I just purchased a new-to-me rifle at my local gun shop yesterday afternoon. It is a Navy Arms Buffalo Hunter carbine, made by Antonio Zoli in Italy. I have been doing some searching and can't find much info on these guns.
It is a cut-down, sporterized version of the 1863 Enfield rifle, .58 cal. 26" barrel with a 1-60ish twist. From what I have read, the Navy Arms/ Zoli Enfields were about the most accurate reproductions made, though this short rifle would not be HC for any time period. I suppose after the war some of the guys brought their rifles home to use for hunting, perhaps some of them cut them down to be more handy in the woods? Regardless, I think it will make a fine, handy hunting rifle though.
I was hoping to get out today and work up some loads for it, all I need is caps. It came with 2 nipples, the one installed is for musket caps and there is a spare in the patchbox for #11 caps. I have lots of #11 caps but was fooling around last night and don't have a tool to remove the big square musket style nipple. All of the local gun shops are closed today and my local Wally World has pretty much no BP supplies. Grrrrr!
I am heading out to my local hardware store to see if they have a wrench that I can change the nipple out with, if not I'll try Wally, see if they have musket caps.
It sucks having a new gun and only be able to polish and oil it, and not go shooting. I shoulda looked at the nipple more carefully and bought some caps while at the gun shop yesterday. Oh well, shoulda, woulda, coulda, right? I am tickled with the rifle, and the deal I got on it.
It is a cut-down, sporterized version of the 1863 Enfield rifle, .58 cal. 26" barrel with a 1-60ish twist. From what I have read, the Navy Arms/ Zoli Enfields were about the most accurate reproductions made, though this short rifle would not be HC for any time period. I suppose after the war some of the guys brought their rifles home to use for hunting, perhaps some of them cut them down to be more handy in the woods? Regardless, I think it will make a fine, handy hunting rifle though.
I was hoping to get out today and work up some loads for it, all I need is caps. It came with 2 nipples, the one installed is for musket caps and there is a spare in the patchbox for #11 caps. I have lots of #11 caps but was fooling around last night and don't have a tool to remove the big square musket style nipple. All of the local gun shops are closed today and my local Wally World has pretty much no BP supplies. Grrrrr!
I am heading out to my local hardware store to see if they have a wrench that I can change the nipple out with, if not I'll try Wally, see if they have musket caps.
It sucks having a new gun and only be able to polish and oil it, and not go shooting. I shoulda looked at the nipple more carefully and bought some caps while at the gun shop yesterday. Oh well, shoulda, woulda, coulda, right? I am tickled with the rifle, and the deal I got on it.
), but most were pretty close. Don't know how much was the load, how much was the wind, and how much was me yanking on that heavy trigger. I had my .54 mountain rifle along and fired a couple at the bucket afterwards, hit 2 out of 3, but the I am much more familiar with that gun and the sweet set trigger. I did notice how much faster the smaller .54 ball got there with the same powder charge also. I am hoping to be able to work up a faster, flatter shooting load for the .58 for hunting. Out here I don't see a shot under 100 yds very often.
