "Alaskan". A fellow by the name of Fuller followed Johnson in business in Cooper Landing, and he designed ANOTHER .450, his version being different from both the Johnsonm and Ackley designs!!