Semisane, Was your Zouave made by A. Zoli? The reason I ask is I had a Navy Arms Buffalo Hunter which was a Zouave cut down with a 26" barrel. It was deadly accurate with the round ball, but it would never shoot Minis. The barrel appeared to be choked in the last 4 or so inches.When you loaded a mini, it would be a snug fit the 1st 4" then would slide down without resistance unless the barrel was really fouled. I replaced the musket nipple with one with a smaller orifice. If I remember it came with 2 nipples a Number 11 and a musket.