Question
 

Does anyone on here shoot a .58 cal Zouave (spelling) rifle? They look like they would be fun and a heck of a bear rifle with a 530 gr minie ball. How is the accuracy?
Fill me in please

Semisane can answer that.

I have looked at them also. But decided if I jump it would be to a 1842 Springfield Rifled musket in .69 caliber. If it was not accurate it would still be a blast to shoot. Its a shame they threw cap locks on them. Should have left them as flintlocks.

Thanks Dave. I'll wait for our LA friend to ring in on this.

Semi sold that 58 Zouave but he still has targets of how it shot . I am sure he will post them or you could go back through some old posts of his and find them .

Not sure I can say shooting a 530gr mini will be fun. Although I think they used only 60gr of powder.

you're right muley. 60 gr was the standard military charge for this rifle. From the research I have been able to find on it some were even using 150 gr charges. A crazy amount of powder when using a minie ball because all it does is deform or blow the skirt making accuracy suffer. I would surmise that a charge of 50-80 gr would likely produce the best accuracy.
I'm still tossing getting one of these rifles. I have my Renegade with a GM .58 barrel that shoots PRBs really good. I don't need a Zouave but thinking it may be fun to play with.

Since when do we buy guns because we need them? Go buy it.

I guess I'm gettin to be too much of a cheap skate in my old age. I just unloaded a couple ML barrels and 2 in line MLs. I still have more than I need but hate to part with any. Those and a bunch of lever guns by Winchester and Marlin that I can't part with.

Bought this rifle from a guy that was an enactor (sp?). The gun was practically brand new, but it had some surface rust around the barrel bands. Someone told him to get rid of it with Naval jelly!!! Well he made a mess and I had to completely remove the blueing from the barrel. I do want to brown the barrel just haven't gotten to it yet.



It is fun to shoot:



I was working up loads for N-SSA shooting. I have never shot it with hunting loads though.

I think the full name is the Zoli Zouave for my gun.

Well, if you sold some it's time to buy at least one. :)