50-70 was considered a successful arm, some modifications were deemed to be in order. 50-70 and kept up a withering fire for some five hours, after which the Indians withdrew.Įven though the 1866 in. Unfortunately for them, the men were armed with new Model '66 Springfields chambered in. The Indians, used to going up against slower-firing muzzleloaders, attacked, expecting to be able to rush the defenders after they had expended their first round. After spotting Red Cloud's warriors, the soldiers created a defense by circling 14 wagons. James Powell, were serving as an escort for woodcutters gathering material for construction of the fort.
50-70.Īfter cocking the hammer, a soldier lifted up on the breech latch to free and open the "trapdoor." In 1867, a shorter Cadet Rifle appeared, but still no cavalry carbines, that role being handled by the thousands of Spencer repeaters still in the system and Sharps percussion carbines converted to. The block itself was also slightly modified by employing coil springs for both the firing pin and latch.ĭubbed the Model 1866, 25,000 of these rifles were turned out at Springfield using Model 1863 rifle muskets as platforms. Too, the old rack-and-pinion extractor was found to be lacking, and a new ejector, which involved a small spring-loaded stud set in the breech just behind the chamber, was adopted. A lighter carbine load featuring a 400-grain bullet and 45 to 50 grains of black powder was also issued, and, as might be expected, the velocity and muzzle energy were somewhat reduced. 58 rimfire and gave greater range and accuracy, though the muzzle energy was about the same (1,488 ft-lbs). This loading upped the velocity by 100 feet per second (to 1,260 fps) over that of the. 50 caliber to handle a new centerfire cartridge with a 450-grain lead bullet backed by 70 grains of black powder. The original muzzleloading barrels were sleeved with a liner of. Nicknamed the Needle Gun due to its long firing pin, some 5,000 of these Model 1865s were altered at Springfield before it was decided that some modifications in the mechanism and a reduction in caliber were warranted to further improve the gun's performance. Because of this, even the rear sight didn't have to be changed. 58-caliber copper rimfire cartridge that approximated the ballistics of the original muzzleloader's paper cartridge. The system was adopted in 1865, chambering a. This was music to the ears of thrifty Ordnance officials. All that is necessary is to cut away the barrel on the top at the breech and add the block and shell extractor, cut the recess in the breech-screw and modify the hammer. Allin explained, "It is particularly adapted to the alteration of the Springfield rifle musket, as it can be done without changing the feature of the musket or without throwing away any of its parts. Upon reopening the block, a rather complicated rack-and-pinion extractor ejected the spent case - fast, slick and easy.Īs well as being relatively efficient, the conversion allowed the maximum use of original parts. The block was then closed, the hammer put on full-cock and the rifle aimed and fired. It would then be rotated forward to expose the chamber for the insertion of a round. To open it, one half-cocked the hammer and pushed upward on a thumb latch to unlock the block. Basically, the system involved a breechblock that was attached to the top of the altered rifle musket barrel.