 The Springfield model 1865 fired a rimfire .58-60-500 cartridge (.58 inch bullet, of black powder), the caliber matching that of the Civil War Minié ball, which was originally used in these rifles.The Model 1865 quickly became obsolete, and most of them were sold in the 1870s to several American arms dealers.At the time, there was a large demand in the US for shorter cadet-style rifles.