User's Guide

SHARPS – USER’S MANUAL
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Loading a percussion Sharps:
Percussion Sharps was one of the most popular firearms of the ante-cartridge period.
One of the reason for its great popularity undoubtedly was the fact that this model had a substantial reduction of
gas escape after shooting.
Christian Sharps invented an innovative system, a floating chamber inserted into the cartridge chamber. This
floating chamber moved backward during explosion, due to the gas pressure created by the shot, while the breech
block was sealed, not allowing gases to escape from the breech.
Some minor gas escapes are of course acceptable (the improvement compared to a classic muzzle loading gun was
really consistent).
There are three different systems to load a percussion Sharps.
The first one uses lead bullets and black powder (Pict. 1 ), the second paper cartridges (Pict. 2) while the third one
uses specific reloadable brass shells (Pict. 3).
First system:
 Before you start loading, check to ensure that the barrel is free of obstructions .
 Remove any oil or grease residues inside the barrel with rod and patch.
 It is always useful after cleaning the barrel to point it in a safe direction and shoot with the primer only
one or two shots to verify the nipple is not obstructed and to dry the barrel from oil residues.
 Put the hammer in half cock
 Open the breech block
 Insert a lead bullet in the cartridge chamber.
 Push it with a rod till it reaches the beginning of the rifling and it is stabilized in the cartridge chamber.
 Point the gun in a safe direction.
 Pour a measure of powder in the chamber.
 The maximum powder load poured into the chamber should not exceed 60 grains for .45 caliber and 80
grains for .54 caliber (the grains indicated are referred to Swiss black powder nr.3).
 Be sure that the chamber is completely filled up with powder so that there are no empty spaces between
powder and bullet.
 The black powder capacity indicated may vary based on the bullet dimension/shape.
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3