451- Thanks for the correction on Scovil's rifle. I knew Turnbull did the restoration, but didn't know it was re-barrreled. Even the Sharps rifles had too slow a twist for long range shooting with the 450gr. and 500gr. PP bullets. Although stabil on paper out to 300yards or so, they fialed to maintain accuracy much beyond that range. At 36", their twist was too slow. This is why the .50/90 Sharps had a poor reputation for long range shooting (past about 350 yards). Had Sharps put a 24" twist on it, it would have taken buff at 500 or further, just like the .40's and .45's & would have maintained it's popularity longer. Many buff hunters still preferred it. My .50 Alaskan, with a 24" twist and 550gr. bullets gave me a 10 shot group of under 10" at a taped off 450 yards, using lead bullets, BPowder, tang rear and blade front sight, elbow rest off the truck's hood.
; Crescent butts can be a pain. Of course, the English shotgun-butt is the best for kickers that don't have big soft Chinese pillows on them for pads.