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Army Rifle Used Was The Springfield Model 1873


QUOTE:

The Springfield Model 1873 was selected by the Army Ordnance Board after extensive testing in competition with other rifles. It was considered to be the most reliable rifle after multiple weathering tests. The choice of a single-shot rifle over repeat-firing rifles was the Army's choice to prevent overuse of ammunition, following its emphasis at that time on marksmanship, as well as the costs of transporting cartridges along a 1,000-mile (1,600 km) supply line. While Indian accounts of the Custer fight noted men throwing down their rifles, in panic or possibly anger, accounts of jammed Springfield carbines were not reported in other confrontations during the Indian Wars. The jamming could have been due to the men's lack of familiarity with the Springfields, as they had been issued only weeks before the Battle of the Little Bighorn.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Little_Bighorn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield_Model_1873

So the real villains for Custer's Last Stand were Army bean-counters.

Seems like some things never change.

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Archaeological digs discovered few indications of damaged cartridges. Volly firing would have overcome the slow reload aspect and the rifles were more accurate than the Winchesters. Custer in his writings talks about rifle practice and putting the best into a group of sharpshooters. Malnourishment and desertions seems to have be a problem due to poor rations and the prospect of gold mining but Custer never mentions it. He was very gung-ho! The Army was cheated by private firms supplying rations and the horses were also underfed and the poorest quality. Officers could buy their own mounts. Custer even had a apir of Scotch staghounds with him. .

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The Army issued copper casings instead of brass. When the firearm heated up after a couple of rounds the copper would expand and would not eject.

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At least one documentary on the Little Big Horn battle had people test Springfield carbines using copper shells. Indeed they did jam after about three shots.

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