50AK vs 500 S&W in the Encore carbine

I don't have any modern books that have these rounds in them or I would look them up... So I ask here and see what happens.

For a few years now I have wanted a 16.5" to 18" 50 AK tube for my Encore. One reason is that I loved the 8 years living there and a very strong desire to return and never leave again

Here you go.....the pipsqueak on the left is the .500 Smith --LOL!



Two different animals. The AK is actually .510 diameter -- like a really long .500 Linebaugh. The Smith runs pretty high pressures, while the AK was intended to run low pressure. My revolver in .50 Alaskan will push a 525 grain bullet to 1,575 fps (confirmed) and is real chore to control, and that is with an 8-inch barrel. It can be pushed faster, but I can see no real or logical reason.

Just for a visual comparison the lowly 44 Magnum on the left that use to be "king of the hill" has been dwarfed by the recent escalation of cartridges. I don't think the 44 is strong enough for deer sized game anymore. LOL<LOL Ok, from left to right...

44 Remington Magnum
445 Super Magnum... or 445 Gates
45 Colt
454 Casull
480 Ruger
475 Linebaugh Maximum
50 AE
500 Linebaugth
500 Linebaugh Maximum
500 S&W
50 Beowulf
50 Alaskan

I have since accquired a 460 S&W, 475 Linebaugh and a 500 WE, I need to take an updated picture.

Whit, that is some impressive speed out of an 8" barrel. How much more do you think you could get out of it?

Bugger, was hoping the two had the same diamiter so bullets would be less a problem for me... Being in a Lead Free zone bites at times... Ok all the time...

I would imagine it should be able to go over 1,600 a bit, but I don't want to be the one who tickles the trigger!

SSK chambers a round called the 50 B&M Alaskan. It is the 50AK necked down to use .500 diameter bullets. Basically same velocities as the 50AK just uses the .500 bullets. Call JD. Hope this helps. BTW I have the 50AK because I shoot surplus 50BMG bullets and I'm not in a LF zone.

Ah, but the .50 Alaskan is just so sexy looking without being necked down......how's that for scientific reasoning??

For the record for all you heavy hitters,just looking at the two cartridges that Whitworth posted,and 5 of the ones Tigger posted makes my hands hurt.More power to you guys.

More power, or more stupidity (at least on my part)?! My Alaskan is nearly impossible to control -- it's a novelty at best. That said, I am going to download it a bit (no, I will not emasculate it!) -- maybe by 150 to 200 fps, and it should be way easier to control.......

My buddy, who owned the revolver before me said that you can judge a man's intelligence by offering to let him shoot the .50 Alaskan. If he was eager to shoot it, you could tell he wasn't firing on all eight -- conversely, if he wants no part of it, well, that's one smart individual....... So then I asked him what it said about me that I bought it -- he averted his eyes and remained silent.......

ROTFLMAO!!!

50 B&M AK hands down bud. Only because I had one built at the advice of some fellas on this site. I have a 500 smith, but was not happy with the ballistics when using a heavy bullet (500 gr). Bought a SSK 13inch bbl with a shark gill break...love it. Shoots lights out and actually produces the ballistics that it boasts. I got nearly 1800 fps with a 500 grain hornady. The ballistics chart I have shows over 2000 fps with the same slug out of a rifle barrel. Nothing to sneeze at! Best of luck.

I think the ordinary .50 Alaskan will also get the same velocity. Keep in mind that my revolver only has an 8-inch barrel and a cylinder gap. That said, I can imagine it isn't the most pleasant thing to shoot!

I agree that it probably does. The only reason I like the B&M is that it affords me the choice of several 50 caliber bullets versus the few 51 caliber bullets that the standard alaskan uses. Either way, a trash can lid in front of a pile of powder does the trick no matter what.

I sold that revolver to Whitworth, and it has shot 600 grainers 1400+ FPS.
I can attest that depite the added velocity it is no more effective an Buffalo than is the 500 Linebaugh. Its main value is as an eye opener whne you pull it out

It opens a few eyes when you pull the trigger as well......

Is that the .50 AK in your signature photo Whitworth?

Yes indeed.......

One of my antelope hunters brought his Encore in 50 B&M Alaskan on the 2007 HHI Antelope Hunt. He offered to let me shoot it and I took him up on it. With the big SSK Shark Gill Brake, it was no big deal to shoot, as you can see from this footage:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLwNGWJS3Ao

Gregg -- that's not the case with mine.....

Way Cool Video!! That brake really doesw work amazingly well...
A 385 gr bullet at 2000 fps is certainly a potent handgun!

Yeah I bet it does; I bet you can really feel the horsepower!!!!

I have video of me shooting it, but have yet to download it from my camera. I'll try to do it tonight. Standby!

Thats starting to sound like the round I want

Okay, here's the video clip. The third shot (though you can't tell) clocked me in the head and opened up a 2-inch gash in my skull......

glad you like that cannon.just don't ask me to shoot it i am happy with my .44

You know, it actually hurts less to shoot than my .500 Linebaugh (unless of course it makes contact), it just can't be controlled very easily.

Looks like that last round was a bit sore :p

Nope, third shot clocked me, and then I finished out the cylinder. After I set the revolver down, a cascade of blood swept down the left side of my face. You have to keep a lot of muscle tension on it at all times!

Been popped by a few scoped rifles before :p Maybe that why I don't do Magnum rifles anymore lol :p

Been watching this thread for a little while now and thought I'd throw in my two cents worth...

I have two SSK 50 Alaskan barrels for my Encore - on is a 10" full bull barrel w/ iron sights and the other is a 17" full bull barrel w/ 2.5-8 Leupold scope and TSOB mount w/ three rings. Also have a S&W 500 w/ 4" barrel w/ slightly modified standard iron sights.

I shoot Barnes 647 TSXs in the 17" 50 AK, Cast Performance 525 gas checked slugs in the 10" 50 AK, and Cast Performance 400 gas checked bullets in my "little" 4" 500 S&W.

Of the three, the 10" iron sight 50 AK has by far the most felt recoil despite having the efficient SSK arrestor brake machined into the barrel, followed by the 17" 50 AK (at 5.9 lbs w/ a huge fish gill brake, no wonder the recoil is a bit less), and then the 500 S&W.

I've had several barrels made by SSK now, and all have performed better than expected. The 50 AK in an Encore is a lot of gun, but not at all too much. SSK has done a great job of taming the beast and making its recoil reasonable for a shooter who is quite familiar with handguns in the "bigger than magnum" category. I wholeheartedly encourage anyone interested in lots of horsepower to consider the 50 AK...although both are overkill (quite literally in most cases!) it is hands down, much, much more powerful than the 500 S&W.

Would I part with my 500? Never! No way! But the 50 AK offers more of everything for those who want/think they need it.

Hope this info is of some help to you.

Thanks Des, the 50 AK is one of those rounds I just NEEED!! If I'm lucky enough to end up in Alaska again (and never ever leave again) it would be of some use :p

I know what ya mean when ya just NEEED it!! lololol