.58 Zouave Musket

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My old musket I bought new from Navy Arms in 1976 for 78.00. Has been shot
many thousands of times. Got the 500+ grain Lee Minie Ball mold. With 180
grains of Goex FFF Black Powder and that bullet, it is the equal of the 458
Winchester mag. Me, I shoot 55 grs Goex FFF and a .015 Teflon patch and
a .575 round ball. It will shoot under 1 inch groups at 50 yds. Has the 3 groove rifling with a 1-72 twist. 1 lb. trigger and a Tresco nipple for no 11 caps. If I only could have one Black Powder gun, this would be it.

 

[4v50 Gary]

For an "old" musket it sure looks purdy and new.

 

[Hellgate]

Wait a sec, You've shot 180grs FFFg and the 500gr minie in it?

I have a similar one (Zoli) I bought new in the 1970s from Navy arms and it likes 90grs FFFg and the 575213-OS thick skirted minie. I've been afraid to exceed 100grs powder behind the minie but wold go up to 120grs for a PRB. I've gotten two deer with it and they did not go far as the minies went diagonally lengthwise through each deer. Little meat ruined on either one.

 

[43171C]

Musket

That is a very nice looking musket, made me remember one I had stuck back in the back closet. My wife got it for me for my birthday from an old Indian Relic dealer in Lamar Arkansas, I believe his name was Hershal Daniels. This was in 1962 so I would have to assume it is/was an original "Whitneyville". I was told it was a Civil War Musket made by Eli Whitney. It does have the name Whitneyville on the lock-plate.

When I got it, it apparently had had the barrel and stock cut down to what appears in the photos. Also, someone had run a drill or reamer down the barrel but it was a little off center as there was a ridge left on one side down close to the bottom. I had no intentions of shooting it, but use as a decoratro.

Then in 1971, Arkansas had it's first Muzzle Loader Only Deer Season in the Sylamore (spelling) Wildlife Management Area in Northern Arkansas. I made a trip to Dixie Gun Works for supplies for myself and five friends for this hunt. While there I found a new 36" .45 cal barrel that looked like it would fit the Whitneyville so I brought it home. The old barrel removed, the new barrel fit just as well as the old one. I did cut 11 1/2 inches off the new barrel. No, did not get a deer but did shoot it a few times.

Now before you see the pictures, don't get on to me, it has a bit of surface rust on it but I wanted to share it with you. Seeing the nice musket above, maybe I will clean this up and start shooting again.

 

[Triphammer]

I had a Zoli from 74 to 81. Standard load of 50 grs 2 F for NSSA meets. 100 grs for hunting. It would reset the hammer to half cock. Never tried it but the 50 gr load should have been plenty for Catskill whitetails. May that nipple using #11 caps would have helped the half cock problem.

I sure do miss 'er.

The Zoli had a1 in 96 pitch