Rifle · Proprietary · Not SAAMI standardized · Not standardizedObsolete
.40-50 Sharps
Lighter .40 caliber Sharps black powder cartridge for medium game and target use; the bottlenecked version was popular with hunters preferring the .40 bore for deer-sized game..
- Caliber
- 0.403″ · 10.236 mm
- Introduced
- 1869
- Case
- Rimmed
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Discontinued
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Introduced
- 1869
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Sharps Rifle Company
- Manufacturer
- Sharps
- Standard
- Proprietary · Not SAAMI standardized · Not standardized
- SAAMI
- Not SAAMI standardized
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Status
- Discontinued
- Availability
- Rare
- Case capacity
- 92 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:17
- Primer
- Berdan Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 22,000 CUP, SAAMI crusher
- Eff. range
- 200 yd
- Max range
- 3500 yd
- Recoil
- 4.8–7.3 ft·lb
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .40-50 Sharps, so this is the shape gravity alone gives the advertised velocity. Drag would steepen it. The tool below solves real loads through their published G1 or G7 model.
Open in Ballistic Compare- Parent case
- —
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
Cartridges of the World · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 10.24 | 0.403 | ~ |
| Neck ⌀ | 10.77 | 0.424 | |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 12.42 | 0.489 | |
| Shoulder angle | 15° | — | |
| Base ⌀ | 12.72 | 0.501 | |
| Rim ⌀ | 14.73 | 0.580 | |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 2.03 | 0.080 | ~ |
| Neck length | 5.37 | 0.211 | |
| Case length | 69.09 | 2.720 | ~ |
| Overall length | 81.79 | 3.220 | ~ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .40-50 Sharps is highlighted below.
Missing a dimension for .40-50 Sharps? Some case measurements aren't in a published SAAMI/CIP drawing yet. Have a factory or reamer print? Send it → — verified hard-to-find data earns a free Lindcott sticker.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Lineage
Connected reference
History
The lightest of the .40 Sharps family, the .40-50 was chambered in Sharps single-shot rifles for deer hunting and target use. Like the .40-70, it came in both straight (SN) and bottlenecked (BN) versions. Less powerful than the buffalo-hunting calibers, it was favored by hunters who valued lower recoil for smaller game.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .40-50 Sharps use?
- .40-50 Sharps typically uses a 1:17 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .40-50 Sharps?
- .40-50 Sharps uses a 0.403″ (10.236 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .40-50 Sharps still in production?
- .40-50 Sharps is discontinued; typical availability is rare.
- What is .40-50 Sharps used for?
- .40-50 Sharps is primarily used for hunting.
Sources & provenance
- Reference F+W Media (W. Todd Woodard) — Cartridges of the World, 14th ed. — W. Todd Woodard, pp. 586 (.40-50 Sharps Bottleneck) · velocity, bullet ⌀, grain weights
- Secondary Wikipedia (pointer to Woodard & Guns of the World) — .40-50 Sharps · year archived
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →
