Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers 450 Alaskan

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I have a double set of RCBS dies: one set to expand and re-size the 348 case to 450 AK, the other to
FL resize, and seat .458 sized bullets-with a Lee factory crimp die to insure a tight, non-moving crimped bullet in the case.
The advantage also in the Lee FC die is that it allows forgiveness on OAL of the cartridge. Important. Annealing case necks is also a good idea considering the cost of new 348 brass.


Now here is another way to increase .348 Win power without much recoil. Its the .348 Ackley Improved. It will raise the velocity
of 225-250 gr bullets in the 348 another 185 FPS minimum. With a 24 in barrel and IMR 4350 powder, and a 250 or 270 gr Hawk bullet-
you can get close to 2475 FPS or 2490 FPS. What you have is a lever action .35 Whelen equivalent.
I killed an Alaskan moose in 2007 big enough to stuff two freezers with steaks, chops, and roasts.
All with one 250 gr Hawk bullet through the bull's neck.

All it takes is re-chambering. Probably the best articles written back in the late 80s in Handloader-Wolfe Publishing, Prescott, AZ.
was by John Kronfeld. I got his dies and an extra barrel from him. This is an inexpensive way to get real power
out of the Model 71 without spending a whole lot. Its in Ackley's book.Wolfe also published a large book called "Big Bore Rifles and Cartridges". All the 348 wildcats are covered. Good luck!

Kronfeld wrote a couple of interesting articles for Handloader mag, one on the 450 Alaskan (issue 140) and one on the 45/90 (issue 160). The ballistics he achieved were similar for both cartridges.

In his sum up of the 45/90, he suggests

‘It is my humble opinion that had Winchester chambered the Model 71 rifle for the 45/90 WCF, it would still be around today. On the Model 71 action, which is good for 44,000 CUP, a 400 grain flat nose bullet can be driven to over 2100 fps, for nearly 4,000 ft lbs of muzzle energy.’

The 45/70 loaded to a shorter OAL produces similar ballistics. Just check Hodgdon’s Reloading Centre (online).

I also have a copy of the Feb 1962 Guns & Ammo mag. In that issue there’s an article titled ‘Big Bore Blasters’ that discusses various Ackley wildcats on the 348 Win case in the 71 platform - these included 45/348AI, 40/348AI, 348 AI. The testing was done by Bob Hutton, G&A’s Technical Director. The issue with data here is they used Powley Computer (actually a slide rule) for their pressure data.

The 45/348 AI only produced a marginal increase in velocity over the 450 Alaskan or 45/90.

As an earlier poster mentioned, the justification for the 450 Alaskan needs to be put into context of what was available at the time it was developed.

These days strong Starline brass in 45/90 is available, reloading dies are readily available but like I keep saying, IMO a long loaded 45/70 equals a 45/90 (in a 1886) and is more flexible.

It makes sense that an long loaded 45-70 equals an 45-90. It is after all just a brass vessel holding powder and 45-70 or 44-90 should be able to be constructed to similiar OAL.

I've got an Pedersoli 71 in 45-70 and I need to play with cartridge length.

You do need to use bore riding bullet designs or have the chamber throated to load a 45/70 to a longer length. I prefer to use the stock throating and select bore riding bullet designs. The added advantage of a 45/70 is that you can use regular length brass or the shorter Hornady brass.

I was wondering if there if a factory crimp die that works best for the 450 alaskan? I have a set of Hornady Dies for it currently but would like a separate crimp die. Would a 45-70 crimp die work?

450 Fuller said he uses a Lee FCD but not which one.

We have what I believe is the ackley version and I altered a 45-70 crimp die the center comes out put it in the 3 jaw and the right reamer 5 minutes work

Ide like to know which one

That's the problem with all the reloading efforts, there's too many rabbitholes and jargon to contend with. Things like twist rates, bore riding bullets, throating, and bullet designs. Good grief, just it's hard enough to load this stuff and then one has to consider all these issues.

Kronfeld is basically correct as to the 450 Alaskan compared to the 45-90. Both of my 450s are
on pre-war Model 71s. The 348 brass is stronger than 45-90. I use a Lee FCD that was made and
marked by Lee for the 450 AK.
My rifles came from AK and were made decades ago, and one came from Fuller's shop at Cooper Landing, AK.

The one advantage to the 45-90 WCF is that it can chamber and shoot 45-70s, as mentioned. Decided
advantage starting from scratch. An extended 45-70 works pretty well in a 45-90.
Old timers used it a lot.

Just returned from the mountains of NM-AZ Gila country. A bear incident made the news.
A 200 lb black bear near Prescott, AZ killed a home owner having a cup of coffee. Forget the damn coffee and
carry a 450 or heavy loaded 45 Colt SA Ruger or New Service Colt with 300 gr bullets.
Bear spray works on "some " bears. Carrying just UDAP or Counter-assault bear spray
is gambling-always carry a backup rifle or pistol in bear country.

Ask the widows of dead guides or hunters that got torn up and killed.

Pine, I hear what your are saying about the crap people use in talking about loading and shooting. One that really gets me when someone asks what are you "running".. I am not running anything. Much of this crap I believe comes from newbe's that want to sound knowledgeable. Kind of like a 6th grader trying to sound like a high school kid. Those terms speak to me of some who wants to sound important but isn't. Have a good day.

Thank you. Ill try and see if i can beat the bushes and find a LEE FCD in 450 Alaskan. Thank you for replying to me!!

My 1885 45-90 loaded is longer than what is possible with the 45-70. I have two 45-70’s, a 1895 and a 1886.
If I get a bison tag it’s the 1885 that I’d be carrying.
I have a nice but plain Jane model 71. I’d consider boring the ‘71 to 45 and I’m sort of leaning that way but the 348 has about all the power I’d need and if I needed more I have other choices.
Besides that 348 shoots pretty dang well.

I’ve run a 450 Alaskan for many years. That’s what the barrel was marked as were the dies. Marvelous cartridge! I’d bought a long tang 71 Winchester made into 35/348 improved at a gun show on my birthday! The rifle was restocked, rebarrelled and made into a 24” full magazine gem. The gentleman that I bought it from had a match in 450 Alaskan. It was the fourth receiver from the end of production. Whoever built those two rifles was a craftsman. Tried to find him but no luck.
The 450 is a hammer on big game, 400 grain bullets at 2200 are hard on things. When I got the 450, Elmer Keith’s advice was 63 grains of 3031 with a 400 grain bullet. Of course the bullets of the day were great for snapping turtles on the pond but to soggy for game. The Nosler 300 grain partition was better but not by much. Cast a 400 grain gas check and shot piles of them. No matter the angle, those bullets exited elk. Nice to have that rifle in my hands talking stupid grizzlies in into going the other way.
If Winchester had made a cartridge for the 71 that shot a 375 diameter 300 grain flat nose bullet at 2200 ……..

Ummm 50 Alaskan's big brother




5500 ft lbs 500 grains

Project gun from the 1990's. If you want more info I may put up a few more photos.

Apologies for the hijacking.

Cabriolet, don’t apologize. Please do give us more pictures and information on the who’s, what’s,where’s, etc on that cannon.