Bought one of these in 1989. Mine is a V.P. finito XX. I think it was manufactured in the late 60s early 70s. I paid $75 for it at a pawn shop. It has a small crack in the stock but I repaired it before I ever shot it. The rifle had a beautiful blond stock with lots of figuring and tiger tail, the only reason I bought it. Just refinished it with aqua fortis and it looks 200 years old. After watching this video and others I was overloading the powder so I never could zero. So I hung it on the wall and went to old faithful T/C Hawken .54 cal. Thanks for this video, in the spring I will try experimenting.
I wish you could still buy these for that price. I paid $375 for this one several years back. If I could have known it as a teenager I would have bought up several of these older muzzle loaders. After I looked up the numbers, this one was actually made in 1979. I’m hoping that the black powder shortage will work itself out so I can go back to shooting my smoke poles more.
I love your 1863 Remington civil war rifle. Awesome, I would love to get a reproduction or even an original someday when I can afford it. Thank you for sharing, good video.
A friend and I were at a gun show and there was a guy selling this same gun, I don’t recall the exact price but it was a good buy, so I said to my friend under my breath “ that’s a good price “, we continued looking around and came back to the same table an hour later and he had marked the price up 100 dollars 😁
I had one about that time before I started reloading. I'd buy another if they weren't so expensive. If I remember mine was about the price of a basic shotgun but now they cost like a high end AR.
I have one of these too, it looks exactly the same. I do Civil War reenacting and can say safely… these things f**king suck! Lol. All seriousness, the short barrel (a common problem among 2-banders) causes them to clog easily. Also, they probably remind you of the Mississippi and Harper’s Ferry rifle because they’re all actually part of the same contract line. The 1841 Mississippi and 1855 Harper’s Ferry were under the same Remington contract, and the 1863 Zouave was an extension. And to answer the question about the argument between whether they were used, both sides are right. They were never issued, because it was too expensive to produce in wartime as they couldn’t afford to take funds away from producing other guns they already had on the line, and because the government already had better rifles such as the Springfield to fight with, so a small number were produced. A few were used, but most of them would have been privately purchased (or privately looted from shops in the North during Lee’s second invasion, by both sides) or perhaps experimental units that were never recorded.
The .58 caliber minie ball would cause such horrible damage when it hit bone that the bone at the impact point would be pulverized. That is the reason so many extremity wounds resulted in almost automatic amputation, because there was no bone left either side of the wound to enable the body to reknit and heal the stricken limb. Made combat ranges increase from 50 yards (round ball smooth barrel musketry) to 300 yards as soon as it was introduced, with high probability that an aimed shot would hit a man sized target. In July, 1864, just outside Washington, Lincoln was targeted by a Southern sharpshooter, probably using an Enfield rifled musket, and almost hit him from 800 yards, striking the Major standing next to him on the parapet.
@@jamesyoung1547 It is possible, but I can find no clear confirmation of that. The fact that the famed rifle shot missed Lincoln by three feet to hit the doctor tells me that it was just as likely fired from an Enfield rifle musket, as the Whitworth was deadly on for a human sized target at 800 yards. Part of the problem with the Whitworth theory is that fewer than 200 of these pieces made their way into the Confederate ranks and they were a carefully managed resource. By this time of the war, the inventory loss in the Whitworth rifle stocks would have made its presence with Early's troops in front of Washington somewhat doubtful. The Enfield rifle musket, in the hands of a trained marksman, was fairly effective at 800 yards, as testing in Britain had shown that it could hit a 20 inch target at that range at least half the time. By late war, there were such men in the ranks of both armies.
@@jamesvanwinkle7775 If you thought what happened to the South was terrible after Lincoln's assassination by a cowardly actor, think of what it would have been like if the President had been killed by a regular Confederate army sniper before Grant broke into the defenses of Petersburg. Appomattox was going to happen regardless of any misfortune that might befall Lincoln, but Grant, knowing that Lincoln had been killed by a confederate soldier, would not have been of the forgiving state of mind he actually displayed towards Lee and the Army of Virginia. The terms Grant offered Lee were the express wish of President Lincoln, and if Lincoln had died before he visited Grant at City Point, Grant would have followed other guidance, probably from Stanton. In the best case scenario, Lee would have had to surrender with no conditions or face the full force of the Army of the Potomac, with the complete destruction of the Confederate forces in Virginia and North Carolina the result. It also means that, without parole being offered, the South would have been engulfed for years in a futile guerilla war, a war that would make the preceding 4 years seem like a tame thing and would have wrecked the South for generations. Much of what went on in the South during Reconstruction was a direct result of Lincoln's assassination, if only because Lincoln was not there to rein in the hotheaded and powerful Edwin Stanton and the Congressional radicals.
Ive got one stamped Replica Arms Ridgefield ,NJ. Ive read that Navy Arms bought the company out in the 70's-80s. Anyone have feed back on these? Quality and value?
Thanks for the information! I know there is discussion on how many or who actually used them. Nevertheless I always thought they were beautiful rifles.
The navy arms replica of this firearm I ow ed in the e a rly 80s doted on575 minie balls over 80 grains of 3 f. That is a higher load than the military ,oadof 60grains but it was great in my zouave
Hello! It was produced by Zoli in Gardone val Trompia, Italy. The factory Is still there, but they don't produce this rifle anymore. I got One of those months ago, but because of black powder shortage i'll try It only tomorrow, i can't wait!
I usually shoot 60 grains of 2F powder. I’ve used 50 grains of 3F with very similar results from 20 out to 50 yards. I only target shoot with these loads.
I picked up an beautiful example of one of those. It’s a Navy Arms imported and is just beautiful to me. Sad thing is that she just refuses to shoot accurately. Not sure why. I’ve tried everything, powder, minie weights and styles.. pounds of powder and lead. 🥲 I surrendered and just load ball with fiber wad sandwiches for plinking at the range. I still think she’s peerdy as all get out even if she ain’t no shooter.
I started skirmishing in N-SSA.org in 1981 with a Zoli Zouave. A real tack driver
Bought one of these in 1989. Mine is a V.P. finito XX. I think it was manufactured in the late 60s early 70s. I paid $75 for it at a pawn shop. It has a small crack in the stock but I repaired it before I ever shot it. The rifle had a beautiful blond stock with lots of figuring and tiger tail, the only reason I bought it. Just refinished it with aqua fortis and it looks 200 years old. After watching this video and others I was overloading the powder so I never could zero. So I hung it on the wall and went to old faithful T/C Hawken .54 cal. Thanks for this video, in the spring I will try experimenting.
I wish you could still buy these for that price. I paid $375 for this one several years back. If I could have known it as a teenager I would have bought up several of these older muzzle loaders. After I looked up the numbers, this one was actually made in 1979. I’m hoping that the black powder shortage will work itself out so I can go back to shooting my smoke poles more.
Love the Zouave. I have a 2 band enfield made by Parker Hale that is similar in size.
I love your 1863 Remington civil war rifle. Awesome, I would love to get a reproduction or even an original someday when I can afford it. Thank you for sharing, good video.
Thank you!
A friend and I were at a gun show and there was a guy selling this same gun, I don’t recall the exact price but it was a good buy, so I said to my friend under my breath “ that’s a good price “, we continued looking around and came back to the same table an hour later and he had marked the price up 100 dollars 😁
Built a Zouave kit when i was 14 , gone thru 3 Barrels so Far . I have taken Deer with it .
That is awesome and definitely getting your use out of a fine rifle!
Just bought a Zouave. Already have the lead round balls, my Minie balls are on order. Going to the range in 1 or 2 weeks when it gets warmer.
You will definitely like it better once you shoot it. I have had a couple of them and I just love the feel and look of them.
I had one about that time before I started reloading. I'd buy another if they weren't so expensive. If I remember mine was about the price of a basic shotgun but now they cost like a high end AR.
Guns of every type have definitely gone up in price. I very seldom buy a new gun. Typically it’s a used gun if I can find a fair price.
Beautiful rifle, I love civil war rifles and percussion revolvers.
The .58 was mainly responsible for the many amputations during the war due to it shattering bone when hit.
The Zouave was used in Africa on Elephant. I want to say the load was a custom cast 600gr conical over 150gr-200gr of 2F black powder.
That would pack a wallop!
Nice work!!
Thank you and thanks for watching!!
I have one of these too, it looks exactly the same. I do Civil War reenacting and can say safely… these things f**king suck! Lol. All seriousness, the short barrel (a common problem among 2-banders) causes them to clog easily.
Also, they probably remind you of the Mississippi and Harper’s Ferry rifle because they’re all actually part of the same contract line. The 1841 Mississippi and 1855 Harper’s Ferry were under the same Remington contract, and the 1863 Zouave was an extension.
And to answer the question about the argument between whether they were used, both sides are right. They were never issued, because it was too expensive to produce in wartime as they couldn’t afford to take funds away from producing other guns they already had on the line, and because the government already had better rifles such as the Springfield to fight with, so a small number were produced. A few were used, but most of them would have been privately purchased (or privately looted from shops in the North during Lee’s second invasion, by both sides) or perhaps experimental units that were never recorded.
At Gettysburg there is a monument to the 52nd NY Infantry and they show the 1863 Remington Contract rifle or Zouave.
Thanks for that information! I only know what I have read. Regardless, these rifles are fine shooting rifles.
The .58 caliber minie ball would cause such horrible damage when it hit bone that the bone at the impact point would be pulverized. That is the reason so many extremity wounds resulted in almost automatic amputation, because there was no bone left either side of the wound to enable the body to reknit and heal the stricken limb.
Made combat ranges increase from 50 yards (round ball smooth barrel musketry) to 300 yards as soon as it was introduced, with high probability that an aimed shot would hit a man sized target.
In July, 1864, just outside Washington, Lincoln was targeted by a Southern sharpshooter, probably using an Enfield rifled musket, and almost hit him from 800 yards, striking the Major standing next to him on the parapet.
I think it was a Whitworth that was used to shoot at Lincoln.
@@jamesyoung1547 It is possible, but I can find no clear confirmation of that. The fact that the famed rifle shot missed Lincoln by three feet to hit the doctor tells me that it was just as likely fired from an Enfield rifle musket, as the Whitworth was deadly on for a human sized target at 800 yards.
Part of the problem with the Whitworth theory is that fewer than 200 of these pieces made their way into the Confederate ranks and they were a carefully managed resource. By this time of the war, the inventory loss in the Whitworth rifle stocks would have made its presence with Early's troops in front of Washington somewhat doubtful.
The Enfield rifle musket, in the hands of a trained marksman, was fairly effective at 800 yards, as testing in Britain had shown that it could hit a 20 inch target at that range at least half the time. By late war, there were such men in the ranks of both armies.
Too bad it missed!!
@@jamesvanwinkle7775 If you thought what happened to the South was terrible after Lincoln's assassination by a cowardly actor, think of what it would have been like if the President had been killed by a regular Confederate army sniper before Grant broke into the defenses of Petersburg.
Appomattox was going to happen regardless of any misfortune that might befall Lincoln, but Grant, knowing that Lincoln had been killed by a confederate soldier, would not have been of the forgiving state of mind he actually displayed towards Lee and the Army of Virginia. The terms Grant offered Lee were the express wish of President Lincoln, and if Lincoln had died before he visited Grant at City Point, Grant would have followed other guidance, probably from Stanton. In the best case scenario, Lee would have had to surrender with no conditions or face the full force of the Army of the Potomac, with the complete destruction of the Confederate forces in Virginia and North Carolina the result. It also means that, without parole being offered, the South would have been engulfed for years in a futile guerilla war, a war that would make the preceding 4 years seem like a tame thing and would have wrecked the South for generations.
Much of what went on in the South during Reconstruction was a direct result of Lincoln's assassination, if only because Lincoln was not there to rein in the hotheaded and powerful Edwin Stanton and the Congressional radicals.
@@boydgrandy5769 Whew!
THANKS 🙂😎👍
One of my 3rd great grandpa's was a Zouave in the 2nd Delaware. I have a picture of him in his uniform with rifle but I'm pretty sure it's an Enfield.
That is a very cool piece of history to have about your family!
Ive got one stamped Replica Arms Ridgefield ,NJ. Ive read that Navy Arms bought the company out in the 70's-80s. Anyone have feed back on these? Quality and value?
Maybe it's a Paolo Bondini
gun. PB stamp in ones. And a Framed Star for Brescia/Gardone (Fire Department).
Thanks
The Zouave was used by artillery and the 11th New York
Thanks for the information! I know there is discussion on how many or who actually used them. Nevertheless I always thought they were beautiful rifles.
They absolutely where
Nice rifle Thanks
My pleasure. I enjoy just about anything with a trigger. I just have a soft spot for some of the older firearms.
How many grains is the bullet mini ball?
Around 450 grains give or take a few. I have heard people shooting some over 500 grains. I think it depends on your particular mold you have.
@@crowofwisdom2884 do you the bullet speed?
How far was the target you were shooting at?
I think on this particular video, I was shooting at 25 yds if memory serves me correctly.
That was in the Civil War on the union side going different that doesn’t have a Bette net
The navy arms replica of this firearm I ow ed in the e a rly 80s doted on575 minie balls over 80 grains of 3 f. That is a higher load than the military ,oadof 60grains but it was great in my zouave
Hello from Russia! Who did produce this repro of zouave?
FIE was the importer. It is stamped Italy on the barrel.
Hello! It was produced by Zoli in Gardone val Trompia, Italy. The factory Is still there, but they don't produce this rifle anymore. I got One of those months ago, but because of black powder shortage i'll try It only tomorrow, i can't wait!
I had one it was agreat shooting rifle new youk used them in the civil war
You shouldn't need a ball starter, ball is too big or patch is too thick, Gov. Load was 60gr. Of 3f or what they called 'fine ' grain powder
I had one and shot a big deer with it and man what a hole that minnie ball made.
58 minie does more than tear and break bones, they will go trough you
Have you ever loaded it with shot, and if so how does it pattern?
I have never loaded it with shot. I would imagine, since it has a rifled barrel, the pattern would not be very tight.
How many grains of powder are you using?
I usually shoot 60 grains of 2F powder. I’ve used 50 grains of 3F with very similar results from 20 out to 50 yards. I only target shoot with these loads.
@@musketman54 I have a Navy Arms Zouave and I use 70-75 grains tops with a .58 minie. Pretty accurate right out to 100 yards.
Can you please explain what the sight picture should be?
Huuuyyyyyyyyiiii ese Rifle o caños tiene de largo y q calibre es 20.0 Milímetros
Language Hindi
I picked up an beautiful example of one of those. It’s a Navy Arms imported and is just beautiful to me. Sad thing is that she just refuses to shoot accurately. Not sure why. I’ve tried everything, powder, minie weights and styles.. pounds of powder and lead. 🥲 I surrendered and just load ball with fiber wad sandwiches for plinking at the range. I still think she’s peerdy as all get out even if she ain’t no shooter.