The US Navy used a fair number of Remington-Lee rifles in .45/70 and the Michigan National Guard purchased about 2000 in .30 USAicon (".30/40"). The Britishicon service Lee was evaluated by the board that adopted the Krag.

Had the US Army adopted the Lee instead of the Krag in 1892, comparison with the 7mm Mauser after the Spanish-American war would probably have come to the same (arguable) conclusion that a charger-loading rifle with a more effective cartridge was needed, just as the British concluded after the Boer War. Both nations decided to adopt modified Mausers - the US Model 1903 and the British Pattern 13.

US forces in WWI had sufficient experience with bolt-action rifles, including the SMLE, to conclude that developing a self-loading rifle was worthwhile.