Custer's 7th US Cav. was equiped with 1873 Springfield Carbines.They had been rearmed prior to 1876 and the earlier carbines used so effectively by Custer's Troopers during and after the Civil War were gone before they left to campaign in the Spring and Summer of 1876. As I have stated before in this Forum, I an not an expert in guns of any type. I am; however, a collector and reader of Custer books pro and con. Much has been written on the rifles used by both sides at "the battle" and both troop and Indian movements have been traced using metal detectors to find spent casings at every different site on the battle field and on the routes taken by Custer and his troops both before and after he split his command. It is interesting to note that one Custer Historian, knowing that General Custer personally carried a new non-issue rifle of 50-70 caliber and brass cased cartridges while everyone else using 50-70 amo used copper cased amo with an inside primer, was able to trace the general's movements on the battle field up until the time his personal rifle and non-issue brass cased cartridges turned up in Indian hands during the course of the battle!