What rifles were used in the 1850s?

Answer 1

Muzzle loading black powder rifles. The percussion cap was in use to replace he flintlock and the first self contained cartridge firearms were starting to see limited use. If you look up Springfield Model 1842, that is the SMOOTHBORE musket used by the US Military until the model 1861 went into use. The 1861 was a rifled firearm. If you look up Hawken rifle, that was used by civilian hunters in that time period,