Made the decision- building a dangerous game lever gun

[Llano Estacado]

Pulled the trigger today- will have gunsmith convert my Winchester 71 into a 450 Alaskan! Will wear a 22” heavy barrel with quarter rib milled for scount scope and co witness red dot. Topped off with NECG sights and a nice piece of black walnut. She will be tested in Mozambique in 2026 using Northfork and/or Hammer bullets

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Um, they already make dangerous game levers.

Just kidding around sir. I seriously look forward to hearing how this goes. I have been debating something similar, in terms of a lever with a bit more. My .45-70 was dandy for buff, but I have found myself wondering about larger stuff while still hunting with a lever action. Rock on! I'll be watching for updates.

Also, Cutting Edge makes a damn fine bullet too, IMHO.

 

[Certus]

Pulled the trigger today- will have gunsmith convert my Winchester 71 into a 450 Alaskan! Will wear a 22” heavy barrel with quarter rib milled for scount scope and co witness red dot. Topped off with NECG sights and a nice piece of black walnut. She will be tested in Mozambique in 2026 using Northfork and/or Hammer bullets

Very nice!
If you want more power than that take the .50-110 case and neck it down to .458. It’ll fit in the m71
Though you can probably just load the .450 out longer to get same results.

 

[Certus]

Found it.

46 WINCHESTER CENTER FIRE | Cartridge Collector

cartridgecollector.net

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Pulled the trigger today- will have gunsmith convert my Winchester 71 into a 450 Alaskan! Will wear a 22” heavy barrel with quarter rib milled for scount scope and co witness red dot. Topped off with NECG sights and a nice piece of black walnut. She will be tested in Mozambique in 2026 using Northfork and/or Hammer bullets

@Llano Estacado
If'n y'all wanted even more punch you could have gone the 50 Alaskan. Make sure you have a good recoil pad you will need it
Bob

 

[Llano Estacado]

Found it.

46 WINCHESTER CENTER FIRE | Cartridge Collector

cartridgecollector.net

Interesting. Wonder why it was shelved?? Mack

 

[Certus]

@Llano Estacado
If'n y'all wanted even more punch you could have gone the 50 Alaskan. Make sure you have a good recoil pad you will need it
Bob

In a 71 the 50 Alaskan isn’t the best choice - a full .50-110 will fit it. The Alaskan is best for the Marlin 1895 as it’s not as spacious.

 

[gbflyer]

Pulled the trigger today- will have gunsmith convert my Winchester 71 into a 450 Alaskan! Will wear a 22” heavy barrel with quarter rib milled for scount scope and co witness red dot. Topped off with NECG sights and a nice piece of black walnut. She will be tested in Mozambique in 2026 using Northfork and/or Hammer bullets

In the name of all things sacred, please don’t convert an original. Get a Browning or Miroku Winchester. [emoji1317]

 

[Llano Estacado]

In the name of all things sacred, please don’t convert an original. Get a Browning or Miroku Winchester. [emoji1317]

It will be a long tang original. Not a collector grade, just good sound long tang which is about to get even better. The Browning’s short tang lacks the handling characteristics of the original pre war guns.

 

[Certus]

It will be a long tang original. Not a collector grade, just good sound long tang which is about to get even better. The Browning’s short tang lacks the handling characteristics of the original pre war guns.

Oh? I’m considering a browning - how’s it different and how does tang length affect that?
Cheers.

 

[fsrmg1]

I believe that the. 475 Turnbull was inspired by the .46 WCF. Too bad it wasn't released to the public. Would have made a good option back in the day for those who liked lever guns and wanted more than what the .405 WCF had to offer.

 

[Llano Estacado]

She is done!

 

[Llano Estacado]

Paul Hampton did a beautiful job. Rebarrel, create and install 1/4 with Talley mount provisions and red dot, NECG front sight, and she is now a takedown! 22” barrel.

 

[jbirdwell]

Beautiful rifle but don’t know if I could do that to my model 71. Took me forever to get one

 

[Andrew NOLA]

Please let us know how it goes. I literally picked up my 475 Turnbull from my FFL yesterday.

Converted a browning model 71

 

[Betterinthebush]

What an amazing rig. Wow!

 

[mgstucson]

Beautiful rifle. Let us know what loads it likes.

 

[7x57Joe]

She is done! View attachment 717743

Very handsome rifle and hope you give it a good work out in Mozambique! We need lots of pictures.

 

[HookMeUpII]

That's a beautiful and very unique rifle. Can't wait to hear how it performs.