Author Topic: Springfield or Enfield?? (Read 795 times)

22rimfan · « **on:** September 19, 2005, 07:28:02 PM »

I'm wanting to get into re-enacting but I am not sure which rifle to choose. Which rifle would be the best service piece that I could get? I was planning on joining a Southern group of Re-enactors, which might dictate an Enfield, but I would want a rifle that I could shoot targets with and hunt with also. What are the pro's and con's to each rifle? Are the Enfields a better rifle than the Springfields or is it the other way around? I want function over flair, if you know what I mean. Historical accuracy would be ok, the rifle could be argued either way. I know of Union troops using the Enfield and Southern troops using the Springfield so I guess the Historical Accuracy could be a grey area. If the Enfield wins the argument, which Enfield is better, the two band or the three band, or is it just personal preference? Thanks in advance.
Aaron

Ramrod · « **Reply #1 on:** September 20, 2005, 02:53:20 AM »

The general consensus seems to be that the 2 band Enfield is the more accurate at long range. I think that at hunting ranges any of them will work fine. You should probably get your hands on both a Springfield and an Enfield to try before you buy. At least handle them, try using the sights, ect, if you can't get to shoot them. The stock design is very different between these two, and some folks are not comfortable with the Enfield's straighter stock.

slayer · « **Reply #2 on:** September 20, 2005, 12:52:48 PM »

I wonder if the repro Spingfeilds feel anything like mt brothers .50/70 original Allen conversion model? Man, his is super heavy and has a really heavy trigger pull, but man is it fun to shoot!! Jack.

crow_feather · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2005, 01:57:36 PM »

My Enfield wasn't over 10 lbs. more like nine. I had the three band and had problems seeing the front sight in the forest or against a dark target.

C F

Ramrod · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2005, 08:05:15 PM »

crow_feather is right, the front sight is for long range target shooting and is too narrow. Even if you have really good eyes it will disappear in the gloom of the woods. I solved this problem by grinding the blade right off. I cut a groove in the block that was left, and soldered a thick piece of brass in there. No problem seeing that. I filed a square notch in the rear blade to match.

threepdr · « **Reply #5 on:** November 09, 2005, 11:30:37 AM »

If you do plan on using the gun for reeactment, wait till you contact a unit that you plan on joining and ask what they perfer. There are two main manufacturers of repro Civil War muskets, Armi-Sport and Euroarms. Each makes both Sprinfields and Enfields. Each also uses the same rifling and barrel blanks for both thier Enfields and Sprinfields so accuracy, loads, and reliability will essentially be the same.

Both of the Enfield reproductions are not copies of the Enfield Rifle that was used during the Civil War, but of a later model. As a result the repro has to have some alterations and parts changing to make them authentic. None of the Civil War era guns were "Enfields" made at the Enfield Armory, but were contract guns mainly marked "Tower" or "london". The originals also had different barrel bands and sling swivels than the repro. Progressive reenactment units often require repro enfields to be "authenticized" before use with correct parts and markings.

Springield are much more authentic out of the box, especially the Euroarms made guns. They have correct markings and only require the import and "black powder only" markings to be removed to "autheticized" them.

Hope this helps

kjg · « **Reply #6 on:** November 10, 2005, 02:31:08 AM »

All that has been stated and this depending on manufaturer, the enfields rifleing has a twist rate of 1-48 and the springfield 's twist rate sould be 1-70, 1-72 as for wich is more accurate that depends on the shooter shooting them bot are extreamly accurate , check out the N-SSA web sute you learn all you want and them some , also you'll have different bullet types and moulds , and if your really wanting to shoot you'll end up getting a two band rifle, mines a 1861 Fayetteville confedrate copy of the 1855 sprinfield using original parts , only things that are not original is the barrel(made by whitacher) and the stock , that thing will shoot have fun and get ya one . kjg

dbm · « **Reply #7 on:** November 14, 2005, 11:35:41 AM »

Quote from: kjg

the enfields rifleing has a twist rate of 1-48 and the springfield 's twist rate sould be 1-70, 1-72 as for wich is more accurate that depends on the shooter shooting them bot are extreamly accurate

The Pattern 1853 Rifle Musket (commonly called the three band Enfield) had a rifling twist of 1 in 78.

The Pattern 1858 Naval Rifle and the Pattern 1860 Short Rifle (commonly two-band Enfield) had rifling twist of 1 in 48.

Parker-Hale at one time manufactured a three band Enfield for the American market that had 1 in 48 twist. This was however never used for an issue P/53.

David

kjg · « **Reply #8 on:** November 16, 2005, 03:06:04 AM »

my mistake on the 3 band musket in new production guns sould be for the 3 band musket at 1-72, custom barel makers also make them in your favorite twist rates.

have fun and enjoy. kjg