Which rifle

[Tommy Bruce]

Please excuse the ignorance in my question but, I'm looking to buy a rifle within the next year and join a unit or join a unit and buy a rifle. It appears the most common were the 1861 Springfield and the 1853 enfield. Being undecided about who to fight with would either of these rifles be acceptable for both Northern and Southern sides?

[TheBaldYankee]

It would depend on the unit you join, and there rules and level of authenticity. Most mainstream groups won't care as long as it's a 3-bander, and in safe working order. Most of the guys in the 51st OVI carry Enfields, but I got a great deal on a 61 Springfield, so that's what I carry.

Other units will want everyone to carry the same rifle. So I guess my advice would be to choose yout unit first, then choose your rifle.

[Rob Weaver]

The 1861 Springfield was the most common long arm of the war, (if I can get away with a little hyperbole here) and safe to say would be welcome anywhere you want to soldier. This is, of course, provided that the unit you've joined doesn't have specific guidance on which rifle they actually carried. For instance, the 7th Wisconsin carried Springfields, so I do. Being white metal, it's a little harder to maintain than an Enfield.
The Enfield has great popularity with reenactors because the blued barrel is a little easier to maintain (less rust). It's marginally lighter to carry. Personally, I think the Springfield is a more comfortable gun to drill with, and shoulders better, but that may just be me. There is some talk of Enfields being over-represented but I'm no authority on that issue.

[killerreb]

let us not forget the 69cal.. the springfield model 61 was the most used during the war & i agree (my opinion only) that she shoulders better than the enfield. but the springfield smoothbore can be used in any theatre of the conflict, by either side & from beginning to end so you can do mannassas to appomatax & be right. but it truly does get down to what your unit had & personal choice....steve hutton (springfield man!)

[rebelyell62]

I concur, the Springfield's 42's,55's,61's Richmond's varient, etc.shoulder much more comfortably than the Enfields.

I own a 42, and a Richmond (1855)and they are a pleasure to shoot. The Richmond is quite a bit heavier than my Enfields. But the "American" style of shooting and the Springfield stock profile were made for one another.

Good luck in your choice of firearm.
Wendell Brown

[jerryeberg]

This is just a little querk I've noticed while shooting the different types. The multiple Springfields that I've used have a much smaller half-cock than Enfields, making firing on the battlefield much easier and faster. Plus, the Enfield is a lot cooler looking!

You asked earlier if either one of these guns would be acceptabe for either side. The answer is the Enfield. It was the most common CS gun and 2nd most common US gun (after the Springfield). However, if you join a CS and have a Springfield, it would be fun to tell the onlookers that you took the gun off of a dead US soldier becasue it was better than the gun that you brought from home.

Another thing that kinda gets me steamed at some reenactments is that when the regiment stacks arms, it is WAY much more rag-tagged looking than it should have been (at least for US troops) because of the innaccurate mix of Enfields and Springfields. Usually, a regiment used the same gun. I suggest asking the unit what gun the actual unit used in the war and get that, just so you don't make the same mistake I did!

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

As shared, the M1861 Springfield and the M1853 Enfield rifle-muskets are the "Bread and Butter" of Civil War reenacting.

However, it depends upon one's unit and impression. Some units want just so-called "Three Bander" and do not care whether it is a "Springfield or Enfield."
Other units and impressions are time and place specific as to what weapon the unit being protrayed actually carried.

BUT, we also tend to look at the Civil War as a "whole," 1861-1865 and make assumptions without regard to unit, time, and place. And we fall into the old Reenactorism of banning rifles (so-called "Two Banders") due to alledged "safety issues" and the desire to eliminate the Remington M1863 Contract Rifle- the "Zouave Rifle).)

For example, into even 1864 some 40% of the Army of the Potomac was still armed with smoothbore or rifled .69 weapons, and of the rest a roughly 2/3 mix of .58's (Springfields and Enfields) and 1/3 mix of .54's (M1841 and M1855 Rifles, and Lorenz, etc.)

But if one is portraying all but one of the Irish Brigade regiments at Gettysburg, they were carrying M1842 69's.... (and fussed about trading them in in 1864 for .58 rifle-muskets!)

Yet, the "nice thing" about a M1861 Springfield or M1853 Enfield (without a discussion of the repro being the incorrect 4th Model not used in the ACW) is that with the exception of the opening months of the Civil War, either is pretty much "universal" for 1861-1865 (with an overlooked Wink and a Nod for Manassas, etc.)

Others' mileage will vary...

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt

Who loves the "looks" of of a factory issued 3rd Model "Enfield," but hates the way the flat buttplate feels, and hates how the high comb bruises my cheek in live fire...

[RJSamp]

However, it depends upon one's unit and impression. Some units want just so-called "Three Bander" and do not care whether it is a "Springfield or Enfield."
Other units and impressions are time and place specific as to what weapon the unit being protrayed actually carried.

Having seen many a company with mixed Springfield's, Enfield's, or even musket's "Three Banders"......
can you name a specific event where this actually occurred?

Were people actually told to leave if they didn't have the correct weapon?

Understand your use of the work 'want', and also the term 'strongly preferred'....but in the reality of ACW reenacting does it really matter?

For example, into even 1864 some 40% of the Army of the Potomac was still armed with smoothbore or rifled .69 weapons, and of the rest a roughly 2/3 mix of .58's (Springfields and Enfields) and 1/3 mix of .54's (M1841 and M1855 Rifles, and Lorenz, etc.)

Actually I thought that muskets were in the 33% range at Gettysburg.....and less than that by the winter of 1864. Any idea on where the 40% in the AOP number came from (including the Irish Brigade and their greatly reduced numbers)? Thanks.

Others' mileage will vary......

Absolutely (and I'm a big Lorenz fan if it was in rifled .54 or rebored to .577)....but I don't know of any non specialty unit (Berdan's for example) that would give two hoots whether you had an 1861, 1863 Springfield....or an Enfield (P. 3 is a bear on your shoulder as you point out) at ANY ACW event.

If I'm mistaken I'd love to know the unit and the event where the reenactor was shunned/kicked out/forced to purchase/borrow another weapon.

Thanks!

[Richard Schimenti]

Gentleman I have 1970's Birmingham Parker Hale Enfield. The balance and feel of that firearm,( made to origal spec's ) make is to seem to be "alive" in your hands.

I have compared the modern Euroarms and A.Ss. Enfields and they feel like a club compared to the Birmingham model.

I also have had and used a repro 61 Springfield and that is much better to work with that the current crop of the Euro. or A.S. Enfields but does not comapre to the Parker Hale Birmingham model...

[rebelyell62]

I too own a 1st generation P.H. model 58 (2 band)
She is a SHOOTER!
But IMHO, the Springfields but stock profile is a far sight more comfortable and "pointable" when compared to the straight stocked almost ,shotgun like profile of the Enfields.

As the others have mentioned, you'll most likely be limited in your choice of arm as mandated by your unit.

But for sheer shootability, the Springfield is my pick.

Wendell Brown