44-90

[Mugs]

In some shooting stuff I came buy is a set of RCBS 44-90 dies. I can find 45-90 and 50-90 info but nothing on 44-90. Anyone know anything about it.
Mugs

[Bigjohn]

Apparently there is more than one .44/90 cartridge according to the 8th edition of 'Cartridges of the World'.

Both are bottle neck cases; .44/90 Remington Special, case length 2 7/16" made for the Remington rolling block 'Creedmore' Series about 1873.

.44/90 Sharps Necked, case length 2 5/8" made for the Sharps 'Creedmore' Series and listed in catalogue as early as June 1873.

The SPG Reloading Handbook lists the Sharps cartridge; boolit diam. .446" approx 414 grains in weight 1/40 tin/lead.
90 grains FFg; Federal 215 LRM Primer, .030" card wad and 3.30" oal.

Cases can be formed from 43 Spanish cases.

Sharps are apparently still offering it as a chambering in their rifles.

That is about all I can tell you.

Best of luck,

John

[Mugs]

Bigjohn
Thanks, there is a S after the 44-90. Looks like 44-90 Sharps.
Mugs

[Bigjohn]

Mugs, even if you don't plan on buying a rifle in that calibre don't be too quick about moving them (dies) on to another. As a friend of mine says, "Other than a little bit of space, they won't eat anything sitting there on the shelf."

You never know when they may come in handy, if you happen to buy a rifle, someone has something to trade or even if your get an opportunity to shoot a rifle in that calibre.

I has proved very handy for me to hang on to something I had no need for.

John.

[montana_charlie]

I'm not a researcher of history on the Sharps rifles, but I have read posts by others who are. I seem to remember reading that the .44/90 was one of the more popular calibers among the buffalo runners.
CM

[hydraulic]

Isn't .44-90 the same as the .44-77, only longer? Custer had a Remington in one or the other. Supposedly, it's the rifle in the corner in the famous Autie and Libby at home at Fort Lincoln picture.

[Abert Rim]

Mugs: As a set of those dies from RCBS currently runs close to $300 retail, do not let them go too cheap, assuming they are in fact for the .44 2 5/8 SBN. Shiloh currently chambers this caliber in their Model 1874s. This cartridge was used in the famous Creedmoor match of 1874 in which the Americans, shooting Sharps and Remington rolling block rifles, barely beat the Irish team shooting Rigby muzzleloaders at 800, 900 and 1,000. Sharps authority Frank Sellers said it was in fact very well thought of among the hide hunters until the big, straight-cased .45s took over in the later 1870s.