OT - 45-90 Winchester or 45-90 Sharps

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:59 pm

Is the 45-90 Winchester the same cartridge as the 45-90 Sharps, or also known as 2.4" Sharps.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:52 pm

Law Dawg,
They are the same case but with different bullet weights and different rifling twists in their barrels. The 45-90 WCF used a 300 gr. weight as standard with a 1-32 twist, while the Sharps used 450-550 gr. weights with a 1-21 twist (I think 1-21). Below, in the pic are original cartridges from the late 1870's for the Sharps and around 1905 for the Winchester. Notice the case length and the bullet length.----------Sixgun

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:53 pm

Now days they're pretty much the same case. Back in the day there was some differences. Mainly the winchester used a 350 gr bullet seated deep enough to cycle thru the 86 action.

The Sharps didn't worry about feather weight bullets and short col necessities.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:06 pm

Thanks guys. I was looking at some blackpowder ammunition and there was two different listings for 45-90. One was 300 grainers for Winchester and 405 to 535 for the Sharps. I thought the rounds were the same but it got me thinking and, well, you see where that led me.