Minie Recommendation

[Tom A Hawk]

I have a 70's Zoli Zouave and Lyman minie mold that have never given me exceptional accuracy. The minie seems undersized to the point that I'm afraid it might slide out of the barrel if carried muzzle down. Not too bad after a fowling shot.

What other minies have provided good results in a Zouave?

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

A properly sized minie, unlubed, will slide down the barrel with a slight "hisss" with the hammer at half cock. If it slides down fast and/or rattles, you will never get good accuracy. with my enfield, I cast at .580 and sized to .577. When lubed, the weight of the ramrod with little assistance will send the minie down a clean barrel. A properly sized and lubed minie can be fired repeatedly without needing to clean between shots.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

You need to pin gauge the bore to be CERTAIN of what the diameter is. Then you can pick your minie and size down further if necessary. The Minie needs to be .001-.002 under bore size.

If you don't want to cast and size your own, they are available from lodgewood.

https://www.lodgewood.com/Bullets_c_7.html

Finding your exact bore size is paramount to accuracy when using a Minie.

 

[tc45dave]

I shoot Lyman 575-494 Minies in my Zouave. The accuracy is really good at 50 yds. I have not shot them at 100 yds yet.
https://i.postimg.cc/gkQZCw87/Lyman-575-for-Zouave.jpg

 

[ord sgt]

What size minie from your Lyman mold? Many people shoot a .580 minie with greased rings and get good accuracy with the right powder charge.
A point of reference here. I shoot a sized .575 500 grain minie out of my Enfield, using 44 grains FFFg. I get good hits at 100 yards with this load.
You never mentioned your powder charge.

 

[Trot]

You have to measure the bore, even rifles from the same maker, the same model manufactured the same year can vary quite a bit. Measure first, then you need a minie no more than .002 under bore size. You can't necessarily count on the mold dropping the bullet the exact size the mold claims to be either. The minies should be sized to the proper measurement.

 

[Grenadier1758]

And the lead has to be pure lead to cast true to the size marked on the mold. Also, the lead must be pure, soft lead or very nearly so or the skirts of the Minie' ball won't expand into the grooves. Just how hard is @Tom A Hawk's lead?

 

[dave951]

Some good advice posted thus far and the "Search" function is your friend. We've been over and over this.

With a minie rifle, you can NEVER, EVER, assume it's .575. They vary widely and a proper fitting bullet is a must as is real black powder, quality lube and caps. Yes, Lee molds are cheap, but you get what you pay for. In all my minie rifles, only 1, ONE, Lee mold works and that's the one they discontinued. I have molds and rifles that vary from .575 all the way to .581. Bullets for the .575 rifles will have poor accuracy in the .581 rifle and that's not the fault of the bullet, rifle or shooter. It's simply the wrong ammo.

 

[towgunner11h]

IIRC, my Zoli measures .580" and shoots great with Minies sized .578".

 

[akroguy]

I have three rifle muskets and they all mic differently. Pin gauges, sizers and various molds all necessary to feed the guns the right ammo.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

What size minie from your Lyman mold? Many people shoot a .580 minie with greased rings and get good accuracy with the right powder charge.
A point of reference here. I shoot a sized .575 500 grain minie out of my Enfield, using 44 grains FFFg. I get good hits at 100 yards with this load.
You never mentioned your powder charge.

Had to dig out my mold. Its a 575213. Have always used 60 grains FF. The balls are measuring .575". Where to buy a few larger balls to try?

 

[towgunner11h]

Lodgewood.com