Windage adjustment on Zouave

[muzlodr]

Yes, I searched the threads and found no answer so...
The Flintlock site was so helpful with a touch-hole question I had a few weeks ago I thought I'd try a percussion question here.
A while back I bought a used .58 cal Zouave. For $60.00 I figured I couldn't go wrong. The only markings are "Made in Italy - Use Blackpowder Only". Trigger pull of about 90lbs. which I fixed. Ugly shaped stock, perfect bore, groups well, but shoots 12" high (not a problem I can file the notch a little deeper) but it hits about 8" to the right. Neither site is dovetailed. They both appear to be soldered on. Other than de-soldering and re-positioning front or rear do any of you have any suggestions. Front site appears to rigid to bend a little to the right. Rear site is of the three blade flip-up type. I really don't want to hold 8" to the left. I've always been bullseye shooter and my brain fights me when I hold off-center.
Thanx in advance for any help!

 

[Rebel]

Flip up the tallest blade and either drill a small hole in it to use as a peep sight. If you don't get it where it needs to be the firts time, fill the hole with J.B. Weld and re-drill it, or file it down to the height you need and file a new notch in it. You most likely wont be using all 3 sight leafs anyway, so you might as well sight it in with one and just use it. :m2c:

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Yeah, that is a problem. I think those sights are not "soft soldered" but brazed or silver soldered, whatever it is it's a high temp solder so not easy to move the sights. If it were me, I'd probably cut the front sight down to the base and cut a very small dovetail across the base and fabricate a new blade to fit. It would be easier to slot the base lengthwise and slightly off center to the right but if you don't get it quite right the first time you'd be back to the same problem again. Maybe that's why it was $60.oo. Since you have to file the rear notch deeper, why not file it off to the left? :relax:

 

[Pork Chop]

Why not cut off the front sight, cut a dovetail and put in an adjustable front sight?

 

[Rat]

I think the Pork-Chop is right, but, there should be a screw that holds the rear sight on the barrel, which you should see when you flip up all the sights, then, usually, if you loosen that screw, the rear sight will drift left and right.

Maybe yers is different.

Besides drilling a peep into one of the longer range sights, you can also cut them down to the desired height, and then cut your new notch to the left, which will bring your POI back to where you want it. To find out where to cut the new notch, just leave the sight high at first, and experiment with different locations. When you find the right place, just cut her down to the final height, and put your notch there.

Wow $60 for a Zouave...such a deal!

Rat

Rat

 

[muzlodr]

Yeah, Rat, it really was a good deal. I dropped a mirror down the bore and checked it with a flashlight and the bore was (is) as new. A lot of gun for the money. There is no screw holding the rear site on. I think I'll try the peep idea first (my 63 yr old eyes would like that). If that's too far up the barrel to work for my eyes, I'll try filing one of the other blades.

 

[muzlodr]

Update!!
Well, I couldn't drill the tall blade because the screw is frozen in and my fine tip twisted trying to remove it. So I resorted to my old system and got a bigger hammer. I wrapped everything well and locked it in a vise. Got out a large punch and a 'big' hammer and applied 'gentle lateral pressure' to the sight base. While the sight assembly was airborne, I noticed that beneath where it once resided, the barrel is both tapped and dovetailed. My Zouave now has a Hawken rear sight mounted (just temporary, of course) - looks kind of neat. Let's see, I'm a Union Vet heading out West with my weapon that was damaged and repaired with whatever could be scrounged... :hmm: :hmm:

 

[Rat]

Right on...when a dude took his broken rifle into the blacksmith for a fix, I bet the blacksmith, or gunsmith, never said: "oh we can't use this rear sight...it's not ORIGINAL". !!!! I bet most likely he said: "well I don't have another rifle-musket sight, but this old Hawken sight will work."

:crackup: :crackup: :applause: :imo:

You see I have long-rifle sights on my Brown Bess musket, and I kind of figger the same thing. In 1782, when I was heading out into the wilderness to make it rich in the fur trade, with the musket I pried from the cold dead fingers of a Red Coat when I was in the war, and I wanted a little more range/accuracy, that the gunsmith didn't refuse to put sights on it because: "oh, muskets never had rear sights...it wouldn't be correct"!! (I took a musket and a Jaeger with me...the rifle for hunting big four legged critters, and the musket for grouse, ducks, geese and fighting)

:results:

Rat

 

[muzlodr]

Rat:
I like your way of thinking. Some of mine are pure, and I wouldn't change a thing, but others are to have fun with and may need to be modified to fit our needs in the most expedient manner. :imo: :results: