.50-90 Sharps

.50-90 Sharps
.50-90 Sharps cartridges
TypeRifle
Place of originUnited States
Service history
Used byUnited States
Production history
DesignerSharps Rifle Manufacturing Company
Designed1872
ManufacturerSharps Rifle Manufacturing Company
Produced1872–1876
Variants.50-100, .50-110
Specifications
Parent case.50 Basic
Case typeRimmed, straight
Bullet diameter.512 in (13.0 mm)
Neck diameter.528 in (13.4 mm)
Shoulder diameter.528 in (13.4 mm)
Base diameter.585 in (14.9 mm)
Rim diameter.663 in (16.8 mm)
Case length2.50 in (64 mm)
Overall length3.20 in (81 mm)
Primer typeLarge rifle
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
365 gr (24 g) FN 1,814 ft/s (553 m/s) 2,668 ft⋅lbf (3,617 J)
440 gr (29 g) FN 1,749 ft/s (533 m/s) 2,989 ft⋅lbf (4,053 J)
550 gr (36 g) FN 1,448 ft/s (441 m/s) 2,561 ft⋅lbf (3,472 J)
Source(s): Accurate black powder[1]

The .50-90 Sharps, also known as the .50-212" Sharps, is a black-powder rifle cartridge that was introduced by Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company in 1872 as a buffalo (American bison) hunting round. Like other large black-powder rounds, it incorporates a heavy bullet and a large powder volume, leading to high muzzle energies.

  1. ^ Accurate Smokeless Powders Loading Guide Number Two (Revised), Accurate Arms Co., Wolfe Publishing, 2000, p. 368