zoey muzzleloader
 

any one have any info on a zoey .58 muzzleloader.my dad has one from a little ways back,not that long i think.heres some pics.

RE: zoey muzzleloader
 

I am guessing you have a Zouave Rifle. These were a rifle used by a Civil WarUnion Company of soldiers who took their name and style of dress from a French Infantry Unit, renowned for their fighting skills,known as the Zouave. If you would take a full view picture of the rifle, lock side I would be able to be more positive. Also look at the sights. Semisane can tell you tons about the sights on the rifle.

RE: zoey muzzleloader
 

k,my camera isnt working right now.

RE: zoey muzzleloader
 

If it looks like this, it's a Zouave as cayugad has surmised.

RE: zoey muzzleloader
 

thats it.but the woods alittle depper in color.what caliber is that one?one thing sucks is its almost impossible to find bullets,i got to go to cabelas or a simular shop.how muck take down power would this have?

RE: zoey muzzleloader
 

thats its,what caliber is that one? and what kind of bullets can it shoot,roundball only or others. what kind of knock down power would this have?when was yours made?

RE: zoey muzzleloader
 

That rifle would handle anything in North American for take down. After all a .58 caliber is a very large bore rifle. For instance a .50 caliber roundball weights 177 grains. A .58 caliber is 282 grainsI think it is. When you push that ball into the vitals of an animal it has already made over a 1/2 inch hole going in. If it expands at all, it only gets worse for what ever you shot.

The Zouave was a military rifle. Some of them actually had a bore of .577 instead of .580. They shot minnie ball out of them. The load was normally 60-70 grains of 2f black powder and a minnie. The object was not pin point accuracy but instead just push a hole through the target. The size and weight of the minnie would normally do the rest.

They will shoot a roundball. I would get some .570 ball and .015 patch. Start with 70 grains of Pyrodex RS or Black Powder in 2f and then seat that patched ball on it. Be advised, many of them rifles were made to shoot high... In the civil war the target sight at close range (from what I have read) was the belt buckle. This would put the projectile into the chest area of a man. At long ranges they could them aim dead on and compensate for the drop of the projectile without thinking too much. So if your rifle is shooting high, there might be good reason. Although I tend to think the new production models would have been more sight true.

Semisane can tell you a lot more about the shooting ability of the rifle. Since he has been making modifications to his and maybe doing some load testing as he is a powder junkie and likes to shoot I believe. I never had the pleasure to shoot a Zouave, but did for a long time shoot a Springfield Rifle. My friend who got me into shooting black powder owned an original 1861 Springfield Rifle. We could hit a gallon milk jug at 100 yards with a patched ball and 70 grains almost every time with that rifle. It was a lot of fun to shoot.

RE: zoey muzzleloader
 

Everything cayugad said is right onthe money. So far I'm gettingmy best groups - about three inches at 50 yards - with a .570 patched round ball and 75 grains Pyrodex RS. I've tried .575 balls and they are much harder to start and were cutting the patches I was using and not as accurate. I'm just getting started playing with loads in mine, but it looks like the groups want to open up with heavier powder charges. With the original military sights it shot almosta foot high at 50 yards.I haven't tried any minnie balls yet. You've got yourself a fun gun. It's the easiest cleaning muzzle loader you'll ever find because the barrel is so easy to remove from the stock. Get yourself a good range rod for it. The tulip head steel rod on the gun is a real pain.

RE: zoey muzzleloader
 

i should mention it is a production rifle.it doesnt say who made it really,my dad just told me.the serial number isa only n the 5XXX range.it was made in XXX jaquer italy or someplace in italy.how much would you think it would be worth(insurance reasons)?

RE: zoey muzzleloader
 

Many of the NEW Zouave sell for around $475.00 listed. If your rifle is in good condition and the bore is good, they tend to hold good value. The fact it is made in Italy I would guess it comes from Euroarms Inc. They are a common maker of the rifle.

Euroarms makes a .58 caliber with a 33" barrel and a 1-48 twist. So they should be a good all around shooter.

RE: zoey muzzleloader
 

Here's some good poop for you rifleboy.

Your gun should have a lot info on thethe barrel near the breech.

For example, onmine the top of the barrel is marked NAVY ARMS CO.
The right side is marked Made In Italy.
The left side is marked .58 CALIBER XX, then there's a shield with someting in it that I can't make out, with a five pointed star inside of a sunburst-like symbol over the shield. Then there's PN with the star/sunburst on top. Then there's FINITO with the star/sunburst on top.
On a second line, there's F.A.R.A. 2048.

I did a little research and found a web site thatmatches Italian gun proofmarks to the year of proof. It'shttp://www.berettaweb.com/DL1.htm . The "XX" after the caliber marking says mine was made in 1964.
Found another web site that identifies Tradenames and Brands of Guns and Gunsmakers for3450gun manufacturers. http://www.earmi.it/armi/database/brand_a.htm (Use the alphabetical tabs at the top of the page). The "FARA" on mybarrel means it was made by Giuseppe Zoli.

If yours was made by Zoli, it's worth what cayugad says for sure - just check the North-South Skirmish Association web site. But if you shoot it with patched round balls, and like shooting, you'll never let it go.

RE: zoey muzzleloader
 

I have the exact duplicate of the one Semisane posted, I have never fired the rifle. I too appreciate the info on the loads. If it is not too much trouble keep us up on what you find is working best for you.Mine I beleave is a Navy arms and I was told it was a two banded enfield ( maybeanother name fora zouave), but I am no expert on military MLs.

RE: zoey muzzleloader
 

The Enfield while very similar to the Union troops Zouave was a Confederate weapon for the most part. The Enfield Rifle was a British made rifle. The Union troops would have been more prone to having a Springfield Rifle. Although what many do not know, there were actually a lot of different makes, models, and calibers of weapon used during the civil war. They ranged from .54 caliber to the .69 caliber rifled & smoothbore muskets.

It was claimed many of the Confederate troops were equipped with small caliber hunting rifles in the early part of the war,and some with shotguns. Then as the battles progressed they outfitted themselves with battle field armament so they would all be similar in caliber, powder, and projectile which was a real advantage when you ran out of bullets in the heat of battle but your fellow soldier next to you did not.

The Enfield was available in both smoothbore musket and rifled musket. They were.58 caliber and the two band being a shorter barrel model was normally found carried by officers and sergeants. The three band Enfield being a longer rifle was carried by the infantry soldier. The Enfield Rifle was known for its accuracy and its overall dependability.