Finally got a musket that shoots like it should.
This is a reproduction 1863 Remington contract rifle, usually referred to as a Zoauve.
It's the one on the bottom.

It shot a 4 inch group at 100 yards which I'll take any day.

And a Finnish M-91.
This one is in good condition other than needing to be reblued.

Shooting Russian 148grain surplus this one shot a 3 inch group at 100 yards, I suspect it'll do better once I get used to it and I'm pretty sure too that it shoots better than I do.
My eyes aren't what they used to be.

Jim

Sweet, been looking at buying a Mosin Nagant to.

What make is that 1863 reproduction and where did you get it.

I'm thinking of getting two 1863 Springfield 3 band rifles.

Is that a Brown Bess, second from top?

Nah, it's a post Civil War Springfield trapdoor.

OG,
It was made by the Antonio Zoli company in Italy.
I got it at a local gunshop in unfired condition for a very good price, a businessman bought it to hang on his office wall and never fired it.
It's identical to this one http://www.gunauction.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=10716062.

The 63' Springfield is a nice rifle, I would suggest this minieball mold if you are going to cast and shoot your own.
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/mould-details-blackpowder.php?entryID=91

The Remington likes them and I'm told they work well with the reproduction Springfields.
Which brand reproduction are you looking at?

Mace,
The top one is a Nepalese built P1853 Enfield musket, the second one is a Nepalese built P1864 Snyder-Enfield conversion breechloader, the third is a Gahendra Martini-Henry.
I'd love to have a Brown Bess but there's no way I can afford one, even one of foreign manufacture like the other antiques I have is well beyond my means.

Jim

Hummf, and I called it wrong as a trapdoor.

Wish I could afford a trapdoor Springfield too, occasionally you'll see one on Gunbroker.com for a good price but many of those are in poor condition and would be questionable as a shooter.
The Snyder-Enfield was the British equivalent of the trapdoor Springfield and was a marked improvement over the regular Enfield musket.
A trained infantryman could fire 9 to 10 well aimed shots per minute compared to the 3 shots per minute with the musket.
Also, the Snyder allowed the rifleman to load and fire from cover without having to expose himself to enemy fire to reload.

Jim

Sweet. Black powder is awesome. I went the Cowboy route 45 Revolvers,12 gauge Shot Gun, and a copy of 1892 Lever Rifle. However, I still have a weak spot for the Henry Rifle and the 1858 Remington Revolver

I've got an 1851 Confederate Navy Colt and an 1858 Remington New Army reproduction.
They shoot very well and will hold a 6 inch group at 50 feet using a 15 grain charge and .451 round balls.

Jim

Nice addition, Jim.

By the way, check your PM's

Cheers

Nice addition Wolf.
Looks a lot like the rifle I remember "Davie Crockett" carrying, in the TV series I watched as a kid, back in the 50's.
Even the color is the same......

Anyway....nice piece.