[fso301]

Custer was offered a battery of Gatling guns, which he declined. Given the terrain and how slow Gatling guns travel, that was a reasonable decision on Custer’s part. Nevertheless, it makes for yet another interesting “what if”.

Rather than using single shot rifles, arming the men with repeating rifles would have had greater effect.

[Macho MAGA Man]

(Rather than using single shot rifles, arming the men with repeating rifles would have had greater effect.)

That much is true. The single shot Springfield the 7th were using had a tendency to get hot causing the shell casing to get stuck in the breach when trying to eject.

[Leaning Right]

> Rather than using single shot rifles, arming the men with repeating rifles would have had greater effect. <

Thanks. I never saw that argument made. So I just looked it up. By golly, you’re right. Custer’s men were armed with the single shot Springfield Model 1873. Many of the Indians actually had repeating rifles!

https://www.guns.com/news/2011/12/31/model-1873-springfield-trapdoor-carbine-custers-cavalrys-achilles-heel

[Flag_This]

”Rather than using single shot rifles, arming the men with repeating rifles would have had greater effect.”

That decision was made much higher up the food chain. Ordnance dept regarded repeating rifles as wasteful of ammunition, despite their performance during the Civil War.

Personally, I would love to have a reproduction 1873 Springfield carbine.