'63 Zouave Shoots!!!

rafsob · 08-29-2008, 08:26 AM

LatelyI have been toying with the idea of shooting NSSA. I cameacross a '63 Zoli Zouave that has seen betterdays. Itbelonged to a re-enator who didn't take muchcare forthe outside of the gun. The inside of the barrelis pristine however:

This is how good she shot withthe first four shotscrowding intothesamehole, then a flyer:

I fired five different bullets, all miniballs. The one that did that targetwas an RCBS Hodgdon 578 mold. This bullet was unbelieveably accurate. Needles to say I will be molding a bunch of bullets soon. This is the bullet:

Still don't know ifI will take the blunge and shoot NSSA yet. Just got through with $A$$ and I am trying to save some money for a while.

I plan on reworking the rifle. I will take off the bluing and am thinking of browning the barrel. The re-enactor made a mess with Naval jelly.

I also want torefinish thestock. The lock will get some work also. Oh yeah, it onlycost me $200.

cayugad · 08-29-2008, 08:54 AM

You stole that rifle for that price. And it is clear that you are a good shooter with it. Does that rifle shoot high? The reason I ask is a friend of mine owned one and we would aim at the target and shoot a foot high. He had to get different sights for it, but after that he had a good shooter as well. As I remember he used to shoot about 60 grains of black powder and a minnie ball.

He deer hunted one year with it and I was with him. We jumped some does on the side of a marsh hill. And he pulled up and when one stopped to look back he cut loose and hit her in the eye. I never seen a deer flip around like that in my life. Your post made me remember that little incident.

rafsob · 08-29-2008, 09:21 AM

Hey Dave, great question on he POI and target impact. Yes is the answer. The front sight was just a nub of a sight and the gun would shoot very high no matter how I held the sight picture. A friend of mine that shoots NSSA set me up witha new front sight blade. Big difference and I loved the results.

My poi was with the black dot setting on the front sight. I will be swapping out the rear sight with a new piece. She is shooting to the left and I will be able to move that impact to center with that new sight.

Even if I don't get into NSSA shooting, this gun is a hoot. This bullet I will be shootingloves a dirty barrel and that makes for an excellent NSSA gun. You don't get much time to play with cleaning materials when on the shooting line.

cayugad · 08-29-2008, 02:41 PM

Same with his rifle... he ended up soldering a silver dime on the very end and then shaped it with a file to where he want it. After he was done, out to 100 yards he was pretty good with that thing. And that minnie ball he shot, even though there was only a light powder charge (by today's standards) it knocked snot out of deer.

Semisane · 08-30-2008, 12:32 PM

Great shooting there rafsob. You got a real buy on that gun. I love my old Navy/Zoli Zouave - it's a real fun gun. Never shot Minies out of it though, only patched balls. I can't get groups quite like you got. Maybe I should try some Minies. If you haven't seen my old post on the LOL sight I made for mine, check the link below. The neat thing about it is you can restore to original sight any time you want.

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=2431005&mpage=1

rafsob · 08-31-2008, 06:29 AM

I remember that topic. I liked it. They only problem with me is I couldn't use it in NSSA. However, it would make for a nice target or hunting sight. Thanks fo the thought, though.

bronko22000 · 08-31-2008, 06:42 AM

Good shooting. Would enjoy seeing a picture of that rifle once you get it all refinished.

rafsob · 08-31-2008, 07:36 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: bronko22000

Good shooting. Would enjoy seeing a picture of that rifle once you get it all refinished.

I started this week. I got all the bluing off and it looks good in the white. My friend wants me to brown it, but I may leave it as is. I want to strip down the stock next. Then lock will need some work and I am not well versed in that area. The spring needs to be worked. It is very heavey now.

I will wait to get it done and then post some flics.

Moebedda · 09-04-2008, 10:04 PM

To the OP. Great shooting. I have the same gun I have been wanting to take hunting for a few years. My dad used it in for civil war re-enactment, but I hate to tell you. Although the Zouave is NSSA approved, it really is not historically accurate.

My question to everyone here. Although I have been shooting BP for quite a long time, 41 grains of 3F does not seem like enough for a 400 grain mini. I have visions of actually watching this round fly down range. I guess I'm thinking of a hunting load, and yes I understand that 3F has a higher pressure than 2F, but it seems that you would want to be somewhere in the nieghborhood of at least 70-80 grains.

Did you try 2F? What would be a good hunting load for this? Or is the above load good? Discuss.

Moebedda · 09-04-2008, 10:15 PM

Oh, One more thing. Can I buy 40 of those minis off of you? PM me if you would be willing to do that. I would like to get some of those and don't have the stuff to mold anymore.