buffalo rifle

{{Infobox weapon

| name = Buffalo rifle

| image = File:Shiloh Sharps 1874 Hartford 50 90 Rifle.jpg

| image_size = 300

| alt =

| caption = The Sharps Model 1874 rifle in the .50-90 Sharps cartridge

| type = Hunting Rifle

| origin = United States

| is_ranged = yes

| is_bladed =

| is_explosive =

| is_artillery =

| is_vehicle =

| is_missile =

| is_UK =

| service =

| used_by =

| wars =

| designer =

| design_date =

| manufacturer =

| unit_cost =

| production_date =

| number =

| variants =

| spec_label =

| mass =

| length =

| part_length =

| width =

| height =

| diameter =

| crew =

| passengers =

| cartridge =

| cartridge_weight =

| caliber =

| barrels =

| action =

| rate =

| velocity =

| range =

| max_range =

| feed =

| sights =

| ref =

}}

Buffalo rifle generally refers to large-calibre, generally single-shot black powder cartridge firearms which were used to hunt American Bison to near-extinction in the late-19th Century. Three types of rifles in particular were used by professional bison hunters, namely the Sharps rifle with a 90, 100 or 110 grain powder load, the Springfield Rifle and the Remington No.1 rifle otherwise known simply as the Rolling block.{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Clint |title=Buffalo Rifles of the Frontier |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_10_47/ai_78130019/ |work=Guns Magazine |date=Oct 2001 |accessdate=19 September 2010 }} The Sharps was the favorite among hunters because of its accuracy at long range.{{cite web |last=Venturino |first=Mike |title=The buffalo hunters and their rifles: image polishing and myth busting |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_8_52/ai_n16498986/?tag=rbxcra.2.a.22 |work=Guns Magazine |date=August 2006 |accessdate=19 September 2010 }}