Rifle · Wildcat
.50 Alaskan
A wildcat cartridge developed by Harold Johnson of Cooper Landing, Alaska around 1950.
- Caliber
- 0.51″ · 12.954 mm
- Introduced
- 1950
- Case
- Semi-Rimmed
- Parent
- .348 Winchester
- Primary use
- Hunting, Dangerous Game, Bear Defense
- Status
- Limited
- Introduced
- 1950
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Harold Johnson
- Standard
- Wildcat
- Status
- Limited
- Availability
- Handload Only
- Primer
- Large Rifle
- Case type
- Semi-Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 40,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 150 yd
- Max range
- 300 yd
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .50 Alaskan, so this is the shape gravity alone gives the advertised velocity. Drag would steepen it. The tool below solves real loads through their published G1 or G7 model.
Open in Ballistic Compare- Parent case
- .348 Winchester
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
SAAMI · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 12.95 | 0.510 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 13.61 | 0.536 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 14.05 | 0.553 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 15.49 | 0.610 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.78 | 0.070 | ✓ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 53.34 | 2.100 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 63.50 | 2.500 | ~ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .50 Alaskan is highlighted below.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Harold Johnson was a gunsmith in Cooper Landing, Alaska who developed the .50 Alaskan to address the need for a reliable bear-defense cartridge in a Winchester Model 71 lever-action. By reworking .348 Winchester brass to accept .510 caliber bullets, he created a round that fit an existing lever gun platform while delivering the energy needed for large bears at brush-country distances. The cartridge developed a cult following among Alaska residents and outfitters and is still hand-loaded today.
FAQs
- What bullet diameter is .50 Alaskan?
- .50 Alaskan uses a 0.51″ (12.954 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .50 Alaskan still in production?
- .50 Alaskan is limited; typical availability is handload only.
- What is .50 Alaskan used for?
- .50 Alaskan is primarily used for hunting, dangerous game, bear defense.
- What is .50 Alaskan based on?
- .50 Alaskan is derived from the .348 Winchester case.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →