What is the difference between the Winchester and the Sharps 50 cals?  What is the difference between the 50-90 and the 50-100 and the 50-110?  I've read the bullet weights make the difference, and that the case length makes the difference.

The Winchester case is an entirely different diameter.

There are essentially 3 different sizes of cases, and many different lengths.

The .50-70 is a distinctive case size, not the same as the others.

The sharps sizes are the biggest in diameter, and come in several different lengths.  The .50-95 winchester shares the same size brass body, but has a different rim size than the Sharps.  But, it can be made from the sharps brass by turning the rims.

The .50-110 is a distinctive size all it's own.  The only brass it shares a size with is .348 or .50 Alaskan, both of which were developed originally as wildcats or "children" of the .50-110.

Starline makes brass for the .50-70, .50-90 Sharps, .50 Alaskan and .50-110.    Captech (Jamison Int.) makes .50-110 Winchester and .50-140 Sharps brass, and .50-90 Sharps and .50-95 Winchester.   

You have to use dies for the appropriate diameter cases, although you can cheat and use one set of  dies for the .50 Sharps of different lengths, one set for the .50 Alaskan and .50-110, and you have to have .50-70 dies for that cartridge.

My personal preference in the .50's is the .50-70 for low power loads, and the .50-110 and .50 Alaskan for more powerful cartridges.  I don't really have a preference between the three, I have all of them.

dave

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