Springfield Model 1866
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The Springfield Model 1866 was the second iteration of the Erskine S. Allin designed trapdoor breech-loading mechanism. Originally developed as a means of converting rifled muskets to breechloaders, t
Springfield Model 1866 cadet rifle
Springfield Model 1866 breech
Closeup of the trapdoor mechanism
.50-70 Government
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The.50-70 Government, also known as the.50-70 Musket,.50-70 Springfield, and.50-1+3⁄4" Sharps is a black powder cartridge adopted in 1866 for the Springfield Model 1866 trapdoor rifle.
Springfield Model 1866
…affixed. About half of the rifles produced were shipped to Europe for use in the Franco-Prussian War. The rifle was chambered for the powerful centerfire .50-70-450 cartridge (.50 caliber 450-grain (29 g) bullet; 70 grains (4.5 g) of powder). Though a significant improvement over the extractor of the Model 1865…
.50-70 Government cartridge, note the hidden centrefire primer is held at the base internally by the cartridge crimps.