| .50-90 Sharps | ||
|---|---|---|
.50-90 Sharps cartridges |
||
| Type | Blackpowder Rifle | |
| Place of origin | USA | |
| Service history | ||
| Used by | USA | |
| Production history | ||
| Designer | Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company | |
| Designed | 1872 | |
| Manufacturer | Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company | |
| Produced | 1875 | |
| Variants | .50-100, .50-110 | |
| Specifications | ||
| Parent case | .50 Basic | |
| Case type | Rimmed, straight-taper | |
| Bullet diameter | .512 in (13.0 mm) | |
| Neck diameter | .528 in (13.4 mm) | |
| Shoulder diameter | .528 in (13.4 mm) | |
| Base diameter | .585 in (14.9 mm) | |
| Rim diameter | .663 in (16.8 mm) | |
| Case length | 2.50 in (64 mm) | |
| Overall length | 3.20 in (81 mm) | |
| Primer type | Large rifle | |
| Ballistic performance | ||
| Bullet weight/type | Velocity | Energy |
| 365 gr (23.7 g) FN | 1,814 ft/s (553 m/s) | 2,668 ft·lbf (3,617 J) |
| 440 gr (29 g) FN | 1,749 ft/s (533 m/s) | 2,989 ft·lbf (4,053 J) |
| 550 gr (36 g) FN | 1,448 ft/s (441 m/s) | 2,561 ft·lbf (3,472 J) |
| Source(s): Accurate black powder [1] | ||
The .50-90 Sharps rifle cartridge is a black powder cartridge that was introduced by Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company in 1872 as a buffalo (American bison) hunting round. Like other large black powder rounds, it incorporates a heavy bullet and a large powder volume, leading to high muzzle energies.
The .50-90 Sharps is similar to the .50-100 Sharps and .50-110 Sharps cartridges. While all three use the same 2.5-inch (64 mm) case, the latter two use lighter, smaller bullets weighing from 335 grains to 400 grains (whereas the 50-90 was 600 grains) making them deal less damage but they have a larger powder load (the second number is a measurement of powder)so they can shoot flatter. While all rifles made for the .50-90 Sharps should be able to use the two smaller bullets due to near identical dimensions, the use of larger powder loads with small bullets will greatly reduce damage.
Bullet diameter was typically 0.512 inches (13.0 mm) diameter. Bullets weighed from 335 to 700 grains (21.7 to 45 g). Historical loads using black powder have muzzle energy in the 1,630 to 1,985 foot-pounds force (2,210 to 2,691 J) range,[2] while modern loads using smokeless powder give 2,561 to 2,989 foot-pounds force (3,472 to 4,053 J) of energy.[1]
The .50-90 was created specifically with buffalo hunting in mind. The buffalo is a large animal and rather difficult to take down reliably, thus leading to a demand for specific cartridges designed for buffalo hunting. At the time of its invention, there were no special powders or bullet types and the knowledge of ballistics was fairly limited. Thus, when trying to create a more effective big game cartridge, the designers simply expanded the dimensions of prior cartridges.[3]
Billy Dixon used a Sharps .50-90 at the Second Battle of Adobe Walls on June 27, 1874 to make his legendary 1538 yard shot.[4][5]
Today the round is obsolete. Ammunition is no longer mass produced by any manufacturer. Brass and bullets are produced, but loaded ammunition must either come from a custom shop or be handloaded. Rifles are produced only as semi-custom by a few companies. Rifles in this caliber are typically used for buffalo hunting and reenactments. Occasionally .50-90 rifles are used for vintage competitions, but the commercial availability of other contemporary cartridges such as .45-70 makes them much more popular.