The Trapdoor Springfield has two things going for it, accuracy and firepower. It will hit and kill at several hundred yards, even in a wind. The Carcano will fire more than once. Maybe 5 times and then you have to reload it and the reload time may be more than it takes to load the trapdoor 5 times. Provided the Springfield,s ammo has not been corroded solid in a leather cavalryman's belt. The power and accuracy of a Carcano at 200 yards is truly pathetic. I have shot one. The action is no great shakes either.
The Carcano is NOT the contemporary of the trapdoor. The very early Mausers are. And the French needle guns. The Winchester 66 fired a revolver cartridge. Although Custer went down, Benteen's troops, once dug in, kept the same Indians at bay. Perhaps because of the range and wallop of the Springfield. The Springfield Model contemporary with the Carcano is the 03 A3 30-06 and the other WWII battle rifle was the extraordinary M1 Garand. I won't even stoop to compare the M1 to the carcano boat anchor.
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