Zouave

Finally got everything needed to shoot my 1975 unfired Remington Ranson Zouave.
Change from musket cap to #11s. No problems with ignition. I have bunches of 11s. Settled on .562 rb. Tried .010 patch, puhed in with thumb pressure. To loose to me. .015 starts easy and rams very easy. .020 tight start rams easy so good to go. Test fired with 40, 55 and 60g Pyrodex "P". 55 was more crack than boom. Range time next. Did get the sniper sight for my farsightedness. Contemplating bayonet for complete rig.

Don't know what tha means olddummpy.

Dang auto correct. Sorry about that ole chap.

Been using Pyrodex for 20+ years. Never had any issues. Treat all powders as corrosive. Clean, clean, clean till clean. Haven't priced any others due to long time local availability.

Will do. Only issue now it it being a .567/.568 min bore finding minie ball mold right at impossible. Some older archived forms stated they used a Modified Pritchett that measure .569. No molds available unless you find an old LEM mold. Having one made is expensive. Going to get a .575 and hope I can twice size to .570 without loosing the lube grooves. If they disappear so be it. The Pritchett minie didn't have them and by all readings they worked well. I think .570 will be easy enough to start and once it's down the barrel will ram relatively easy. I know from trying a .575 rb bit the riflings too much. And the mold is throwing .573/.574. .570 should do it. As it stands I have to use a .562/.020 PRB. Nothing else in standard manufacture closer.
I was surprised that only 60gn load is recommended military. Thought for sure it would be up in the 80/90 range. But about 300 gn of lead going approx 850fps not anything to laugh at.
I did get one of the sniper sights for it. Eyes not what they use to be. First time I look down the sights the front sight was like a blur and that's with the rear sight face painted white for contrast. It's very small.
It will take about 3 weeks to sort out all the minie ball fit. We'll see.

Mine is 1:60 3 groove. I'll keep in mind. I'll try my sizing .575 to .570 first since the mold is otw. I'm also thinking of a compression roller with base that has grooves to maintain design. I can build that with scrap I have.
What would be excellent would be to have a piece of barrel to use for sizing.

Lucked out big time. 575 minie thumb starts to head then easy starter push and slick ram.

Old Stumpy said:

Seriously, a Zouave is a great rifle. A Pedersoli is on my wish list.
I've looked at just about every kind of rifle musket that they offer, from Enfields to Springfields to the Mississippi rifle and the Zouave is the one that I come back to.
Enjoy your rifle OP, but if you can get some Goex FFG do give it a try. You may like it better even if it is a bit harder to come by.

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Yeah I'm liking it more and more. Was a luck find too. Never fired and under 400 with shipping. A lot better than the 600 63 Springfield I was looking at that literally has the same barrel.