Rifle · Proprietary
.45-120 Sharps
The largest commercially produced Sharps .45 caliber cartridge; loaded with 120 grains of black powder.
- Caliber
- 0.4579″ · 11.63 mm
- Introduced
- 1878
- Case
- Rimmed
- Parent
- .45-110 Sharps
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Limited
- Introduced
- 1878
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Sharps Rifle Company
- Manufacturer
- Sharps
- Standard
- Proprietary
- Status
- Limited
- Availability
- Rare
- Case capacity
- 117.8 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:18
- Primer
- Berdan Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 22,000 CUP, SAAMI crusher
- Eff. range
- 600 yd
- Max range
- 4900 yd
- Recoil
- 26.4–30.4 ft·lb
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .45-120 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
- .45-110 Sharps
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.
CIP TDCC · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 11.63 | 0.458 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 12.22 | 0.481 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 12.84 | 0.506 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 15.44 | 0.608 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.78 | 0.070 | ✓ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 82.55 | 3.250 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 105.66 | 4.160 | ~ |
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. .45-120 Sharps is highlighted below.
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 .45-120 Sharps
Lineage
Connected reference
History
The most powerful of the commercial Sharps .45 caliber cartridges, the .45-120 used a 3.25-inch case — the longest in the Sharps lineup. Originally developed for extreme long-range use, it remains available today from specialty manufacturers for Shiloh, C. Sharps Arms, and other Sharps replica shooters who compete in long-range silhouette and black powder matches.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .45-120 Sharps use?
- .45-120 Sharps typically uses a 1:18 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .45-120 Sharps?
- .45-120 Sharps uses a 0.4579″ (11.63 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .45-120 Sharps still in production?
- .45-120 Sharps is limited; typical availability is rare.
- What is .45-120 Sharps used for?
- .45-120 Sharps is primarily used for hunting.
- What is .45-120 Sharps based on?
- .45-120 Sharps is derived from the .45-110 Sharps case.
Sources & provenance
- Manufacturer Buffalo Arms — 45-120 (45X3 1/4") Sharps Black Powder Ammunition 535 Grain Lead · bullet ⌀, grain weights archived
- Reference Gun Digest Books — Cartridges of the World (Frank C. Barnes) · grain weights, bullet ⌀, year, velocity
- Secondary Bob Shell (bobshellsblog.blogspot.com) — The 45-120 Rifle · 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 →
