Good find! I used to own a Mauser 1871, the single-shot precursor to the 71/84 repeater. It is a fun rifle to shoot, but is pretty much a black powder only proposition. The action is not terribly stout, so smokeless powder would probably be a no-no.
Finding cases is not terribly difficult, loaded ammo is virtually non-existent. Loading black powder is not the same as loading smokeless powder, so I suggest reading up on it. Full case of powder, over-powder wad, bullet seated firmly on top of it all, crimped in place.
Bullets of the proper diameter are not easy to find, but they are out there. You need to slug your bore to see if you need .449" or .446" bullets and load appropriately. I used to paper-patch, which can help make up for variations in groove diameter.
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