The rifle, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely used in subsequent battles against Native Americans.

From 1872 to 1873, a military board headed by Brigadier-General Alfred H. Terry conducted an examination and trial of 99 rifles from several domestic and foreign manufacturers, including those from Springfield, Sharps, Peabody, Whitney, Spencer, Remington, and Winchester, pursuant to the selection of a breech-loading system for rifles and carbines for the U.S. Military.

The trials included tests for accuracy, dependability, rate-of-fire, and ability to withstand adverse conditions.

[3] The rifle cartridge was designated as ".45-70-405", indicating a .45 caliber (11.63 mm) bore diameter, with 70 grains (4.5 g) of black powder, propelling a 405-grain (26.2 g) bullet.

U.S. ordnance department tests report that "A practiced person can fire this arm from 12 to 13 times per minute, loading from the cartridge-box.

"[2] The rifle was originally issued with a copper cartridge case and used in the American West during the second half of the 19th century.

[citation needed] This was shown to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.