Springfield 1861 Musket Riffle

One of the many riffles used during the Civil War, the Springfield was one of the most commonly used by union soldiers.

This was a single shot, muzzle-loading gun that used the percussion cap firing mechanism. It had a rifled barrel, and fired the .58 caliber minié ball.

Approximately 1.5 million Springfield Riffles had been produced by the end of the civil war.

These riffles were more accurate than the smooth bore muskets used previously.

Sources: Wikipedia

 Bilby, Joseph (2005). Civil War Firearms: Their Historical Background and Tactical Use. Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0-306-81459-4.