But there are several factors for both the Spencer and the Trapdoor that were not taken into account in this test: First was the ammunition. The shooters were using brass-cased ammunition, which springs back after the pressure drops. The Spencer uses copper (gilding metal) rimfire ammo, and the military .45-70 or .45-55 ammo, although central fire was of the same material because it was inside-primed. That stuff would eventually foul creating the extraction problems alluded to in this test. While it is true this was not a major factor with Custer's battalion, Reno and Benteen did have to clear cartridges from their troops' Trapdoor carbines. Why not Custer's troops? Because they were overrun before they could have fired enough rounds to encounter the problem! Had the Spencer-armed troops been equipped with Blakesley boxes, with the reloading tubes, they could rapidly reload. While the boxes were issued during the CW, in the Indian Wars campaigns, they were for the most part not issued, as being too heavy and cumbersome. Don't forget, repeating arms were considered wasteful of ammo by the Army! That is why they adopted the single-shot arms after the war. Repeaters also were not as powerful and of shorter range, and, again, long-range was considered more important...at least until the troops got into closeup firefights with the Indians.
To put it another way, which is a better weapon...an M-1/M-14 or an M-16/M-4? For long range or close up? Mostly the same argument.
Interesting test, however!