New muzzleloader

[David LaPell]

I traded a couple of guns over the weekend for another muzzleloader. I wanted to upgrade from my .45, so upgrade I did. I found this Navy Arms Buffalo Hunter in .58 caliber. Just waiting for some Minie Balls and musket caps to arrive.

 

[walnutred]

Let me look but I think I still have my old Lee Mini ball mold and a box of 58 caliber saboted projectiles. If your interested I could make you a deal

 

[trapper704]

I think that has a 1 in 48 twist, so will stabilize a patched round ball 570 dia. My son has one he hunts with all the time. Works great on deer and elk. A patched roud ball with 100 gr of 2 ff black powder will shoot through most animals between 50 and 75 yds. Will reach out to a 100 but wouldn't strech it any further.

 

[Qball]

Had one of them "Zouave" rifles (replica) and boy did it kick.
100grains black and mine bullets shoting lying down.
It took three weeks for the sholder to heal

Nice gun by the way

 

[walnutred]

Originally posted by Qball:
Had one of them "Zouave" rifles (replica) and boy did it kick.
100grains black and mine bullets shoting lying down.
It took three weeks for the sholder to heal

Nice gun by the way

I think the service load was closer to 55-60 grains of FFG.

 

[Jeb Stonewall]

Val Forgett the org. owner of Navy Arms used the same gun with 120gr. powder charge, and a spl. 610gr. minnie to kill lion, zebra and a ton of plains game.

 

[Qball]

Originally posted by walnutred:

Originally posted by Qball:
Had one of them "Zouave" rifles (replica) and boy did it kick.
100grains black and mine bullets shoting lying down.
It took three weeks for the sholder to heal

Nice gun by the way

I think the service load was closer to 55-60 grains of FFG.

Jup, i was told that after the shoot

 

[Frizzman]

I remember reading an article in a magazine back in the 70's that involved Val Forgett hunting something big with one of those using heavy charges. I believe it was built on the Zouave musket platform.

I have one of the Navy Arms imported Zoli Zouaves that I got in 1973. It shoots pretty good but the sights are almost useless. I use a cast Minnie with about 70 grains of FF for a target load.

At least it's a real muzzleloader and not one of those awful inline guns. I believe you will like it. It's a nice rifle and you made a good choice.

 

[Muley Gil]

"It shoots pretty good but the sights are almost useless."

Don't tell that to these folks!!!

http://www.n-ssa.net/

My dad bought me a Zoli Zouave in 1969. It would print 1 1/2" cloverleaf groups at 50 yards. I now shoot a Parker-Hale 1858 2 bander what shoots as good, if not better.

"I use a cast Minnie with about 70 grains of FF for a target load."


Most skirmishers use a target load of around 40-50 grains of either FFg or FFFg black powder (no replica powders are used).

 

[2152hq]

One of my first BP long guns was Zouave. Made by Zoli (sp) in Italy IIRC.

Shot pretty well,,better than I could no doubt. Spent quite alot of time at the Blue Trail Range in CT with it when I lived there. Never could get it to shoot like the Skirmishers could though.
Really enjoyed their cannon shoots back then!

 

[straightshooter1]

I have two of the Zouaves.

The first has a taller front sight fitted and it is really, really accurate. I shot it the first time from a bagged rest and was amazed at the small cloverleaf. This was at 50 yards.

Then, I shot it offhand and did almost as well.

At 100 yards, the groups are about 2 1/2-3 inches from a rest. Sometimes less.

The second one is near new and I have yet to shoot it. Maybe next week....

Bob