Cascade1911
New member
Looking to pickup one of these two guns. My current BP experience is with a T/C Hawken. Which of the two do you all feel is better? Whats is a good value in a replica?
1853 Enfield or 1861 Springfield
- Thread starter Cascade1911
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zombieslayer
New member
Growing up here in the south, I'd rather have a replica Enfield. The gun my ancestors fought with.
Zombie, the north probably bought more Enfields than the south did. Southerners probably used as many Springfields as the north did.
I have a book somewhere with the Enfield purchase numbers for the north somewhere and it's way up there. My original made in 61 went to the northern army.
I have a book somewhere with the Enfield purchase numbers for the north somewhere and it's way up there. My original made in 61 went to the northern army.
bedbugbilly
New member
Cascade1911 - I would say that it depends on which one you like the best. If you are going to use it for reenacting, you are going to be limited to either the 3 band Enfield or the 3 band Springfield.
I have always liked the 1861 model. I used to shoot NSSA and I have used an original 1861 model as well as having the experience of shooting the 2 band Enfield, 3 band Enfield, Zouave and Mississippi Rifle. I used a friend's 3 band Enfield once in a long range shoot whre we shot targets up to 1000 meters. If you are just going to use it for a "shooter" - any of them are fun.
If I were to go back to shooting muskets, I would seriously look for a good 3 band Enfiield or a 2 band Enfield. I had an original Barnett Enfield and I enjoyed shooting that when I was a kid. I encourage you to handle and feel the two different models if you are considering them - there is a different feel to them. The only way that I can explain it is that to me, I feel that the Enfield has a little bit straighter buttstock and the forearm feels thinner than the Springfield model. The "comb" of the buttstock of the Enfield is lower and straighter. It really depends on what feels best to you.
The important thing when shooting the rifled musket is to get a minie that fis your bore well. You don't want a minie that is too much undeersize as it will "keyhole" when fired (tumble). You might be able to fire the minies just as they come from the mold or you might end up having to "size" them.
If you have had the opportunity to handle originals of the models that you are looking at, bear in mind that the repros will "feel" different. I have a 1855 repro that is basically the same as the 1861 with the exception of the Maynard Tape Primer door. It feels totally different than my original 1862 - the repro is heavier.
Both models are nice rifles and you may have other things that influence you as well such as what your Civil War ancestor may have used - as has been stated. Whichever one you choose, I think you will really enjoy shooting it as they are lots of fun. Good luck!
I have always liked the 1861 model. I used to shoot NSSA and I have used an original 1861 model as well as having the experience of shooting the 2 band Enfield, 3 band Enfield, Zouave and Mississippi Rifle. I used a friend's 3 band Enfield once in a long range shoot whre we shot targets up to 1000 meters. If you are just going to use it for a "shooter" - any of them are fun.
If I were to go back to shooting muskets, I would seriously look for a good 3 band Enfiield or a 2 band Enfield. I had an original Barnett Enfield and I enjoyed shooting that when I was a kid. I encourage you to handle and feel the two different models if you are considering them - there is a different feel to them. The only way that I can explain it is that to me, I feel that the Enfield has a little bit straighter buttstock and the forearm feels thinner than the Springfield model. The "comb" of the buttstock of the Enfield is lower and straighter. It really depends on what feels best to you.
The important thing when shooting the rifled musket is to get a minie that fis your bore well. You don't want a minie that is too much undeersize as it will "keyhole" when fired (tumble). You might be able to fire the minies just as they come from the mold or you might end up having to "size" them.
If you have had the opportunity to handle originals of the models that you are looking at, bear in mind that the repros will "feel" different. I have a 1855 repro that is basically the same as the 1861 with the exception of the Maynard Tape Primer door. It feels totally different than my original 1862 - the repro is heavier.
Both models are nice rifles and you may have other things that influence you as well such as what your Civil War ancestor may have used - as has been stated. Whichever one you choose, I think you will really enjoy shooting it as they are lots of fun. Good luck!
zombieslayer
New member
Noted. But the Enfields tend to be morw associated with the south and vise versa. The Britts stopped sending them to the south when it became clear that thr south was going to lose.
For your reading entertainment.
http://www.civilwarguns.com/enf2a1.html
http://www.civilwarguns.com/enf2a1.html
zombieslayer
New member
Wow. The history of the south vs north is so very interesting. Especially the guns. I was always taught history a certain way. But it goes to show that there are always things to learn...
You pays your money and you takes your choice.
Seriously, unless there is a niche you need to fill (i.e. u collect US martial arms/replicas) then get the one that you like the best for whatever reason: history, feel, fit and finish, value, what's preferred/allowed if you are involved in living history...
Seriously, unless there is a niche you need to fill (i.e. u collect US martial arms/replicas) then get the one that you like the best for whatever reason: history, feel, fit and finish, value, what's preferred/allowed if you are involved in living history...