Loading a cartidge in a 1874 Sharps

[sharpsshooter1874]

Well, I sold my 1863 Sharps in order to move into shooting a 1874.  I bought a EMF Hartford, couldn't pass up the bargain.

I have what I think are very simple questions, but either they haven't been asked or I can't figure out the search parameters to find them.

How is the cartridge loaded in relation to the extractor?  Do you load it past the extractor and then closing the breech it snaps over the rim of the cartridge or do you load it up to the extractor and closing the breech brings the cartridge forward?

One other question is, do you always pull the hammer back to half cock before loading another round?

[Ray Newman]

I ‘dunno’ ‘bout EMFs.

On my Shiloh Sharps M 1874, .45-2.4" (AKA .45-90), the rim of the loaded round catches on the extractor & pulls it forward into the extractor cut on the barrel when you thumb seat the round into the chamber.

Always pull the hammer back to “half cock” or safe position. This allows the firing pin to retract. Otherwise, you could shear off the firing pin upon lowering the block.…

[sharpsshooter1874]

Thank you for the reply.