The reason people normally ordered the straight stock and crescent butt in the 1800's was because it was the standard and they couldn't afford a pricy shotgun butt with a pistol grip.

If you get a Sharps, C. Sharps and Shiloh make the best quality Sharps rifles on earth.

If you don't object to a .416 Rigby or a .458 Lott, most of the Sharps rifles are pretty mild by comparison. If you're able to tolerate 20 rounds per day from the .416 or .458 or .470 then go ahead and get any Sharps in any calibre you like. Remember most Sharps shooters DO NOT shoot an elephant blaster. Their "heavy" rifle is usually the Sharps.

Richard.