Lindcott Armory Rifle · Obsolete
.40-90 Sharps
Large Sharps cartridge for single-shot buffalo rifles of the 1870s–1880s.
- Introduced
- 1875
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Sharps Rifle Company
- Manufacturer
- Sharps Rifle Company
- Standard
- Obsolete
- Status
- Obsolete
- Availability
- Antique
- Bullet ⌀
- 0.403″
- Case length
- 3.25″
- Overall length
- 4.1″
- Base ⌀
- 0.508″
- Rim ⌀
- 0.66″
- Case capacity
- 90 gr H₂O
- Twist
- 1:18
- Primer
- Boxer Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimless
- Max pressure
- 22,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 200 yd
- Recoil
- 14–20 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
- Velocity
- 1,350–1,500 fps
- Energy
- 1,498–2,099 ft·lb
- Typical MSRP
- $1.00/rd · price history →
- Parent case
- —
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input, not a measured load.
Factory loads
In production — 4 active loads across 4 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 20 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC | $/rd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Western Scrounger | OWS Heritage | 300 | Lead FP | 1,500 | 1,499 | — | — |
| Graf & Sons | Graf Heritage | 300 | Lead FP | 1,500 | 1,499 | — | $0.70 |
| Black Hills | Black Hills Cowboy | 300 | Lead FP | 1,500 | 1,499 | — | $1.00 |
| Buffalo Arms | Buffalo BPCR | 300 | Lead FP | 1,500 | 1,499 | — | $2.80 |
| Winchester | Winchester Standard | 300 | LFP | 1,500 | 1,499 | — | — |
| Peters | Peters Standard | 300 | LFP | 1,500 | 1,499 | — | $0.85 |
| UMC | UMC Standard | 300 | LFP | 1,500 | 1,499 | — | $0.55 |
| Remington | Black Powder | 300 | LFP | 1,400 | 1,305 | — | — |
| Doubletap | Hardcast | 370 | Lead Round Nose | 1,350 | 1,497 | — | — |
| Jamison | Custom | 370 | Lead Round Nose | 1,350 | 1,497 | — | — |
| HSM Ammunition | Cowboy | 370 | Lead Round Nose | 1,350 | 1,497 | — | — |
| OWS | Standard | 370 | Lead Round Nose | 1,350 | 1,497 | — | — |
| Hirtenberger | Standard | 370 | Lead Round Nose | 1,350 | 1,497 | — | — |
| Fiocchi | Classic | 370 | Lead Round Nose | 1,350 | 1,497 | — | — |
| Graf | FMJ Standard | 370 | Lead Round Nose | 1,350 | 1,497 | — | $0.75 |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Dimensions
Reloading cost
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.
Firearms chambered in .40-90 Sharps
2 models in the database chamber .40-90 Sharps. Browse all →
Connected reference
History
Sharps Rifle Company's large-bore black powder cartridge from the 1870s, used by buffalo hunters on the Great Plains. Fires a 370-grain bullet propelled by 90 grains of black powder. An icon of the hide-hunting era; completely obsolete but reproduced for Sharps reproduction rifles.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .40-90 Sharps use?
- .40-90 Sharps typically uses a 1:18 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .40-90 Sharps?
- .40-90 Sharps uses a 0.403″ (10.2362 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .40-90 Sharps still in production?
- .40-90 Sharps is obsolete; typical availability is antique.
- What is .40-90 Sharps used for?
- .40-90 Sharps is primarily used for hunting.
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 4 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. Spotted an error? Report it →