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Winchester 50 & 59

Otto N. Sure
Howdy!

Another newbie here! I've become interested in these two Winchester semi-auto shotguns. Am I correct that the 59 is identical to the 50 "Featherlite" with the exception of roll engraving and the fiberglas/steel barrel?

I love their slim good looks, but are there downsides to them vs. the more common gas operated semi-auto shotguns that we mostly find today?

Are there any books or articles on these? I'd sure appreciate any info or help, thanks all![8D]



Otto N. Sure
"Your Protection is My Policy"
NRA-Life; SASS-Life; Member Clark County Sport Shooting Park Advisory Committee
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Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • Bert H.
    Hello Otto (and welcome to the forum)...

    In answer to your first question... I do not know if they are truly identical or not... but they are very similar.

    In answer to your second question, there has been precious little written about them in any format, and no reference book written specifically about either the Model 50 or 59.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • only winchesters
    Welcome Otto: Both the 50 featherweight and the Md 59 had "Alloy Receivers" (Aluminum, both Anodized) As you said the 59 was "Roll Engraved". Both trigger guard housings were aluminum also, the 50 anodized black, the 59 gold. Both had the same problem, the receiver cracked at the end of the bolt slot. 59 barrels over time had a tendancy to unravel at the muzzle. The forearms are unique to each gun. The 59 had a larger barrel diameter do to the fiberglass winding, (500 miles worth per barrel, Ref. Stadt) Although they said these guns could shoot standard loads (1 1/4 lead loads) and the 2 3/4in Magnum, these shells prooved to be the death of the gun. They beat the aluminum receiver to death over time. The 59 was innovative in the sense it was the first gun to have screw in chokes. The 50 came in stanard field, Skeet,Trap and Pigeon grades, also 20 ga., where the 59 only came in one grade and one guage, (12ga). They made some experimentals in 28 and 410 gauges, but never put them into production. A good book to buy is "Winchester Shotguns and Shot Shells", by Ronald W. Stadt, 1st editions are cheap, it's up to the 2nd edition now. He covers all shotguns from the 1800's that Winchester imported for sale, up to the Md 59, along with a few of the smooth bore rifles they made. One last difference all 59s had plain barrels, where the 50 could be had with a Vent Rib barrel. (Of which I've found 4 different style of ribs). Three of them are in my gun room now.[:D] I'm looking for the fourth! Hope this helps you. Regards Dave
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  • Otto N. Sure
    Howdy!

    Thanks so much guys! How about recoil operated vs. gas operated. Was the recoil operated system inferior to the gas system, or is there some other reason that we don't see them today?

    I saw a 50 at a gunshow today. A plain barrel 30" full choke. Probably would be a good goose gun! The guy wanted $450 for it which I thought was a little too pricey.



    Otto N. Sure
    "Your Protection is My Policy"
    NRA-Life; SASS-Life; Member Clark County Sport Shooting Park Advisory Committee
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  • only winchesters
    Hello Otto: Well recoil vs gas is a good question. Just a thought here, I believe, that has just been the evolution of the semi-auto shotgun. The old Win. Md 11, and 40 were recoil operated, and they came out trying to compete with the Browning Auto-5. I believe Remington showed us all the the gas system works well with the Md 1100. with the Md 50 you have to keep that floating chamber clean, with a gas auto, you have to keep the gas ports and slide clean. Autos require more cleaning than, pumps or doubles.

    You are correct the $450 the guy wanted for his Md 50 seems high, but you don't say what condition it was in. Plain barrels range from around $200-$400 depending on condition, barrel lenght and choke. 30in Full choke, plain barrel guns are usually the cheapest for field grade. There are also quite a few here on the net at anyone time. Regards Dave
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  • Otto N. Sure
    Thanks!

    I just saw a Model 50 with a Poly-Choke. What are these things and are they better than interchangeable screw-in type chokes? They sure are ugly!![8D]

    Otto N. Sure
    "Your Protection is My Policy"
    NRA-Life; SASS-Life; Member Clark County Sport Shooting Park Advisory Committee
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  • rimfire72
    I have a 59 with a skeet barrel and I love it. The only thing I hate is it throws the empty shells 20 feet away. The Polychoke was the predecessor to the screw-in choke. Some makers offered them as factory installed accessories.They may be ugly but at least you can't lose them.
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  • only winchesters
    Otto & Rim: Actually the "Cutts Compensater" was the first factory option for multiple chokes. They started offering it in 1939, and with the Cutts, you could screw in any choke tube they offered. The Poly Choke became a factory option in the early 50's, which allowed you to turn the outer sleeve about a 1/4 of an inch to change the choke. The main problem with both, it was a large mass at the end of the barrel. I've heard that the Poly Choke outer sleeve sometimes worked loose and fell off. Most likely do to the fact that it wasn't screwed on all the way to begin with. The Md 59 was the first shot gun to come with "screw in chokes", Winchester developed the "Versalite choke system".
    I would shy away from any Md 59 that had a Poly or Cutts choke system, this was not an option from the factory. The 59 barrels had a tendancy for the fiberglass winding, to unravel starting at the muzzle. When a Cutts or Poly is installed they would externally cutt threads onto the barrel so the choke device could be screwed on. In order to do this they cut through the fiberflass winding. There is no telling how they "secured" the fiberglass afterwards. Most likely when you run across a 59 with a Cutts or Poly it was put on because the barrel started to come appart. Plus these devises reduce the value of the gun significantly. Regards Dave
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