Why didn't general custers's troops have repeating rifles?

General Custer's troops did not have repeating rifles primarily due to logistical issues and military procurement decisions of the time. The Army had not fully transitioned to repeating firearms, which were more expensive and complex to produce than standard single-shot rifles. Additionally, the U.S. military was still in the process of evaluating the effectiveness of repeating rifles, leading to a reliance on traditional weapons. Consequently, Custer's 7th Cavalry was equipped with single-shot Springfield rifles during the Battle of Little Bighorn, which limited their firepower compared to the Native American forces armed with repeating rifles.