User's Guide

SHARPS – USER’S MANUAL
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Loading a Sharps cartridge model:
Cartridge Sharps means a rifle using metal cartridges with primer commonly on sale.
That being stated, it’s good to remind that such guns were produced as copies of percussion Sharps that we have
previously described.
These rifles were copies of those designed for use with black powder or Pyrodex or other shooting powders
approved to substitute black powder.
Cartridges with different powders may be employed only if they have bursting pressures absolutely equal to that
of black powder.
The guarantee is not valid in case commercial cartridge cases are used, which have been self-
reloaded with powders that are not permitted.
Loading instruction:
 Before loading check the barrel for possible obstructions.
 Clean the barrel with a cotton patch to remove any oil or grease residues.
 Aim the gun in a safe direction.
 Place the hammer in half cock (safety position) and open the lever; if hammer would be fully down, the
firing pin would protrude out of the block and moving the lever and consequently the block, you could easily
brake or bend it; furthermore if hammer would be in full cock, once cartridge is inserted in the chamber and
the block closed, you would risk to accidentally shoot the ammo.
 Insert cartridge of the proper caliber.
 The cartridge has to sleeve easily inside the chamber.
 DO NOT FORCE THE CARTRIDGE DURING CHAMBERING.
 DO NOT LOAD DIFFERENT CALIBER AMMUNITIONS THAN WHAT MARKED ON THE BARREL.
 If cartridge doesn’t enter easily in the chamber, remove it and check the cartridge chamber is not obstructed
or ruined.
 Check the cartridge is of correct caliber and dimension
 Do not use ammunition with protruding primer, you risk to accidentally shoot the ammo when closing the
breech block.
 With cartridge chambered and the gun aiming in a safe direction, close the breech block.
 Now aim at your target and fully cock the hammer and shoot.
As to reloaded cartridges, we wish to point out that the Sharps rifle has been designed and manufactured for use
with black powder and similar (Pyrodex) only. As far as the loading is concerned, we suggest to use a loading
manual from specialized companies (for instance RCBS, Lyman, etc)