Originally Posted by EvilTwin
It has been a matter of great curiousity for me as to why Winchester didn't use a different twist in the 1885 High Wall vs. the 1886 levergun OTHER THAN the expense of two sets of tooling. The 45/90 had a rather good rep as both a fine LR comp. cartridge AND a big critter killer using heavy slugs.


Because the 45-90 winchester and the 45-90 sharps are two different creatures. The Winchester version was as Brent said,shows signs that magumitis isn't a new invention. It was an attempt to get more velocity and flatter shooting from the 86 wincester. Hence the OAL of 2.6, so they used he 2.4 case but seated a 300 gr bullet deep enough to keep the oal short enough to cycle thru the 86.
By the time of the 85 and 86 introduction , long range shooting was disappearing fast, and the attention of the hunting community was geared more to deer and other light game,the need for long range heavy hitters wasn't there.
The bigger question is why Sharps did not agree to sell the manufacturing rights to Winchester, when they folded for the last time.


the most expensive bullet there is isn't worth a plug nickel if it don't go where its supposed to.
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