2008 Pietta LeMat Navy

[Alabama]

I have two matching 2008 production Pietta LeMat Navy revolvers now , am impressed as heck with thier fit and finish , it is exceptional .
Most folks don't buy two LeMats because they are so un-Godly expensive , but after getting the first one , I had to have two of them , especially since the current production run of these revolvers is so well made . Gettem while you can is what I am saying .
I do some gunsmithing to my collection which consists of many many revolvers , but these two LeMats required no real lookin after . I pollished them even further than they come already high gloss blued and pollished , greased and oiled them up , but that's it , they don't require much of anything . But for $800 each , they shouldn't require anything , right .
Timing is spot on , very very smooth operation . The Navy model has the nicer finger actuated hammer nose to switch from revolver barrel to shotgun barrel with a flick of the thumb , nice touch indeed . Makes for a very fast ten round episode of unloading your charges on target .
The gun is NOT for dainty hands or people , it is manly or huge girly sized gun if you will , and you have to have large hands to operate it one handed . Let alone hold it up fully loaded . It is Colt Dragoon sized .
The checkering on the grips makes for a firm platform too, which is nice with the " OLD STYLE " Kentucky Pistol slope of the grip frame . It does NOT point like Colts or Remingtons . It has a natural point but its like the old Kentucky style pistols which is good, because of weight and recoil . Plus it is quite gracefull with this set-up too .
Both sets of grips are finely checkered and near perfect with good quality Walnut used on them . Oil finished of some sort .
Loading lever is not nearly as flimbsy as what has been described to me in reviews of this gun I have read . its pleanty stout and if held closer to the cylinder for loading rather than towards the muzzle end you can really crank on it without bendin it whatsoever or over stressing it . It has no problem sprewing a .454 Hornady round ball into the cylinder .
The ram-rod for the shotgun barrel needs attention though, it fits too loosely in the loading lever where its stored for the shotgun barrel loading . I put a mild bend , almost un-seeable in it by hand and now it fits snuggly into the loading lever .
The knurlled pin that holds the barrel in alignment is a nice upgrade from the badly designed lever the Cavalry model has . It is rock solid and set screwed into place and easilly removable and easy to operate for disassembley too .
The shotgun barrel is attatched to the frame , the revolver barrel is screwed onto this upon assembly too, then set securely in place with the knurled pin, a VERY stout system indeed . All tollerences are very tight , especially the barrel to frame , it's almost a work of art . Well actually the LeMat Navy is a work of art , that actually works .
It is by far the finest BP revolver I owne now, both of them . They are very nicely put together , nothing like all my other Piettas , they are in a class all their own . You would never think Pietta even made this revolver when you see or hold one up close . Piettas are nice or at least good , but this Pietta is exceptional . For $800 , it better be !
I used to think of the LeMat as being so ugly it was beautiful ? Now , I view it as one of the most beautiful revolvers ever made , and that came about by me actually buying one, holding it , examining it and actually seeing how it functions and worked inside and out, and I can attest times two now it is an awsome and strongly designed WORK OF ART .
Some lke Rembrandt and Picaso' , I prefer working art like the awsome LeMat Navy . Now that's art !
I think the most Stately feature to this revolver is the massive octogon barrel ? It is large, heavy and robust , and so finely pollished it gleams like a freshly cleaned old silver backed mirror . The way it was designed with to mate with the frame is a phenominal feat of beauty and strength too . It just flows into the frame , very nice touch .
Also, both trigger pulls on mine are exceptional too , no creep, very strong and crisp let-offs .

I would buy another one for sure , but two is enough , for now ! Having 20 rounds in two hands is a mighty lot of firewpower ,
and this revolver lacks nothing in that arena by far . 
Would not want to be on the recieving end of this revolver even on my best day .
I highly recomend this revolver , especially in its current production from Pietta, they are truelly awsome and very well made right now .

Enjoy ,


Truelly awsome !

Alabama

[Roosterman]

So, how accurately does it shoot?

[Alabama]

More accurate than me Roosterman !!! 
It's regulated I would say for around 20 yards with the minumum 22 gr. charge , ( but not tight groups )  but when I hopped it up to 26 gr. slowly , it found its way to 25 yards spot on the money . It likes 26 gr. for some reason with the Hornady .454's so that's where tis gonna stay and get shot with unless I hunt with it , then I will find its magnum charge with conicals or buffalo bullets . Which I will do at some point I am sure of  With the 26 gr. charge it outshoots me and I am pretty good so I think       
Haven't tried the shotgun barrel , just not set up for it yet , ( I need good  some cards and shot still )  only dry fired it for function with my # 11 caps , goes bang everytime though , no hick-ups at all on either pistol , 20 times in a row on each for function test .  I am pleased and then some so far . I will let ya know how the BOOMER barrel goes when I get there , I am pretty busy right now , so it could be awhile reguardless of how much I wan to try it out . I have made up a dozen paper shot cups though , thanks to Adirondak Jack and his idea , so we'll see how she works sometime soonish ? I am sure they will but its so dry here I am afraid of catching the forest on fire with this dern thing right now. Will have to do it when it rains for sure !!!
Will repost when I do that though , so stay tuned .  I do know I am going to try some buck and ball loads when I do it though , I want to see how awsome this thing takes out tagets with a large 40 gr. charge and a ball and some 000 buck . I also doubt this thing needs a baby-ing either it is built like a tank . The backside of the frame where the hammer falls is an inch thick , a beast indeed . The barrel for the shotgun is thicker than my Stoeger 12 gu . Coach gun too so I have no doubt that the 60 gr. charges writer Mike Cumpstan was shooting out of his Cavalry were not too much for this gun . He did this charge consistantly with no ill effects whatsoever. I aint shooting that much out of it good God , but I will do 40 gr . to check it out 
God help the rabbits , there days are numbered here !!! That will be with # 4 lead shot though only I am sure, a good bunny killer pellet for sure there . 

Alabama

[Major 2]

I think I mentioned this before .. Navy Arms was the first to offer them way back when.
A pard and I each ordered one..Val Forgett was taking preorders at $100 then the bal. of $250 upon
Shipping. I think we waited about 10 months.
By then my friend did not have the extra $250, so not to lose the gun I bought both guns
They were the Cavalry Models..with the badly designed lever and the loose Shotgun rammer.
I lost one and had to make another and used the slight bend method you mention to retain it from then on.
I used both Guns as a mounted Cavalry Reenactor in pommel holsters.
One problem I never got past was the long thumb throw you menton ,I almost sprained my thumb trying to reach that throw.
And the dreded lever would slip and un-lock banging around in the Pommal holsters.
The guns were FINE and I agree even fine Art even back then , I believe it was about 1985-6.
I remember they were $370 shipped each...
I did sell mine because of the thumb deal but, otherwise wish I still had them...
One was traded even for a early 2nd Gen Colt 51 Navy NIB, and the other @ $400 through a Suttler friend at the Gettysburg 125th Reenactment.
Though I did fine in my trades, I still miss them..still have that 51 navy though.

[Alabama]

Heck Major 2 ,
I sure wish I paid $370 shipped per revolver 
But back in 85-ish I guess $370 is $800 now, right 
Yes, big hands, long thumb helps , ha ha ha 
I guess God graced me with big thumbs, big hands , and ugly, so it aint a problem at all for me handling this beast. No worse than my Rogers and Spencer's hammer throw . The only thing about the LeMats throw is you better put rocks in your pocket , it has a very strong hammer spring ( Mainspring ) so pack a lunch to cock it . I attribute the many complaints of it not going boom on the shotgun barrel to them making an even stronger spring for it to eleviate this issue . And by Golly , they did it . It aint bad hard to cock, but it would be impossible for small hands trying it one handed , not happenin !!!  Two hands hold , no problem .

You know your trade did you well anyway and you at least have that to show for it , so your doing fine there . 
Am sure if the hankerin gets to ya , you'll get another and I bet its going to be the NAVY ! 

I do wish they would make one in .36 though , and .410 ,  what a dreamcake paper puncher that would be out of this Hog , and the rabbit delux smacker-whacker .......... But hey , a toned down .44 and a whopping 20 ga. load will be quite nice too out in the back forty for sure. Heee hee hee he    Im'e just wrong and I know it 

Thanks for the story , nice to hear more info on this beast , it is seldome talked about or seen .

Alabama

[willy]

Sooooo,,, Alabama ,,,

Do you like them guns or not?

It's nice to hear sombody say they are so happy with a gun that the high price was worth it!
Enjoy them!
BTW
I feel the same way about my 1851 Uberti!
Not as much money as a Lemat , but shoots, and fit and finnish as good as any of my s&w's!


Willy

[Alabama]

I agree Willy , the Uberti 1851's are super nice for repro's , and for about $300 to your door, how can you go wrong  
I tell ya Willy, the new 1851 London Navy I got now is one of my favorite favs now , glad I bought it . Your right , they are as nice as any S & W made nowadays . Fit and finish and function is right on par in my opinion to the S & W's and I have owned many .
Hee hee hee , and yes, I still fondle my LeMats allot lately , they are pretty cool 

Sincerely , Alabama

[WV Scrounger]

Been readin these posts and the Lemat sound great...so I bought a used one...its like Mint ! but I can figger how to disassemble it...since it was used I dont have a manual....cant find anything online and it sure aint a Remmie or Colt...

...help!!!

[WV Scrounger]

I figgerd out how it disassembles....very simple. These Lemats are SWEET !!! The product justifies the cost !

[Skeeter Lewis]

Guys, I hear what you say about the flaws in the Cavalry design but what about the Army? Is the Navy way ahead of both?

(I was surprised to see that the Navy was in .44 caliber. I guess the Confederacy had no use for .36)

[WV Scrounger]

Skeeter.... THE  Army model has the same barrel lug as the Navy...so there is no problem. 

[Skeeter Lewis]

Thanks, WV.

[Crazeyiven]

My wife bought a LeMat Cavalry Model for me for Christmas.  NIB.  It has the books (all but worthless) as only 2 pages have anything directly to do with the LeMat.  For the price, you'd think the book could be specific.

Anyway, could some one enlighten me or forward me to how to take it down.  I assume it starts with the lever, but it is does not appear to want to move.

Any and all help appreciated!

Thanks

David

[Blackpowder Burn]

Below is a link to a forum where a member says he has detailed manuals for all Pietta firearms.  Email him and he'll send you what you need.

Good luck!

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23967