One of several factors that contributed to the doom of Custer's troops was black powder fouling and failures to extract. I believe there was battlefield evidence to prove it.
The "What if" "Woulda,shoulda,coulda" game is,IMO, removed from reality.
I'm not going to suggest its substance induced. Some people do cross over from reality to a videogame place that exists in their mind. Cross back over,to the RealWorld,and we deal with what is,or was.
If the manufacturing tech and firearms design advanced that far at the time....
With no disrespect to the folks of the Southern States, Why is there an assumption it would be to the benefit of the South?
It would seem to me more likely the progress would be made n the New England and Mid Atlantic states,simply because of the focus on Industry versus Agriculture in those regions.
IMO,its likely the M-3 Greaseguns would be held by the folks wearing blue,and the uniforms with multiple holes would be Grey.Lots of them.
Speculation,of course.
However it happened, its water downstream. I'm glad we outlawed Slavery.
I'm glad the Union was preserved .
I'm glad the Civil War was NOT fought with more efficient killing machines.
The Citizens who fought ,bled and died paid far too high a price.
And I say that for both the Blue and the Grey.
If we want to play "What if......?" How about "What if.....paintballs? And "Time Out"