I am thinking about saving up for either a 1861 Springfield .58 or Enfield rifle. I am going for the Armi Sport since their prices are better as Euroarms seem to continue to climb on all their products. Are their any real difference between these two reproduction rifles in terms of accuracy? I like the look of the Springfield due to the shiny barrel and am leaning in that direction. Thanks for inputs.
1861 Springfield vs. Enfield reproduction rifles
- Thread starter DavidB2
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I think the biggest difference is in the form of the stock, and the resulting "feel" and "fit". You want to handle each and see which feels better for you. The Springfield has more "drop".
The bluing on the Enfield has it's practical side. Whether or not bluing actually inhibits rust, a shiny gun may reveal your position to the enemy, as well as drawing fire generally.
I recall reading about one idiot Yankee general (or maybe just a Colonel) who ordered the bluing removed from his men's Enfields. He wanted them "National Armory Bright", as they called it. No doubt this made the movements of his brigade (regiment?) very easy to monitor from miles away. It also provided many hours of additional work for his men, polishing, polishing, polishing all that shiny steel.
The bluing on the Enfield has it's practical side. Whether or not bluing actually inhibits rust, a shiny gun may reveal your position to the enemy, as well as drawing fire generally.
I recall reading about one idiot Yankee general (or maybe just a Colonel) who ordered the bluing removed from his men's Enfields. He wanted them "National Armory Bright", as they called it. No doubt this made the movements of his brigade (regiment?) very easy to monitor from miles away. It also provided many hours of additional work for his men, polishing, polishing, polishing all that shiny steel.
sharps59
Member
one is as accurate as the other. the drop is a big factor. I shot a 3band P-H enfiels for 15yrs in comp. Was also shooting a enfield musketoon and a henry rifle. switched to a colt simular to the springfield. the streight stock of an enfield finally got to be to much for me, w/ the amount of shooting I was doing.:banghead:
Not sure but you may find the armi sport lock parts to be very soft metal.
as suggested handle both of them first before buying.
Not sure but you may find the armi sport lock parts to be very soft metal.
as suggested handle both of them first before buying.
Steve499
Member
David, the drop they are referring to is the angle the butt stock departs from the line of the barrel. An Enfield's comb, or the part of the stock you snuggle your cheek against, is noticeably higher than that of a Springfield's. During the recoil generated by a .58 caliber minie ball, that Enfield stock can give you a really sharp rap on the cheekbone. I guess we all are built a little differently, but I can't use an Enfield with the open sights they come with because I can't get my cheek down far enough on the stock to line the front sight up in the rear one. My Enfield style rifle wears a tall globe front sight and a rear tang sight which makes shooting it possible for me. My Springfield presents no problem that way and I don't believe there's any dimensional difference in the stocks of the 1861s and 1863s.
I'd strongly recommend finding one of each you can actually pick up and sight before you select between them. You may have no problem at all with an Enfield or you may be like me. When I got mine, I just had to shoot it, naturally. After one range session, I had a bruised cheekbone which reached up to the bottom of my right eye. Everyone thought my wife was beating me again. I got the taller sights but that was a considerable expense you might want to avoid.
I'd strongly recommend finding one of each you can actually pick up and sight before you select between them. You may have no problem at all with an Enfield or you may be like me. When I got mine, I just had to shoot it, naturally. After one range session, I had a bruised cheekbone which reached up to the bottom of my right eye. Everyone thought my wife was beating me again. I got the taller sights but that was a considerable expense you might want to avoid.
Thanks
Thanks for the clarification on this term. It makes sense to me now. As I mentioned in my original post; I am strongly leaning towards the Springfield. After having a Hawken in the past with traditional blueing I wanted something different. I have always appreciated the brightened look of the Springfield barrels vs. Enfields blued barrel. However, my biggest concern was "accuracy". I had heard that the Enfield tended to have better accuracy at longer ranges.
Thanks for the clarification on this term. It makes sense to me now. As I mentioned in my original post; I am strongly leaning towards the Springfield. After having a Hawken in the past with traditional blueing I wanted something different. I have always appreciated the brightened look of the Springfield barrels vs. Enfields blued barrel. However, my biggest concern was "accuracy". I had heard that the Enfield tended to have better accuracy at longer ranges.
DutchmanDick
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The Enfield has somewhat better sights for long range shooting. The Springfield, if I recall correctly, has something like 3 sight leaves, each set up for 100, 200, and 300 yards (or something like that). The Enfield has a "stepped" sight base and a slider on the single, long sight leaf. When at the lowest position, the default "battle sight" is 100 yards. The additional steps on the sight base, adjusted by moving the slider along the leaf, take the sight to 400 yards. Flip the sight leaf to the vertical, and the slider has a "v" notch in it, and the leaf is marked out for 500-900 yards (the 900 yard mark is actually a third "v" notch at the very top of the sight leaf).
oneshooter
Member
I am currently playing with a Euroarms 2 Band Enfield (Sea Service) musket. I have found that the rifle shoots high, the inletting stinks, and the lock needs tuning. I have a Accraglass kit on order from Brownells, just recieved a .575 sizer and 50 picket style ( 530gr) bullets from DGW and have the lock torn apart.
The stock fits me well, I am 5'7" tall and stocky (fat?) . Recoil with 60gr of Goex 2fg and a 525 Minie is easy on the shoulder. Will have to either add to the front sight, or dovetail another front sight on the barrel.
Will also glass bed the barrel from the tang to the front of the rear barrel band.
Due to work this will take a few weeks. I will also resize the bullets and paper patch them as per the origionals.
LOTS of work, but I enjoy it.
Oneshooter
Livin in Texas
The stock fits me well, I am 5'7" tall and stocky (fat?) . Recoil with 60gr of Goex 2fg and a 525 Minie is easy on the shoulder. Will have to either add to the front sight, or dovetail another front sight on the barrel.
Will also glass bed the barrel from the tang to the front of the rear barrel band.
Due to work this will take a few weeks. I will also resize the bullets and paper patch them as per the origionals.
LOTS of work, but I enjoy it.
Oneshooter
Livin in Texas
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2002
- Messages
- 22,482
I've three Parker Hale Enfields and have shot the musketoon (24") and rifle (33") with 60 grains FF and a minie ball casted from the Parker Hale mould (made by RCBS?). In the course of firing 60 rounds (without cleaning), I've never been kicked in the cheek by either guns. Good cheek weld is important and you ride it out as part of your follow-through.
BTW, I've also got an Armisport Springfield, but I've never fired it. So many guns, so little time.
BTW, I've also got an Armisport Springfield, but I've never fired it. So many guns, so little time.
The Armisport Enfield has a faster twist rifling, and is more suited for the good old Minie ball. The Euroarms has very slow twist, and is more suited to the patched roundball.
However, the Euroarms is priced higher because of it's superior finish, but the Armisport is the choice for someone who is into NSSA or CWSA skirmishing.
By August, I think I am going to join a skirmishing team, Confederate of course
, I'll post pictures if I do and I think I might do reasonable well with an Armisport. A lot of folks on Civil War Talk are also praising the Armisport for it's faster twist.
However, the Euroarms is priced higher because of it's superior finish, but the Armisport is the choice for someone who is into NSSA or CWSA skirmishing.
By August, I think I am going to join a skirmishing team, Confederate of course
, I'll post pictures if I do and I think I might do reasonable well with an Armisport. A lot of folks on Civil War Talk are also praising the Armisport for it's faster twist.- Status
