DT
When I ordered my 22” round 50-95 barrel with 1/2 magazine, I asked for the groove for the magazine cap. The barrel maker said it did not have such a groove, the 50-95 1/2 magazine was a button magazine unless it was ordered with a 4 or 5 round magazine. I called another Winchester restoration expert, who also confirmed this. When I mentioned Pirkles book and statement, he said the book is wrong. He then suggested another author and expert, who I called and he said the same thing. Unless a larger magazine was ordered, they were button magazines. I called Bob Knapp to get the button cap and he too stated this fact.
If all 4 are wrong, so be it. But the 50-95 according to the barrel guys and 3 well respected and knowledgeable people all stated the 50-95’s had this arrangement unless capacity was changed. So that’s what I went with on my original 22” 50-95.
I also just look again at the book. He states that 1/2 magazine cap lightly protruded from the forearm cap, albeit slightly. Further, when he mentions the rounded cap, he does not say it was captured by the forearm cap, but it uses a tab and screw. This is for the extended capacity 1/2 magazines, I believe. He does not even mention the button style capture method within the Forearm cap itself . So, regardless, it does not contain all options. Which is my basic point. No author or single source can be the ultimate authority. So it is places like this and people with hands on experience who will supplement the information.
And I followed your thread. You have a nice rifle.
Jg