Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders New to me Zoli-made Navy Arms 1863 Remington .58 Zouave replica

Hmmm...interesting. I tried Minies' in mine, admittedly not more than about a dozen rounds, and mine wouldn't keep them in a 9 inch skillet at 50 yards, thus my statement I'm certain I wasn't overdriving them as I was only shooting 60 grs. of Ffg. Wasn't that the standard load back when? I was also using straight lead , not alloy and I've been familiar with the concept of the skirted Minie' for a few decades, that is, that the skirt expands to engage the rifling and knowing a blown skirt blows accuracy. From what you guys are saying I need to revisit the Minie' ball. Any recommendations for a Minie' mold? The one 340 posted looks good.

Long range shooting with the Zouave sounds like a whale of a lot of fun. I had looked at a Gibbs and Mortimer for such shooting but perhaps I own a suitable rifle already.

Won't shoot .575" Minies worth a hoot but put a .580" in there and it will change your mind. A .578" Lee works pretty well but you have to fire a fouling charge first and then it's a snug fit. If it isn't a snug fit, it won't center and will wobble down the bore. My Zoli shoots Minie balls real good to be sure. 3-groove barrel and all.