A wildcat cartridge developed by Harold Johnson of Cooper Landing, Alaska around 1950. Built on a modified .348 Winchester case and necked to accept .510" bullets, it was designed to give Alaskan guides and bush pilots a hard-hitting close-range defense against brown bear. The .50 Alaskan fires 450–500 grain bullets at velocities that produce over 3,500 ft-lbs — comparable to a .458 Winchester Magnum in a lever-action package.
Type: Rifle
Introduced: 1950, United States
Parent case: .348 Winchester
Standardization: Wildcat
Bullet diameter: 0.51" (12.95 mm)
Max pressure: 52,000 PSI
Rim type: Semi-Rimmed
Primer: Large Rifle
Muzzle velocity: 1800–2050 fps
Muzzle energy: 3200–3750 ft-lbs
Effective range: 150 yd
Common bullet weights: 400, 450, 500 gr
Primary use: Hunting, Dangerous Game, Bear Defense
Production status: Limited
Also known as: 50 Alaskan · .50-348 · 50-348 Winchester
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…