I have a Marlin 1895 CB in 45-70, that I'm ending up shooting plenty of 540 gr. Garrets out of -- not much fun. Would a 50 Alaskan give me more/similar power w. less recoil? (Thinking it might since it's a lower pressure cartridge.)

My openion The .50 will hurt ! Why don't you lower your bullet weight in your 45/70.

Try switching to maybe a 500 grain hard cast load instead. The .50 Alaskan is gonna hurt pretty good. This would be easier if you cast your own.

Check out http://www.castperformance.com you can buy their bullets from Midway.

My 50 alaskan is a converted 1895 cowboy. However, The barrel is a heavier design as the sight dovetails in the factory 45/70 would not allow a safe rebore. So, with the rebarrelling the total gun weight is now 12 1/2 pounds with the heavy 26" octogon. That with the addition of a decellerator recoil pad actually yields a rifle that kicks less than my 1895 in 45/70. I use 405's at 2000fps max loads in the 45/70 and feel less recoil with the 50 alsakan shooting 535 woodleighs at 1850fps in the heavier rifle with the recoil pad. Hope this helps.

Exactly the kind of info I wanted, what type of recoil pad? I currently have a Pachmeyer on mine, and I've been thinking about switching to a limbsaver.

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
I have a Marlin 1895 CB in 45-70, that I'm ending up shooting plenty of 540 gr. Garrets out of -- not much fun. Would a 50 Alaskan give me more/similar power w. less recoil? (Thinking it might since it's a lower pressure cartridge.)

This will depend on gun weight, bullet weight, MV, and weight of the powder charge. If all of these factors are about the same, recoil will be comparable also, regardless of the diameter of the bullets......

quote:

Exactly the kind of info I wanted, what type of recoil pad? I currently have a Pachmeyer on mine, and I've been thinking about switching to a limbsaver.

Well, if you make the gun five pounds heavier by putting a massive barrel on it, naturally it will kick less, even if you keep shooting the same load! The fact that this guy's rifle is now a .50 Alaskan doesn't enter into the equation here at all!

The pad is a Pachmeyer Decellerator.
El D is also correct. One of the reasons I chose the heavy barrel is that I wanted the gun to be a light kicker. As far as the weight goes, everything I carry in the field is over 10 pounds-- I carry a 12 pounder like most guys carry a 6 pounder-- I am used to it.

quote:

Originally posted by buckeyeshooter:
The pad is a Pachmeyer Decellerator.
El D is also correct. One of the reasons I chose the heavy barrel is that I wanted the gun to be a light kicker. As far as the weight goes, everything I carry in the field is over 10 pounds-- I carry a 12 pounder like most guys carry a 6 pounder-- I am used to it.

But you don't have 11,000 foot mountains to climb!

I hunted Idaho with it last year. But generally, you are correct.