The hobby of historical shooting helps us learn about the past in a different way, by collecting and shooting antique or reproduction firearms in a manner as close as possible to the way they were used in their days of glory. In this book the author explores the use of the .45-caliber Springfield Trapdoor Rifle. It starts with a brief history of the rifle and its ammunition and an overview of some of the uniforms and equipment associated with it, then dives deep into making and packaging ammunition for it, the musketry theory of the period, ballistics, training, the use of the sights, and gives a detailed explanation of how to shoot the rifle the way it was used in period.