Little Bighorn Cost 42,000 Rounds

At the Battle of Little Bighorn in Montana Territory in 1876, U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer's regiment expended or lost about 42,000 rounds, a rough rate of one hit for every 840 rounds. Lakota and Cheyenne warriors captured some ammunition from cartridge belts and saddlebags, so the soldiers never fired every missing round, and their actual hit rate was higher. Many warriors remained between 300 and 1,200 yards away, while the Army gave its troops little marksmanship training and only about 20 practice rounds per year. Poor training and weak fire discipline played major roles in the cavalry's defeat.

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