Armi Sport - Remington Zouave help needed?

I just purchased a Armi Sport - Remington Zouave musket last week from a fellow club member. I measured the rate of twist which seems to be 1 in 48". It is a .58 of coarse. A couple of questions comes to mind. How would some of you sight this thing in for windage? Also, what shoots best for target work - minnie of round ball and how much powder? The guy I bought it from indicated it did shoot to the right or left (can't remember which) and he was tired of messing with it. I've been here before with other muskets and don't really know what to do about the windage problem. This rifle really looks brand new and has a heavy barrel. It should be a good shooter if I can get the thing figured out. Any help would be appreciated.

Russell ::

As far as windage, move the rear sight to the right or left to adjust for windgae...

Loads listed are for the .58 caliber Zouave, 26 inch barrel and are from the Lyman black powder handbook...


Round ball (.560 diameter 260 grain) .015 patch and Crisco lube, FFg powder and musket caps...

50 grains FFg, 765 fps (energy @ 100 yards: 222 FT/lbs.)
70 grains FFg, 929 fps (energy @ 100 yards: 307 FT/lbs.)
90 grains FFg, 1149 fps (energy @ 100 yards: 404 FT/lbs.)
110 grains FFg, 1253 fps (energy @ 100 yards: 441 FT/lbs.)
130 grains FFg, 1358 fps (energy @ 100 yards: 480 FT/lbs.)
150 grains FFg, 1446 fps (energy @ 100 yards: 517 FT/lbs.)
170 grains FFg, 1558 fps (energy @ 100 yards: 569 FT/lbs.)


Old style minie ball (.575 diameter 460 grain) lubed with Crisco, FFg powder and musket caps...

50 grains FFg, 655 fps (energy @ 100 yards: 353 FT/lbs.)
70 grains FFg, 851 fps (energy @ 100 yards:580 FT/lbs.)
90 grains FFg, 1047 fps (energy @ 100 yards: 803 FT/lbs.)
110 grains FFg, 1198 fps (energy @ 100 yards: 968 FT/lbs.)
130 grains FFg, 1299 fps (energy @ 100 yards: 1067 FT/lbs.)


Minie ball #575213 (.575 diameter 505 grain) lubed with Crisco, FFg powder and musket caps...

50 grains FFg, 629 fps (energy @ 100 yards: 376 FT/lbs.)
70 grains FFg, 801 fps (energy @ 100 yards: 600 FT/lbs.)
90 grains FFg, 979 fps (energy @ 100 yards: 852 FT/lbs.)
110 grains FFg, 1124 fps (energy @ 100 yards: 1036 FT/lbs.)
130 grains FFg, 1221 fps (energy @ 100 yards: 1157 FT/lbs.)
150 grains FFg, 1302 fps (energy @ 100 yards: 1262 FT/lbs.)

Remove front sight by filing down...then install a tall front sight that is dove tailed.....the barrel is real thick so you can slot it......other wise it will shoot about 6 to 9in high at 50 yards using 500gr minne ball conicals with 50grs of 2F B/P.......that's how we do our 1841 Mississippi's......john.....

That's how I did my Zouave & all of the Parker Hale Enfields, back in the 70's. Having an adjustable front or rear sight was a blessing. We generally found that all of the .58's shot round balls better than conicals and most of these rifled muskets shot with the custom rifles, once the ball/patch combo was figured out. It is interesting the newer ones are 48" twist as about all of them back then were 72".(except for the Enfield 33" rifle and the 24" musketoon). The 3 band Enfield 72" twist was exceptionally accurate and would shoot as well any custom rifle barrel. Some 33", 2 band rifles did also. A .575ball and .015 to .020" patch was used with from 80 to 150gr. 2F depending on the range and purpose.
: When it came down to accurate shooting at rendezvous, all used patched round balls in their .58's. The minnies seemed hold about 5' at 50yds. but better accuracy wasn't there. It's possible we converted everyone to RB too soon for them to develope accurate loads with minnies. - HA!
Daryl

All the above is good advice.But you can make a 58 musket shoot 2" at 50.Just shooting minnes is a whole diffrent ball game. 1st you got to measure the bore.Minnes need to be of soft lead and .001-.002 smaller than bore size.They will not shoot well if smaller. Many of the newer Italian muskets and rifles I have seen have large bores ie .579 up to .584. Most moulds from big 3 mold makers Lee,RCBS,Lyman are all .575 dia. RCBS has the Hodgen skirmish minne that comes in 3 sizes .576,578,580.Lyman makes a .577 minne.Lee at one time made oversize minne moulds,but thay are not now.After that you are into the custom or semi custom makers
You will need to put on a taller front sight.About .100 is what seems to work on the ones I have worked on. As for windage moving front sight or cutting new noch in rear leaf.I like a peep so I drill one in center leaf.
Once set up right a minne rifle will shoot with most RB at 50 and 100.

Jim

Here is a pic of peep I drilled in center leaf of a 61 Springfield artillery rifle.I needed to off set hole a bit for windage.This is for 50.I have a one in lower[long] leaf for 100 also.If you mess up the hole,fill with solder or epoxie and drill again. S&S firearms and Lodgewood have replacment leafs for 10 bucks if needed.

Jim

I have a Zouave and tried the drill a hole trick to make a peep sight. Let's just say I'm glad Dixie has replacement rear leaf sights! :haha:
Now I know why I'm not a gunsmith.
I was cryin' the blues 'cause I only got 1.5" groups at 50 yards and 3" at 75. Maybe that ain't so bad.
I got the best accuracy with the solid base Hornady Great Plains bullet and 100 grains of gee-wiz behind it. Nice on the shoulder too! (oooooouch!)

Boy now that's what I call a front sight or you have a heck of a bent barrel in front of that rear sight....... ::

Thanks for all the good advice guys. Hey Shooter575, you've done just exactly what another good shooter done who happens to be one of the best shooters in SC & GA (no telling where else) that I know. Man can this guy shoot a musket! He uses the same method with the peep hole. I'll probably do the same to mine as soon as I find the new leafs. The ones on it now have had too much file work on them. Thanks again for the advice gentlemen.

Russell

Russell, Here are two places to get musket parts from.
Both have gotten a bunch of my money over the years.They
also know lots about what they sell. They have zouave sight
leaves for about 10 bucks,They have blank ones also.Replacement
taller front ones too. These guys travel around to diffrent events
during the summer.So I would call them during the week.

Jim


http://www.lodgewood.com/
http://www.ssfirearms.com/

Thanks again Jim. You are a life saver! Now I can get this musket a couple of new leafs........ :haha: