Lindcott Armory Rifle · Obsolete
.45-90 Sharps
Long-range buffalo and target cartridge loaded with 90 grains of black powder behind a large .45-caliber lead bullet.
- Caliber
- 0.458″ · 11.633 mm
- Introduced
- 1877
- Case
- Rimmed
- Parent
- .45-70 Government
- Primary use
- Hunting, Target
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1877
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Sharps Rifle Company
- Manufacturer
- Various (Starline brass, custom loads)
- Standard
- Obsolete
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Limited
- Case capacity
- 90 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:20
- Primer
- Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 22,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 500 yd
- Max range
- 1500 yd
- Recoil
- 12–18 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
- Parent case
- .45-70 Government
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Performance
Buy links open .45-90 Sharps ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
Wikipedia · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 11.63 | 0.458 | · |
| Neck ⌀ | 12.19 | 0.480 | ~ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 12.83 | 0.505 | · |
| Rim ⌀ | 15.44 | 0.608 | · |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.78 | 0.070 | ~ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 60.96 | 2.400 | · |
| Overall length | 72.39 | 2.850 | ~ |
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. .45-90 Sharps is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 5 active loads across 5 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 20 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grizzly | WC | 300 | WFNGC | 1,470 | 1,439 | — |
| Jamison International | Cowboy | 300 | FP | 1,470 | 1,439 | — |
| Buffalo Arms | Lead FP Reproduction | 300 | Lead FP | 1,350 | 1,214 | — |
| Ultramax | Lead FP | 300 | Lead FP | 1,350 | 1,214 | — |
| Ten-X Ammunition | Lead FP | 300 | Lead FP | 1,350 | 1,214 | — |
| Graf & Sons | Graf Heritage | 300 | Lead FP | 1,500 | 1,499 | — |
| Black Hills | BH Cowboy | 300 | Lead FP | 1,500 | 1,499 | — |
| Bertram | Antique | 300 | FMJ | 1,460 | 1,420 | — |
| Old Western Scrounger | Replica | 300 | Lead FP | 1,460 | 1,420 | — |
| Winchester | Lead FP | 300 | Lead FP | 1,350 | 1,214 | — |
| U.S. Cartridge Co. | Lead FP | 300 | Lead FP | 1,350 | 1,214 | — |
| UMC | Lead FP | 300 | Lead FP | 1,350 | 1,214 | — |
| Graf | FMJ Standard | 550 | Lead Round Nose | 1,200 | 1,758 | — |
| Doubletap | Hardcast | 550 | Lead Round Nose | 1,200 | 1,758 | — |
| HSM Ammunition | Cowboy | 550 | Lead Round Nose | 1,200 | 1,758 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Suitable powders
1 reloading powder listed for .45-90 Sharps, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
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 .45-90 Sharps
12 models in the database chamber .45-90 Sharps. Browse all →
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Developed in 1877 for the Sharps Model 1877 and Model 1878 Borchardt rifles. Used extensively during the buffalo hunting era of the 1870s–1880s. Popular in long-range target competition where shooters engaged targets to 1,000 yards with black powder. The cartridge remains active today in reproduction Sharps and Remington rolling-block rifles for black-powder Silhouette and long-range competitions.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .45-90 Sharps use?
- .45-90 Sharps typically uses a 1:20 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .45-90 Sharps?
- .45-90 Sharps uses a 0.458″ (11.633 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .45-90 Sharps still in production?
- .45-90 Sharps is active; typical availability is limited.
- What is .45-90 Sharps used for?
- .45-90 Sharps is primarily used for hunting, target.
- What is .45-90 Sharps based on?
- .45-90 Sharps is derived from the .45-70 Government case.
- What are the best powders for .45-90 Sharps?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for .45-90 Sharps include IMR 3031.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 5 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →