Zouave rifle suggestions?

[Sam1911]

Hi All!

It's been a while since I smelled the sweet (uh?) smell of sulfur. Years and years back my Dad and I played around with his old replica .58 cal Zouave rifle. Never got decent accuracy, that either of us can recall.

Time has certainly gone by and a lot of other rifles have arrived to take up all my time throughout the years.

This year my Dad has gotten the crazy idea in his head that he should pass that old Zouave on to my brother-in-law. (Fine by me -- he's a great guy and needs to get his collection started somewhere.) But, first we need to get it all set up and build up a kit for him so he can actually hit something.

If I recall from several decades back, we had ZERO success with Minies. I think the rifling is too shallow or some such problem. Just patterned -- didn't group at all.

One suggestion that I don't recall having followed up on was that the twist rate was much more appropriate for patched round balls.

I found an old round-ball mold and cast up a couple (ok ... 380) for our tests. They measure a fairly consistent 0.562" - 0.565". Alloy was mostly reclaimed bullet lead from an indoor range, mixed with some wheel weights. I'm thinking that the alloy shouldn't be a problem as the patch will grip the rifling -- the bullet doesn't have to obdurate. My (non-electronic) scale doesn't go high enough to weigh them.

I'm thinking we'll start with something around 50 g. of FFg and work up from there. Probably not exceeding 100 gr., but looking for the best grouping we can get. Patches will be pillow ticking or something similar, lubed with T/C Bore Butter, most likely. (We seat the ball over the patch material and then cut it free. Don't care for pre-cut patches.)

What else should I think about or expect?

Many thanks!

-Sam

 

[Hawkeye748]

The gun is designed for minie balls. So the twist should be appropriate.

First, need more information. Who made the gun? Where did you get your minies? What size minies? Did you use pure lead? What is the bore size lan to lan?

For minies to work, they must be of pure lead. Alloys with minies will not work because they do not expand properly into the rifling. If you used the same source of lead as your RB, no wonder you could get no accuracy. The balls were likely key holing on you or breaking up completely. They also need to be .001 to .002 under bore size for optimum accuracy. You can have them smaller but the necessary charge is usually heavy enough that the group expands on you.

Most can be made to shoot well with a little patience. Also, you need to ask this question on the www.n-ssa.org board. They are the musket experts.

If you are going with the round ball, I have had good luck with 60-65 grains FFFg Goex or 55-65 grains FFg Swiss.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Pillow ticking is used with round ball rifles. The skirts on the minie ball are supposed to expand and besides forming a seal, grab onto the lands so to have a spin imparted upon the minie ball as it travels (or rotate) down the barrel.

 

[Hellgate]

If your minies had thin skirts any decent powder charge would flare them out like a shuttlecock and accuracy is bad. The minies need to be of dead soft lead. A thick skirted minie like the Lyman 575213-"Old Style" is a good one for heavier powder charges and shoots fine in my Zouave.

 

[Sam1911]

Well, first off, the last time anyone shot this rifle was probably 20 years ago. I really don't know what Minies we were using at the time. I do know that they were commercially made as none of us cast any bullets back that far. I would assume they were pure lead but obviously I can't be sure.

It always surprised me to think that it wouldn't shoot Minies as it seemed like the rifle would have been originally intended to do so. I don't remember the maker. Dad bought it back in the late '60s -- maybe early '70s -- and I haven't even seen it in at least 10 years. Like I said, haven't shot it in more like 20.

Now, considering the cost of the round balls (free!) it would be nice to get them to group well, just for paper punching.

I think I do have some .58" conicals left from the last time I played with my flintlock Hawken. Buffalo Bullets, I think. I'll have to look at that old stash and see what I can find.

Thanks for all the advice, and keep it coming!

-Sam

 

[[email protected]]

I think your balls are going to be too small. I shoot a .575 ball and .020
blue/white striped pillow ticking lubed with spit or moose milk. 50 yd.
grouping runs around a 1 1/4 . I would rather see you use a .570 ball
and about 55 grs FFF Goex Black Powder. I have won many a match over
the years {35} with mine. They will shoot almost as good as custom barrels.
I replaced the musket nipple with one that uses no. 11 regular caps 35 years
ago and it works.

 

[Hawkeye748]

The maker or at least importer should be on the gun itself. If you have a Zoli, you have the cream of the crop and it should be okay. Check it out and go from there.

 

[Shotgun Willy]

I've got a Zouave, made by the mystery firm PR, that can't take a .575. After measuring the barrel, I had to order some .562 round ball. .562 and a patch, is a good fit.
Now I need to find a new owner for the Lee trash-can shaped, .575 minie ball mold, I'd ordered before realizing they wouldn't fit down the barrel.

 

[StrawHat]

The nice thing about patched round balls is you can make them fit by using a heavier patch or double patching. Ideally, I try to find a ball patch combination that can be pushed down the bore with just a ramrod. I don't use a short starter or ball starter, just thumb the PRB into the muzzle and push it into the powder with the rod under the barrel. Even after several shots, it is still easy to load.

Others want a load that is so tight you almost need to hammer it in and wipe between shots. Makes a follow up shot in the field a bit difficult but if that's what they want, okay.

Keep trying and you'll find a good load for it.

 

[Sam1911]

I do appreicate all the advice! I probably won't have this gun in my hands (again) for a few more weeks, but I will try all of your suggestions and report back how we do.

Much obliged!

-Sam