zouave

[bigted]

just finished the purchase of a CVA Zouave rifle. this 58 cal looks dandy from the photo's and im anxious to receive it to begin some fun with a thumper.

can anyone tell me if there is any thing to look out for with this particular rifle? any others have a CVA Zouave and if so how is your experience with it ?

thinking if it is a fair decent shooter ...and... as it is an aftermarket rifle ... and ... it will have NO collector value ...and... I got it for what I consider a song ... and ... ive always wanted a short barreled 58 ... I may have a rifle that I can cut and have fun with in a project.

unless of course it turns out to be desirable as is ... such as my old roller which I figured on doing much the same with ... but I really like it as is ... 35 inch barrel and all.

so before it arrives in my grubby little hands ... is there any advise from ya'll as to the rifle do and dont's ?

thanks ...

[1Shirt]

Had one years ago! Shot patched round ball and mini's equally well. Suggest you start with 50 gr. loads of 2FF!
1Shirt!

[KyBill]

810398104081041
Just got a Zouave HyHunter made in 1963 learning myself . I have been using Pyrodex RS 60g loads 510g mini ball running a brush down the barrel every 10 shots or so no fouling .havent shot any RBs yet need a mold. did not get the flat top mold another member said it is a stick cutter for compitition shooting

[Fly]

We don't beleave you till we see pic's (wink)
Fly

[Hanshi]

I also had one many years back and liked it with both minnies and prb. Only killed small game with it, though. they are nice guns.

[bigted]

ya asked>>> these are photos from the previous owner ... pretty good so ill post em for ya.

http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy55/bigted1956/zouave1_zps6754b833.jpg

[Reaper]

Several years ago, I bought two new CVA's online as well as some commercial minies. The hole in the nipple was oversize and blew the hammer back (reenactors). Replaced the nipples. Mine require an oversize minie like the Lee. I patched up the commercial minies with teflon tape (the thicker, yellow gas line type). The rifling is pretty shallow and I found best accuracy around 60 grains of 2F. Track of the Wolf has the repro bayonet and sling. Shooting it with the bayonet on gets lots of attention at the range. You'll enjoy it.........................Ron

[bigted]

ya asked>>> these are photos from the previous owner ... pretty good so ill post em for ya.

http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy55/bigted1956/zouave1_zps6754b833.jpg

guess that didn't work out all that well so ill give it another try;

http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy55/bigted1956/zouave1_zps6754b833.jpg (http://s777.photobucket.com/user/bigted1956/media/zouave1_zps6754b833.jpg.html)

http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy55/bigted1956/zouave2_zps5c4798c7.jpg (http://s777.photobucket.com/user/bigted1956/media/zouave2_zps5c4798c7.jpg.html)

http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy55/bigted1956/zouave3_zps46f226db.jpg (http://s777.photobucket.com/user/bigted1956/media/zouave3_zps46f226db.jpg.html)

http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy55/bigted1956/zouave4_zps37c41d83.jpg (http://s777.photobucket.com/user/bigted1956/media/zouave4_zps37c41d83.jpg.html)

hope these came thru better. darn photo bucket anyway ... just when I get em figured out how to do stuff they change it up on me.

[Hanshi]

I was without my Zouave for decades but finally, years ago, replaced it with a .54 US M1841 Mississippi rifle.

[bob208]

every body I know that has cut one down has not been able to get them to shoot. but the carbine version does shoot well, the bavy arms buffalo hunter does shoot well also. every now and then a h&r in .45 shows up it looks like a buffalo hunter.

[HARRYMPOPE]

mine liked 60g of FFF(Triple Seven or Goex in those cuts).Bore butter or Straight Crisco worked equally well for lube.

George

[mooman76]

I almost bought one about 20 years ago when I was in AK. It always showed up at the gunshows around Fairbanks but I didn't have the $. I don't remember who made it. When I finally got the cash of coarse it never showed up any more. I did manage to pick up a Cabelas Hawkin 58/50 interchangeable barrels. Nice gun and glad I had the $ for that one. Never regretted that purchase.

[TCLouis]

Looks like a new gun to me.

Hope it shoots well.

Let us see some targets once you get it figured out.
Looks to be the perfect Elk gun!

[bigted]

Looks like a new gun to me.

Hope it shoots well.

Let us see some targets once you get it figured out.
Looks to be the perfect Elk gun!

represented to me as new and it struck me as a good moose rifle ... elk down south maybe someday but definitely seems like a good moose gun.

I will spot photo's of some targets when it gets here ... hoping that it shoots well fairly soon but ... shooting it in is the journey isn't it?