.50-140 Sharps

.50-140 Sharps
.50-140 Sharps cartridges
Type	Blackpowder Rifle
Place of origin	USA
Service history
Used by	USA
Production history
Designed	1884
Produced	1884
Specifications
Parent case	.50 Basic
Case type	Rimmed, straight-taper
Bullet diameter	.512 in (13.0 mm)
Neck diameter	.529 in (13.4 mm)
Shoulder diameter	.529 in (13.4 mm)
Base diameter	.551 in (14.0 mm)
Rim diameter	.652 in (16.6 mm)
Case length	3.25 in (83 mm)
Overall length	3.95 in (100 mm)
Primer type	Large rifle
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 638 gr (41 g) FN 1,413 ft/s (431 m/s) 2,829 ft⋅lbf (3,836 J)
Test barrel length: 30" Source(s): The Complete Blackpowder Handbook

The .50-140 Sharps rifle cartridge is a black powder cartridge that was introduced in 1884 as a big game hunting round.

This round was introduced by Winchester 3 years after the Sharps Rifle Company closed its doors in 1881. It is similar to, though larger than, the .50-90 Sharps.

Specifications

Bullet diameter was typically .512" (13.0 mm).

Bullet weights ranged from 600 grains to 700 grains were used.

The powder charge was typically 140 grains of black powder. Modern substitutes such as Pyrodex can be used, although one must remember that pyrodex is less dense than black powder, and therefore maximum charges will weigh less.

History

The .50-140 was created specifically with big game hunting in mind. However, this cartridge was introduced about the time that the last of the great buffalo herds had been destroyed. An obsolete round, ammunition is not produced by any major manufacturer although reloading components and brass can be bought.

Rifles are produced on an infrequent basis by a few companies. The rifles are typically used for buffalo hunting and reenactments. Occasionally the .50-140 is used in vintage competitions, but it produces more recoil than other old-time cartridges such as the .45-70, and so is used less frequently.

References

• Accurate Smokeless Powders Loading Guide Number Two (Revised), Book by Accurate Arms Co, Wolfe Publishing, 2000 p. 371