Bertram 50-140 Sharps Brass

Important: This listing is for new, unprimed brass cartridge cases only. It is not loaded ammunition and contains no primer, powder, or projectile.

Why Choose Bertram .50-140 Sharps Brass?

• New-production brass for a specialized single-shot rifle cartridge
• Correctly headstamped for easier identification and recordkeeping
• Manufactured by Bertram in Australia
• Imported and supported in the United States by Desert Tech Munitions

Cartridge History

The .50-140 Sharps is the modern commercial designation used for a .50-caliber 3¼-inch straight case offered in heavy reproduction and custom Sharps-pattern rifles.

As with the .45-120, popular accounts often blur modern commercial naming with nineteenth-century Sharps factory history. This product page identifies the case by the current chamber designation and its 3¼-inch length without claiming a disputed original factory lineage.

Understanding the Cartridge Name

Many nineteenth-century American black-powder cartridge names use a caliber-and-charge convention. The first number identifies the nominal bullet caliber, while the second commonly identifies a nominal charge of black powder in grains. This convention is historical terminology, not a modern loading recommendation.

Rifles Commonly Chambered

• Modern Sharps-pattern rifles specifically chambered for .50-140 3¼-inch
• Current C. Sharps Arms rifles offered in the 3¼-inch Sharps Straight chambering
• Custom heavy single-shot rifles with a verified matching chamber

Compatibility warning: Similar cartridge names and rifle models do not establish interchangeability. Verify the complete chamber designation and case length before ordering components.

Product and Reference Specifications

Nominal case length identifies the current commercial chambering. It does not replace inspection of the actual component, chamber, dies, or firearm.

Black Powder Cartridge Shooting Notes

• Inspect every case before use
• Check case length, mouth condition, primer pocket, and flash hole
• Size, expand, chamfer, and deburr as required by the rifle, chamber, bullet, and loading tools
• Maintain consistent case preparation and fouling-control practices
• Use reputable published information for the exact cartridge and firearm

Loading note: Historical cartridge names and nominal powder-charge numbers are not load recipes. Component selection, powder type, bullet design, compression, and safe charge development require cartridge-specific published guidance.

Why Buy from Desert Tech Munitions?

• Authorized U.S. Bertram distributor
• U.S. inventory and domestic shipping when available
• Direct working relationship with Bertram
• Knowledgeable support for rare and specialty cartridge brass
• Dealer and OEM programs for qualified buyers

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this loaded ammunition?

No. This listing is for new, unprimed brass cartridge cases only.

Does the second number tell me how much powder to load?

No. It reflects a historical nominal black-powder charge used in the cartridge's name. It is not modern loading data.

Can this brass be used with smokeless powder?

Powder selection depends on the exact cartridge, firearm, and authoritative published data. Never infer a smokeless load from a historical black-powder designation.

Should new cases be sized before loading?

Inspect every case. Sizing or expanding may be appropriate to establish correct shape and neck tension for the specific chamber, bullet, and loading tools.

Why must I verify case length?

Several cartridges share similar caliber-and-charge names. The complete chamber designation and nominal case length help distinguish cartridges that are not interchangeable.