Any Lemat Shooters Here?

[mykeal]

Anyone know how to get the barrel assembly off of the lemat ???
...wow...it took me a few minutes but I have it figured out...Duh
I honestly thought I would have to buy the $20 book to find out...There is nothing online...
Live an Learn!

I thought you were going to get a copy of Cumpston's book. As I said, it has a chapter on the LeMat. It includes disassembly instructions, including how to make a tool to help make it easier.

 

[torn moc]

Yes ...I will get the book...but it takes time .
this pistol just arrived today and you know I have to take it apart to see just what I have...gotta check nipples to see if they are frozen...and check to see of back of cylinder
is worn...smae with the hand...etc.
But this pistol aint like any I have previously owned,,,,I cant even get the barrel off,,,,,,
I finally figgered it out though...
strange how piettas "Online" woners manual does not even mention disassembly....
also strange how I cant find ANY reference to dissembly.....Hmmmm????????

 

[torn moc]

I meant to say "Piettas Online Owners Manual" in the previous post....
Need more Time To edit My Hillbilly Spellin!!!

 

[LeMat1856]

howdy,

as my "handle" implies, i have a lemat (bought from cabela in july 2008) and love it.

ask any questions you have and i'll try to answer them.

just noticed some previous remarks:
"weak inner parts" possibly in earlier years (pietta received an award for this item in 1985 and has been making them ever since), but this is usually said by heavy use skirmishers who crank out thousands of rounds per year.. i only shoot once or twice per month (50-75 rounds each time) and have had no problems.. also, you can buy replacement parts, have them "hardened" with casinite (sp) and that should last decades.

"grains per load" - the booklet recommends safe, low level loads.. i use between 20-25 FFF goex with one wonder wad and there is still room for more powder.. the question is, "why use 35gr on a piece of paper ?" too much powder will not burn efficiently and you just create a huge cloud of smoke.. the danger is preparing a "short shot" - one where there is too much space between the powder, wad, round, and barrel.. be sure you either use two wads or push the round down far enough so that everything is tightly packed when using 15-20gr; 25gr plus 1 wad leaves only a small gap between the round and barrel.

anything else ?

i'll try and read the previous posts to see what's been discussed already.

private post me if you want.

~d~
p.s. i have the cumpston/bates book and love it. it had an extensive table on loads, pyrodex, swiss, and various rounds (.451, .454).

 

[LeMat1856]

scalper,

are you still having problems getting it apart ?

there are differences between the cavalry, and army/navy models which should be pretty evident.

mine is cavalry.

~daniel~

 

[torn moc]

No problems taking the Lemat apart now...I just had to look at it for awhile to realize the barrel assembly screws off the shot barrel.

 

[LeMat1856]

mar 19 / 9:30pm

great.

there is one more item you should try to get - a two pronged, left side plate nut removal bit.

a member here, madcratebuilder, made some for sale and i got both the right and left side bits from him several months ago.. as far as i know, he is the only source for this tool which is needed if you ever want to remove the side plates and access the action parts.

you might have to send him a 'pm' and, if that doesn't work, an email requesting some.. i can put you in touch with him if need be.

i was actually surprised when i realized it was you that answered my question about the 'bad grouping' in the smoothbore forum.. looks like you've got it under control.

have fun with your new horse pistol.. they're a blast - literally.

~d~

 

[madcratebuilder]

Someone mention my name? scalper, you have mail. Hey dg, what's up?

The LeMat so far has been as robust as any other cap & ball revolver I shoot. The Calvary model has a reputation for the barrel locking pin to be loose. Not mine, if anything it's tight, I need to use a rawhide mallet to start it to move.
The loading lever, yup, it's light weight, thank you, it's a heavy gun already. The chambers are cut for .451 rb's, if you try stuffing .454 or larger in them, yea, something might bend. Don't be a 800 lb gorilla.
The ram rod does come loose, if you put a tiny 'bend' in it, it well stay in the handle.
Disassembly does require you fab a spanner bit for the blind nut on the left side. Complicated, to many parts, no way. Even if it had 100 parts you still handle ONE at a time.
Heavy trigger, Yes Sir! It needs all the energy it can get to fire the center cap. I plan on addressing my trigger after I have several hundred rounds through it.
Fit and finish is better than your average Pietta. If Pietta had spent another five minutes polishing the frame before the bluing I would rate it a 9.5 out of 10, as is I rate it 8 out of 10 because of the swirl marks in the steel under the bluing.