"Even armed as they were, in the position occupied, they only needed to form up in close order to repel a vastly superior force, deployed as Custer's men were, in extended skirmish lines they did not stand a chance as at no time could fire be concentrated, i.e. it was virtually everyman for himself from the outset. "

The documentary that went into the forensic evidence of the bullets and shell cases seemed to believe that Custer's men were mown down by a vastly superior fire rate, once the Indians had closed inside the greater range of the troopers guns. Once hand to hand they were chopped to pieces literally with hand weapons. Indians picked up trooper's rifles and used them - bullets and casing were matched and traced around the field - they even tracked one of the surviving guns. And there was no 'skirmish line' the bodies were found where they were cut down, running away, first to the 'last stand hill' then the last of them fleeing to a nearby gully. Go argue with the esteemed forensic scientists, if you don't want to believe me.