The Alaskan is a very nice lever gun loading!!
I had the opportunity to work with a rechambered Marlin in this caliber. I worked up and finally made some loads for a friend that flies in Alaska some years back. I used a 400 something grain bullet, cast hard with a lot of Lino and quenched. ( I made the bullets too. His mould). Man those thumped your shoulder!!
It took him some time to manage it! We had to start with my own guide gun in 45/70 because he flinched so badly shooting. The 50!!
Eventually he was able to consistancy snap shoot a softball at 50' under stress and pressure.
BTW, the 500 IS a true 50 caliber@ .501.
A better way to describe the 500S&W might be to say, It's a bastard diameter compaired to other more common/existing 50's.
It is a tremendous powerhouse as a stopping caliber in a good lever!!
CW