Bob:

What do you envision yourself doing as a reenactor…Confederate, Yank… if Confederate, are you looking for a Trans Mississippi, Army of Tennessee, Army of Northern Virginia impression?

If Federal, doing Eastern, or Western impressions…there is a whole world out there you can choose to portray…early war, mid war, or a late war impression on either side.

These questions answered by yourself would go a long way towards helping you decide on what weapon to choose.

My first answer would be if Confederate, an Armi-Sport 3-band Enfield rifled musket would be a good choice. Also an Armi-Sport 1842 Smoothbore Musket would be good second choice.

If your wanting to do a Federal impression, a Euroarms, or Armi-Sport 1861 Rifled Musket would be good, or the above mentioned 1842 smoothbore musket. Also the Armi-Sport 3-band Enfield will work in many Yank scenario’s.

I’d stay completely away from the reproduction 1863 Remington Contract Rifle, otherwise known as the “Zouave”, as their questionable availability during the war. Also 2-band Enfield Rifles, and the 2-band 1841 “Mississippi” rifle may cause you headaches at events, because many units and or events don’t like the shorter “Rifle” in the ranks. This due to supposed safety problems with folk firing them in the rear ranks, and that folk don’t want the “Zouave” cropping up in the ranks.

Give us an idea as to what you want to do in the hobby, and we can be of more help.
Respectfully:

Kevin Dally