.
In my last range session with the .58 Zouave I got better groups with a .575 ball than with a .570 ball. I was using .015/.016 "table cloth" patches. I've got a lot of .570s and am about out of .575s. So I figured if I use thicker patches with the .570sI should be able to match the larger ball's groups.

Today's range session was set up to see if that's true. I brought some .018 pillow ticking andsome .021/.022 denim to try with the smaller balls. Loaded up with 70 grains GOEX - a load the gun likes -and the pillow ticking and got this group at 50 yards from the bench.




Not real great. Maybe the thicker denim will do the trick. Loaded up with 70 grains and the denim and got this group.




A little better, but not great. Also,I did change the parameters somewhat because with the first target I wiped with one damp patch between shots, and with the second targetI fully cleaned the barrel between shots. So I really don't know whether it was the denim patch or the clean barrel that made the slight difference.

Anyway,I decided to try the denim patch with a heavier load - 80 grains. Here's the result.



Well that sucks! Maybe a smaller charge. Tried 60 grains and got this.




Now I'm wondering if I'm just having abad day shooting. So I figured I would give my tried-and-true load a turn - 70 grains/.575 ball/table cloth patch. Here's the result.




YAHOO! That's more like it. Clearly the Zouave with its shallow "Minnie ball" riflingfavors a thin patch, which requires use of a larger ball.Small ball/thick patch just doesn't work (at least in this gun).

MaybeI'll be putting a .575 ball through the boiler room of my second deer this year(the first one WILL fall to the GP flintlock).

I've been using.530 balls in the flintlock. Now I'm wondering if I should try .535s.