Hi all,

Is there a company or importer marketing a decent 58 caliber replica front stuffer for a reasonable price? I am thinking about picking up one and am leaning toward a Zouave replica but most seem to be priced at what I consider an excessive amount for such a simple arm.

Will the typical Zouave rifling twist stablize a round ball?

Thanks,

Reb

Hi all,

Is there a company or importer marketing a decent 58 caliber replica front stuffer for a reasonable price? I am thinking about picking up one and am leaning toward a Zouave replica but most seem to be priced at what I consider an excessive amount for such a simple arm.

Will the typical Zouave rifling twist stablize a round ball?

Thanks,

Reb

It would be easier to answer if we knew what your budget and purpose were.

It seems you want a shorter rifle. Most who do want to hunt with them. I'd suggest the 2-band Enfield. Look around for a used one first then buy new. Dixie Gun Works and others have a wide selection and sometimes have sales.

The twist is pretty slow and they will stabilize RB but are designed to shoot the conicals. With the powder charges for which they are designed, the conicals are way more efficient. However, they often do right well with a 50-60 gr. charge and a RB.

Best of luck to you.

G'Day from Oz Reb. First question I have to ask is why a round ball? you can use a round ball if it is a range rules for an event but the .577or .58 as they are now called, was originaly designed for a four grooved, round nose, hollow base minnie. My son uses a 'Zoli" Remington Zouave musket
loading with 70 gr of 2f, for the last 18months he was cleaning up every gun on the line ( up to 60 incuding some breach loaders..all black p) the mungrel started getting cocky
so I got a Parker Hale Musketoon .577, now there is one gun he won't beat, free hand at fifty yds ten shot will take out the ten ring (two inch) I use 60 gr of 2f or 50 Gr Swiss that is equil to 6o gr standard. I don't know if you blokes over there can get "Swiss" but it's much better and cleaner than standard black, don't use Pyro, don't like it, maybe ok for pistol rounds.
We shoot targets from 25 yds up to 550yds, these rifles will be hard to beat by most muzzle stuffers, when originaly made were considered the ultimate M/L percussion firearm and I so no reason to challange that.
I see a lot of you blokes bench rest your M/Ls, I gotta ask why? we only use crossed sticks to shoot a steel Buffalo at 550 yds, some blokes will sit or kneel most stand free hand,
and as for using a scope as you folk say......Get outa here.
..Bye From OZ...........Paladin

In the late 1960's and 1970's there were a lot of inexpensive "kinda" Zouaves...weren't all that histoicly accurate and pretty poorly made, but they'd go "bang" and thow a mini better than a smoothbore would. This market is now driven by histoicly accurate reproductions, and the surviors are pretty decnt guns...but sell a decent prices as well.

With you on the pricing...they just aren't that complicated a rifle, and if they can make pretty revolvers (which are reasonably complicated guns by comparison) sell for a good price, seems there is a certain amount of price jack-up,

IF you want to use a round ball for goofing off, playiong at the range, or general shooting, no real reason not to. Most that I've worked with will shoot a patched ball well...may be at pretty low charges, individual rifles will vary and full charge loads with round ball aren't unheard of.

Word about charging...thnk of 70-80gr. FFg as what they were designed for....patched ball may weigh less, but seems to increase resistance/pressure in comparison to a mini, so you don't get to load the ball "hotter" without increasing pressure.

Thanks to everyone for your replies!

My current favorite M/L is a 50 cal. Charles Daly Hawken Carbine. I use it mostly for plinking which is what I am planning to use this 58 for as well. While it is not exactly 100% authentic the carbine handles (and shoots) very well. It has a lovely figured walnut stock to boot.

I am still thinking along the Zouave lines but have recently had my interest peaked by the J. P. Murray 1862 Calvary Carbine by Navy arms. While it is not the number 1 issue, how authentic is this carbine? How badly will the 23" barrel affect performance. While it is possible, it is very unlikely that this rifle would ever be used for hunting.

Oh, and the reason I was asking about round balls in the 58 is that I already cast them for 20 gauge loads and for a friends 58.

Thanks again!

Reb

G'Day again Reb, take another look at my post above,
the carbine you want is the same (almost) as the Parker hale I have, they shoot like stink, buck a bit more being a carbine but so ..so accurate, free hand, iron sights, standard target , 50 yds, ten shot .....98 score......say no more.
Paladin

For years used a Cook and Brothers repro .58 Carbine (being from New Orleans made the choice of the Cook carbine a natural). Short, fast handling, and accurate...at least it was once I figured out what it was trying to tell me.

The skirt on 58 mini's are soft and in some molds, thin. Barrel short...thin skirt...loads that work in long rifles blow the skit in short ones. For me, the solution was a thicker skirt.

They are not great hunting guns...the powder charge is light, bullet heavy, velocity low, and the sights are historically accurate...whicih is to well fixed. Can shoot very well, just need to fiddle with components.

While they wouldn't let me handle one, the Confederate Museum has some of the original Cook's (both carbine and rifle...almong with a TON of other things). The museum is accross the street from the D-Day museum, and while they want to close it and tear the building doen, the historic associations don't want to see the BUILDING go....don't seem to give a rat's rump about the museum itself.