LeMat

[btech]

Finally bought one!!! Can't wait to shoot it. I wanna feel what a hand held shotgun feels like.

 

[MosinRob]

A friend of mine one and I think they are the coolest revolver. Congratulations. Great find. Let us know if you shoot it

 

[crockett]

Always wanted one.

 

[btech]

Got it on line for $699. Never been fired. Came in the original box. Sill had a Cabela sticker on the side. New ones listed at $925.

 

[cynthialee]

Sweetness!

That gun has plenty of bullets, that is for sure.
Would love to shoot one.

 

[satx78247]

NEAT! = Congrads on your find.

yours, satx

 

[oletymepreacher]

I have the same model, and it is a lot of fun. The loading lever likes to come undone during recoil. I took it to a gunsmith to fix this, he did for 75% of the time. A rubberband around the barrel and lever works 100%. If you want to get a holster, make sure the muzzle end is closed so you don't lose the shotgun loading lever.

If you get a belt holster, you may need suspenders so you don't lose your pants.

Burn some powder and have fun with it.

 

[Rifleman1776]

That is super neat. Congrats. Even though my old, torn up shoulders couldn't hold it up, I would love to have one.
I once saw one at a CW battlefield National park museum. It was unlabled and I had no idea what it was. I told a ranger I was curious about it. He took my name and address and said he would see if he could get some info on it. Several weeks later I got a hand written letter in the mail from Harold Peterson describing the history of the LeMat. Somewhere I lost that letter. To some it would be a treasure more valuable than the revolver itself.

 

[Alden]

Wow Rifleman!

I have the same revolver -- I think it is simultaneously the most graceful and insane C&B gun ever made.

 

[Wes/Tex]

I have the same revolver -- I think it is simultaneously the most graceful and insane C&B gun ever made.

No kidding! They weren't originally called "Colonel LeMat's Grapeshot Revolver" for nothing. Nine pistol balls and a 'stand and deliver' backup!

 

[btech]

I'd love a copy of that letter also. This gun has a very interesting design history. I've heard they had a habit of exploding due to the cylinder walls being thin and the metallurgy of the day not being that good. I think the only Confederates that actually carried them were high ranking officers due to the price. So I don't think many saw actual combat. I know the real ones go for $10,000-15,000.

 

[Poor Private]

My son owns one, and very seldom fires it. Too much to clean, too many moving parts. And it has a weak loading lever,which I unsderstand was ture to the originals. Have fun shooting it.

 

[btech]

It does look very complicated to clean. I've partially disassembled it already. But I have 3 other pistols to take turns with.

 

[awc]

I own one,got mine for $500.00plus shipping.I really like to shot it,a bit heavy but managable.Had a problem with the shotgun barrel not going off but fixed that and it"s perfect now.I carry mine in a shoulder holster it 's a bit heavy for a side holster.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

nice. IIRC Stonewall Jackson carried one.

 

[Alden]

I guess the modern equivalent would be one of those fully automatic Beretta M-9 type pistols or I maybe the Glock full-auto pistol these plastic days. If ya can do it, hey, why not!?

 

[Blizzard of '93]

dam-ned glad 'the modern equivalent' didn't exist then. however much it may have bennyd the Cornfeds.

 

[btech]

After several weather delays, I finally shot my LeMat. Here’s what I found:
Cons:
The loading lever is very flimsy and quirky to use. Takes a lot of force to even load a 451 RB. Can’t imagine what it would take to load a 454.
Loading 9 cylinders takes a lot of time.
The cylinder fouls very easily rotating on the 20 gauge barrel. Each time I shot 9 rounds I had to disassemble and clean.
The shotgun nipple channel fouls easily too.
Cleaning it was an all afternoon experience.
I experienced my first chain fire even though I use 451 RB’s with a revolver wad! Not sure how but it happened. Never had this on any of my other revolvers.

Pros:
It is absolute blast to shoot!! Especially the shotgun! After 9 shots you flip down the end of the hammer and fire the shotgun. It was great! Had everyone at the range looking at it.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Basically, your post represents the good, bad and ugly about "Colonel LeMat's Grapeshot Revolver" and it was this kind of comment that sent the U.S. Ordnance looking for something else...when the war cranked up they bought a lot worse, long as it'd go BOOM! The thinking probably was that if 9 pistol balls and a load of whatever didn't settle the fight, you needed to find a different hobby! :wink: :haha:

 

[Shine]

But its a good solid French design. :surrender: :shocked2: