doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Way of Topic, WIn. Model 50 or Super X

My Dad for some reason has developed an itch for a Winchester Model 50. I know nothing about the guns, except the one he has found does have a rib and really fine burl wood. I always thought that the Super X was a better gun, though I have no knowledge of either to be able to give an informed opinion. Does anyone here have a good opinion on these 2 guns. Remember this is off topic, so please don't be upset about the question here.

They are both very good guns, the SX1 is a great gun after some fiddling. The 50 is a short recoil gun with a floating chamber,there is a tapered chamber that holds the cartridge into a recess in the barrel. The Floating Chamber moves under recoil to unlock, and recharge the gun. The Recoil Spring is in the Butt, and the bolt is adjust by turning a nut like thing housed in the Butt. The gun was design by Marshall "Carbine" Williams.

Model 50s tend to be a little Butt heavy, the floating chamber require frequent and thorough cleaning, and the adjustment of the bolt is different, not hard, just different. But they are good old walnut and steel Winchesters.

The SX-1 was the last "Real" WInchester Shotgun in the opinion of many. It is gas operated and hell for strong. The Buffer needs to be replaced before you shoot it as the originals degraded very quickly, and there are some other minor improved replacement parts that it may need, improved trigger, bolt retaining spring, magazine tubes etc. Don't let this scare you off of one. The only thing you must have is the new buffer and they are cheap.

I own both, and I find I like the Model 50 better than the SX-1, however if I was planning to go out to the range every week for the rest of my life with one semi-auto it would be a SX-1.

Now my good friend Ole Cowboy will be by soon I expect to tell us what I missed

In the meantime go to the link below, and search around on the SX-1, for the rest of the story.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewforum.php?f=60&sid=593786e71359cbc5c6b654bb56bfb806

Dave, the Postoak covered it pretty well.
I have a good opinion of both guns.
You said it has a rib and fine burl wood. Does it have a pistol grip cap?
Describe the checkering pattern.

Don, I wish I could answer those questions. It is at the dealership, so I don't have it before me to answer that. I can tell you the rib is an oval post though. Not a very good answer at all on the checkering, but it looks to be standard Win. to me. Again, I know that is a poor answer. Can't remember if it had a grip cap or not.

Thanks for the responses.

With oval rib posts, it sounds like it may be a Simmons rib and should stamped as such on the left side of the rib.

The Model 50 was my first semi-auto 50-odd years ago.It kept going year after year, competition and hunting, without problems of any kind. Recoil so light it could be held one hand with stock along forearm and shot like a pistol. I gave it to my son, bought an 1100 and then found religion again with doubles. Your Dad's itch isn't a notion; he's right-on!

I have owned several of each model, and have found both to be very reliable guns, with the SX1 probably being the most reliable semi-automatic I have ever used. The M-50 is one of the softest recoiling guns of any type that I have seen, and except for its odd balance, Would make one of the best target guns around. There was a lightweight version of the M-50 with an aluminum receiver that is even more oddly balanced. I have never owned or used one of the M-59s, which was the lightweight version with a fiberglass barrel, because they felt so butt heavy. The SX1 is probably too heavy to make a good upland gun, but that is part of what makes it such a fine target gun. Be careful to inspect the movable chamber of any prospective M 50 since I have seen some with chambers badly pitted on the outside of the neck ares. I would expect that pitting to cause reliability problems.

Good information shared. I am sure he will own it. Thanks

Dad has the gun now and I just came back from seeing it. It has a metal pistol grip cap and the checkering is the same as his 1961 Model 12 Trap. I need to look up the ser. no. to determine the age, but it is 1083xx. The rib is marked Simmons, but there is the proof mark just to the left of the rib, right in front of the receiver. I had always heard and it may be wrong, but I had the story told that Win. sometimes or was it just some years, had Simmons sometimes but the ribs on for Win. I do know though, at least in Mod. 12's, there are MANY Mod. 12 trap guns that started out as field guns but had ribs and after market wood added later.

With the higher grade wood, the checkering that you describe and the metal pistol grip cap, It is most likely at Skeet or Trap Grade, depending on the barrel set up(length/choke).
I can't really say about the rib. The rib story between Winchester and Simmons is less than gin clear, at least to me.

Post pictures if you can. If not, email some to me.