Baby LeMat!

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Panzerschwein

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Check out this new video from the crew on Forgotten Weapons:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJhC3H0srQY

It's a smaller .32 caliber version of the LeMat revolver made for the Confederate Navy. We need to get F.LLI Pietta of Italy to make a reproduction of this gun. It would be much nicer to pack around on the trail or at the local saloon.

Take care!
 
Very interesting!

However I'm surprised that it's merely a .32 cal pistol. Not much to take the fight out of an opponent, especially with such a small powder charge which wouldn't likely create enough velocity to reliably expand the ball upon impact.

It would be exceptional were it .36 cal with maybe a 28 ga center barrel.
 
Very interesting!

However I'm surprised that it's merely a .32 cal pistol. Not much to take the fight out of an opponent, especially with such a small powder charge which wouldn't likely create enough velocity to reliably expand the ball upon impact.

It would be exceptional were it .36 cal with maybe a 28 ga center barrel.
Most cap n' balls don't really "expand" the ball, at least not by a whole lot.

You really need the velocity of a musket like a Brown Bess to do that, and only at closer ranges.

I've no doubt a .32 to the jugular or apricot would do in a Yank.
 
I've asked at what velocity pure lead begins to expand and was told around 800 fps. However, with what little can be found, it seems that's a bit low with it being closer to 1000 fps. That's easily doable for a full size .36 or a .44 cal ball as long as an energetic ball is used.

Just about any caliber is effective if the shot is just right. War isn't quite like that though.
 
A 'Baby' LeMat would be uber-cool! The Navy version I have is a super heavy thing, but absolutely beautiful and just a total joy to own and fondle. I can't see mine ever being fired as long as I own it....just too pretty to crud up with black powder fouling. All of the other black powder guns in the safe have nominated the LeMat as their leader...and I agree.:)
 
RecoilRob,
Don't miss out on 90% of the fun of owning a LeMat. With proper care and maint., you will be enjoying that revolver all of your life and passing it on to your children, relatives, etc. Mine gets taken out with every visit to the range and is a constant source of fun, especially when I fire the shotgun barrel. ;o)
regards!

P.S. See Doug Adams 'The Confederate LeMat Revolver' for the skinny on those Baby Lemats
 

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How are the Pietta LeMats?

They any good?

I've had best luck with single-shot blackpowder handguns. Seems every cap and ball revolver I ever had gave me trouble. How do the LeMats serve?
 
Cooldill,
The LeMat definitely takes more prep and more cleanup than a standard sixgun. I used information from 'Duelist' on the forum here and of Youtube fame along with Cumpston's book on Percussion Revolvers to gather up the right shooting supplies for a 9 shot revolver with a mid gauge shotgun barrel attached. The Pietta replica is an almost exact copy of the original but uses better steel I think. As such, you want to make ready to deal with the original guns minor weirdnesses as they have also been faithfully recreated ( tendency to launch the shotgun rammer and using the right size cap on the shotgun nipple ) also. I love mine and everyone who shoots one long term does so as well.
Regards!
 
Very nice. They appear to be more expensive than some other cap and ball revolvers, but boy are they interesting.
 
Yes, I've heard that as well.

Maybe some of the "LeMat Posse" here can tell us if this is true and if so, a better way to reload a LeMat.
 
Maybe even a good fix for the loading lever to stay in place under recoil, which I heard is another issue.
 
Evenin'
I've had no problem with using the loading lever, the _rule_ being, make sure the shotgun rammer is in it's place there since it is the stiffener. That said, some like Duelist, load off the gun on a revolving loader. As for the flying rammer and leaping loader lever, keep the lever screw mount tight so the loader lever doesn't jump and the rammer will not fly. Colonel LeMat of the Forum here can speak with more authority than I ( as can many ) but those fixes work for me.
regards!
 
Saw a .357 Maximum LeMat with a 28 ga (?) slightly rifled shotgun barrel in the center. The thing was over 2 lbs, engraved and all custom made by a summer student at TSJC. The weight will tame the .357 Max, but I don't need tendonitis from holding it up.
 
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