How much powder in Sans Jose 1863 Zouave Rifles

Just got this rifle and have not shot it yet. Was told to use 60 grain of ffg powder and a mini ball and not round ball. Any suggestion would be appreciate

In the North South Skirmish Association, we've found best accuracy is about 60% of service charge with pure lead minie sized to .001 under bore. Check your bore size. Actual is very often quite different from what's stamped. I have 3 in my possession at the moment and all three measure .580. With a minie sized to .579 and 45gr 3f, they all shoot about 3moa and that's not really working on the load accuracy. I'm sure it could be better.

Yes measure the bore. My Zouave 3 groove shoots a .562/.020 PRB very well with the military recommend 60gn load. I use fff equivalent Pyrodex "P" and it works great. The mini is the .575 on same 60gn load and is an easy thumb pressure fit and easy ram. The .578 will fit but is a pita to get started.

I'm usually a stickler for shooting military style repro (or original) front stuffers the way they were actually used. With the originally specified load, bullet and with paper cartridges.

60 gr of 2f or 1.5f and a .575 Minie ball. I hot dipped 50 of them tonite in SPG lube for tomorrow.

Stantheman86 said:

I'm usually a stickler for shooting military style repro (or original) front stuffers the way they were actually used. With the originally specified load, bullet and with paper cartridges.

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That's the spirit Stan!

Stantheman86 said:

I'm usually a stickler for shooting military style repro (or original) front stuffers the way they were actually used. With the originally specified load, bullet and with paper cartridges.

60 gr of 2f or 1.5f and a .575 Minie ball. I hot dipped 50 of them tonite in SPG lube for tomorrow.

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That's fine if the bore really IS .577. You also lube with beeswax/tallow? Is your 2f the exact same as 150+ years ago. Just saying since powder strength varies between brands today, just like it did then. It's quite difficult to exactly duplicate the original load.

I mean , let's be reasonable here.....I wore a Dri-Fit T-shirt and poly blend pants to the range and drove a car to get there I can't be a complete purist.

I used the most historically correct 2f powder Goex makes. I do use Beeswax and tallow but yesterday I used hot dipped SPG lube and it was awesome. Sometimes convenience is important but SPG seems to pretty much be Bore Butter in stick form.

People can enjoy firearms that they own , any way they choose . Round balls in a rifle musket? Have at it, I've done it, it usually works great. Light charges with Minies? Whatever gets you to the range and out shooting.

For me, personally , 1000% the entire reason I own and shoot original and repro military front stuffers and unmentionables is to experience them the way they were used when originally in service, as close as I can get. Just yesterday I realized my Pattern 1863 cartridges need some work, I don't have them completely down yet but they did the job. I could probably shoot tighter playing around with larger/heavier Minies but the .575 "Burton Ball" did what it was designed to do with 60 gr of 2f. I might try 1.5f next time but I've found that it fouls the bore a little more.