cleaning LeMat revolver?

[greytop13]

Hi Fellas,

I'm a flinter and have no experience with percussion or revolvers. My son just returned from shooting his LeMat for the first time and I'm trying to help him take it down for cleaning. He got it used and does not have a manual.

We got the .44 barrel and cylinder off and I can see how to clean that but are we supposed to remove the shotgun barrel too? If so, how? It seems to be on pretty tight and I don't think a pipe wrench would be wise. Thanks--Greytop

 

[torn moc]

Nope...dont remove the smoothbore to clean it....
clean it while it is on the frame then remove the nipple and clean it and where it screws in.
Dont forget to oil ( or use anti seize) the nipple threads.

 

[greytop13]

Thanks, Scalper :hatsoff: . We left it on as you said and swabbed it clean, then oiled the whole shebang. It sure is a pretty thing.

 

When I first got my LeMat a few months ago, my shotgun barrel would not unscrew either. However, after about the third session at the range, the barrel came off easily, just using hand pressure. I don't know if it was loosened by shooting or by oil getting on the threads in cleaning it. In any case, it has unscrewed easily ever since. It does make the cleaning easier. I would suggest that you oil it well after cleaning, and try unscrewing the barrel each time you clean it. Maybe sooner or later it will come off.

 

[LeMat1856]

.
. sep 6 / 11:55pm


i too have tried to remove the lower barrel but could not get it to budge even while using vise grips.. it's not necessary as long as you get everything cleaned out of the fire channel as scalper said, but i personally would do it if i could just to be thorough..

usually there is very little leading from the buckshot or .62 caliber round ball i use, so as long as you can keep it oiled and prevent rusting, no harm no foul.

also, don't forget to squirt ballistol into the action after getting any water in the frame.. i coat the main spring (you need to remove the wooden grips to expose that) with grease to prevent rust as well.. plus it doesn't hurt to drip some oil into the cylinder retension spring.. don't remove it, just re-oil it.

likewise, i re-grease the hand and cylinder after every wash and dry.

here's a downloadable pamphlet from pietta that covers all their models.. the lemat is on pgs 50-51.
english version pietta products

good luck and happy hunting,
~d~

 

[madcratebuilder]

I do a complete detail strip and clean on new guns when I buy them. The LeMat barrel was tight from the factory, needed to mount it in my vise to unscrew. Revolvers with few parts get a detail strip every cleaning but the LeMat's and Paterson's only once a year.

 

[LeMat1856]

.
. sep 10 / 11:50pm


so, the question is: how did you do it ?

was the frame/handle in the vise and then you hand-twisted the barrel or just the opposite ? my fear is clamping too tightly on the barrel will either mar the threads that are near the breach plug or, if further up the barrel, cause a narrowing of the tube itself.. keep in mind that i only have the hand-held type vise grip.

~d~

 

[madcratebuilder]

.
. sep 10 / 11:50pm


so, the question is: how did you do it ?

was the frame/handle in the vise and then you hand-twisted the barrel or just the opposite ? my fear is clamping too tightly on the barrel will either mar the threads that are near the breach plug or, if further up the barrel, cause a narrowing of the tube itself.. keep in mind that i only have the hand-held type vise grip.

~d~

Hey dg, there are a few ways to do it. Two pieces of aluminum flat stock machined to accept the barrel, then clamped in a vise. Thick leather clamped in a vise or vise grips. I grip the barrel and then turn the frame. In your case use a strip of thick leather, vise grips and clamp next to the frame. Hold on tight and twist.
Damn! that Chubby Checker tune just popped into my head.

Pretty cool that Cabela's is replacing the war horse.