1863 Zouave

[Kiwi Hawkeye]

Can I get an opinion on a 1863 Zouave 58cal percussion rifle made by Antonio Zoli in Italy

 

[TreeMan]

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/search/891329/?q=Zoli+zouave&o=relevance

 

[towgunner11h]

I bought a second hand one at a local gun store a few years back- it has been a solid performer. Has a large bore- pin gauges measured the bore to be .581”, so I size my Minie’s to .579”- shoots great.

 

[tenngun]

Owned two, but just not my sort of gun, however with a sized bullet or PRB that are fine shooters. And will put paid to most North American game. Val Forget even hunted Africa with one

 

[Old Hawkeye]

Owned two, but just not my sort of gun, however with a sized bullet or PRB that are fine shooters. And will put paid to most North American game. Val Forget even hunted Africa with one

Forgett hunted in Africa with a highly modified version of the Zouave that Antonio Zoli built to his specs called the Buffalo Hunter. Shortened stock & extra thick barrel capable of taking the 200 grains of black powder it was tested with. Not your everyday Zouave!

 

[tenngun]

Forgett hunted in Africa with a highly modified version of the Zouave that Antonio Zoli built to his specs called the Buffalo Hunter. Shortened stock & extra thick barrel capable of taking the 200 grains of black powder it was tested with. Not your everyday Zouave!

I didn’t know that. Saw the photos of antalope taken with it, just assumed it was a navy arms zouave

 

[Gianki]

Hello, I have one with heavy barrel for several years, never had problems, precise enough to have a 29-inch rod, I use it for informal shooting and hunting, miniè 560 grains with 95 grains of n ° 3

 

[Woodwright]

Bought one from Dixie Gun Works back in the '70s for about $89.00. Never could get it to group well until I joined the North-South Skirmish Association and found out you needed to size the Minnie ball,s as noted by Tenngun, based on the actual bore diameter of your rifle. Then, it became a tack driver. Killed three deer with it years ago.

 

[Muley Gil]

My first muzzle loader was a Zoli Zouave, bought for $70, in 1969. Mine would print a three shot one inch group, off of a rest, at 50 yards. My load was an as cast, not sized, Lyman 575213 Minie, over 45 grains of Goex FFFg.

 

[Ronnman]

Forgett hunted in Africa with a highly modified version of the Zouave that Antonio Zoli built to his specs called the Buffalo Hunter. Shortened stock & extra thick barrel capable of taking the 200 grains of black powder it was tested with. Not your everyday Zouave!

DO NOT load the Zouave or “Buffalo Hunter” rifles with 200 grains of black powder. The original article from a 1977 Navy Arms Catalog states they used 125 grains in the Buffalo Hunter. See article below with the Buffalo Hunter paragraphs circled in red.

The 180 grain FFF load was used in the “Hawken Hunter” which has a octagon barrel 1-1/8” across the flats. This is a much more stout barrel capable of using these heavier loads.
Ron

 

[Ronnman]

I have a 1963 Zouave (Antonio Zoli barrel) which I built from a kit in the late 70s. It is an excellent shooter with the no longer available Lee Modern Minie 470 Grain (aka Trash Can design) with 65-70 grains of FF powder. It is accurate as a rifled musket and you can shoot all day with this rifle with this load.
Ron

 

[hanshi]

I bought one inn the late 1960s and was quite fond of it. It was a great shooter/hunting rifle.

 

[dave951]

The "Zouave" is a reproduction of the 1863 Remington. There were many made by various manufacturers in Italy. Of those, the "Zoli" is one of the best and capable of fine accuracy when loaded properly. Many of our competition shooters in the North South Skirmish Association use them either as a first competition musket or as a very capable backup.