Rifle · Proprietary · Not SAAMI standardized · Not standardizedObsolete
.44-77 Sharps
Popular Sharps and Remington single-shot target and buffalo hunting cartridge; the 77-grain powder charge was a long-range favorite among buffalo hunters before the .44-90 superseded it..
- Caliber
- 0.446″ · 11.328 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
- 80.7 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:20
- Primer
- Boxer Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 22,000 CUP, SAAMI crusher
- Eff. range
- 400 yd
- Max range
- 3900 yd
- Recoil
- 20.9–22.6 ft·lb
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .44-77 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.
mixed/other · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 11.33 | 0.446 | · |
| Neck ⌀ | 11.86 | 0.467 | ~ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 12.75 | 0.502 | ~ |
| Shoulder angle | 15° | — | |
| Base ⌀ | 13.11 | 0.516 | · |
| Rim ⌀ | 15.88 | 0.625 | · |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.65 | 0.065 | ~ |
| Neck length | 11.69 | 0.460 | |
| Case length | 57.15 | 2.250 | · |
| Overall length | 77.47 | 3.050 | ~ |
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. .44-77 Sharps is highlighted below.
Missing a dimension for .44-77 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.
Firearms chambered in .44-77 Sharps
Lineage
Connected reference
History
One of the most successful long-range Sharps black powder cartridges of the 1870s, the .44-77 was popular at the Creedmoor long-range matches and among professional buffalo hunters. Came in both bottleneck (BN) and straight (SN) versions. Largely superseded by the .44-90 for extreme range work but remained popular through the early 1880s.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .44-77 Sharps use?
- .44-77 Sharps typically uses a 1:20 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .44-77 Sharps?
- .44-77 Sharps uses a 0.446″ (11.328 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .44-77 Sharps still in production?
- .44-77 Sharps is discontinued; typical availability is rare.
- What is .44-77 Sharps used for?
- .44-77 Sharps is primarily used for hunting.
Sources & provenance
- Manufacturer Buffalo Arms — 44-77 Sharps Bottle Neck 385 Grain Black Powder Ammunition (for C. Sharps Arms Rifles) · bullet ⌀, grain weights archived
- Reference Gun Digest Books — Cartridges of the World (Frank C. Barnes) · year, grain weights, bullet ⌀, velocity
- Secondary Black Powder Cartridge — Dissecting a .44-77 · velocity, grain weights 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 →
