LeMat Question

[David Meister]

For those who have and use a LeMat for re-enacting. How do you blank load the shotgun barrel?

I did a search for my question with no answer found

Also on my search I found a link to find the tool to take down the side plates, but the link was no longer working. Does anyone know where I could find this tool?

Finally does anyone know where to get a holster for the LeMat DGW is sold out and the other place I called does not return my phone calls

[huntdaw]

Why would it be any different than blank loading a musket? Or are you more worried about the charge falling out once it is loaded? If that's the case, I would use whatever you use on the pistols rounds to keep the charge in.

[David Meister]

Yes I do Not want the charge to fall out I was told a piece of cardboard or paper i dont know if cream of wheat would work

[Poor Private]

David there is a guy over at www.muzzleloadingforum.com who makes the tools for a Lamat. There is lots of discusion and threads about the revolver. Go over and take a look see.

[David Meister]

I joined that forum today and did a search for the blank loading but found nothing

[Poor Private]

David,
I have been a member for a couple of years there. Yes there is a search function, I have used it a couple of times myself. And They will give you an idea of what they use for live and blank loads. Just hit the pistol catagory and start a thread just as you did here. Lots of nice guys over there and not much attitudes between members.
They have whole sections dedicated to reenacting from F &I all thwe way up to the civil war. Just don't mention the "I" word "INLINE".

[bob 125th nysvi]

Yes I do Not want the charge to fall out I was told a piece of cardboard or paper i dont know if cream of wheat would work

the problem with paper or cardboard is that you have the potential to throw a projectile down range.

And simply for my curiosity, that weapon was issued in very limited numbers and not to either of the unit you reenact. Its a cool weapon I'll admit but what you going to use it for?

[1sgtscot]

David,

I have carried a La Mat and love holding it, but hate trying to use it in a reenactment. I tried Cream of Wheat in the shotgun barrel and it did not work. The only thing I could find to work was a wad of cotton, but it would catch fire and send a fire ball out about 10-15 feet. Loading it like a musket works, but you don't get the effect of carrying the pistol and drawing it when needed. No problem though as the spring that holds the hammer for the shotgun broke two times before I stopped using the shotgun. I still had 9 other rounds though. I have since moved to Colt replicas...

Sgt Scott:roll:

[Brett]

A friend of mine with a Le Mat uses florists foam to wad the shotgun barrel. It's secure, holds the charge, and harmlessly vaporizes when it's fired. As it happens it's easier to use than just about any other pistol-loading recipe. Out here on the Left Coast, florists foam is strongly recommended in all pistols, instead of the traditional cream of wheat and crisco mix. This is because idiots have left their pistols loaded between events and then shot some guy with a plug of hardened cream of wheat.

Please, I beg you, do not use a wadding of cardboard in your pistol, no matter what you end up using as a wad.

[lincolnsguard]

Let's go in another direction. How many Confederate soldiers could afford to purchase the LeMatt revolver? Are they over-represented in the hobby? Is their use more of a re'nacterism or, because "they're cool?" Unless I was riding a horse, I'd never tote one. Too darned heavy, even originals. You could sell that thing and buy 2 good .36 revolvers and a shotgun. Just sayin'.

[Julius]

Finally does anyone know where to get a holster for the LeMat DGW is sold out and the other place I called does not return my phone calls


Try Don Smith.
Have has highest standards of quality and he delivers on time.

[Southern Cal]

The floral foam you want is usually marketed as "Oasis". It's dense, compacts easily and disintegrates upon firing.

[Artyman]

I suggest using a nitrated paper cartridge, however, the rear of the cartridge will need to be closed with one layer of thin tissue paper or the cap might not be able to ignite the cartridge. A wire can be shoved through the nipple hole to open the tissue, but I never did that since the tissue burnt through easily. I used to have a Le Mat, and though the cartridge was somewhat labor intensive to construct, I only used about half a dozen the whole time I owned the weapon. Do not use a wad of any kind. Roll it such that it needs to be pushed into the barrel with slight resistant so that it wont fall out, but not distort the cartridge cylinder when shoved in. Experiment. Finally, show what you have done to any and all safety officers such that they understand what you have. They will be concerned about wads being used and such.

We now have the OxYoke Wonder Seal product. Didn't have it back when I used Le Mats. If you are concerned with chain fire issues related to the shotgun barrel, these are great for the cylinders and probably could be used to seal the shotgun barrel too. Be advised....there are those out there who do not understand the concept of the Wonder Seal and will raise Cain with you about its use. Many still think it is a wad.

The nitrated paper completely combusts so there isn't any safety issue with flaming debris. Further, the nitrated paper is just stable enough that it won't be set off by the cylinder charges. Finally, be careful not to go hog wild with the load. Nobody likes to see rocket engine pistol loads going off. I loaded 50 grains as I recall.

Harry

[Brett]

Harry, is it it possible to make a nitrated cartridge with a floral foam "bullet" in front, to resemble a real period cartridge? That ought to serve as a wad to keep the powder nice and tight in the cylinder, and also add an extra layer of seal against potential chainfires. A chainfire in a 9-chamber LeMat has got to be pretty wild!

Back in my mainstreamer artillery days I deliberately ignored the farb factor and carried a .44 revolver on the field (not worth it -- stupid thing keeps flapping against your hip and gets in the way). This was about 5 years ago and nobody had yet discovered the floral foam trick, at least not here out on the west coast. I can't imagine why anybody is still using the cream of wheat and crisco, although in my experience the cream of wheat does give a louder report.

[Artyman]

Problem there Brett is that you are inserting a wad like substance into the barrel that could fire out on someone by accident. That makes it no better than a wad, maybe even worse. I'd just twist the end of the cartridge into a "bullet" shape or leave it crimped, however you do it, but don't put anything in there that won't explode or vaporize. A "Wonder Seal" is actually a waxy corn starch disc that totally atomizes when fired. No safety issues there. However, there are safety rules out there in various places that will not allow wads or seals, or anything, and plenty reenactors with no sense of humor about the issue. Be as compliant as you can and it makes it easier on everyone who wants to use revolvers.

I once got lamb basted on his forum by a guy who told me he wanted to know what events I planned to attend so he and his unit would not be there...all over the issue of sealing the cylinders in a revolver and being affeared I might shoot at 'em too close with a "wad". :roll: Like Jack Benny used to say,"I could just scream"!

Remember, blanks are farby in and of themselves. Trying to make one look real is like putting lipstick on a pig!

Harry

[Brett]

I no longer use my revolver at events (gave it to my brother in law, in fact) since I've gone infantry, but when I did, I switched from using cream of wheat to floral foam and it really vaporized quite well. Because it's a foam, it's got quite a bit of air in it to begin with and in my (albeit limited) experiences, it is blown to atoms at the discharge. Floral foam has been replacing cream of wheat here on the west coast.

Somebody should do an experiment. Cream of wheat, on the other hand, doesn't vaporize. Some of it burns off, but the rest flies out and scatters, and I've had cream of wheat rain on me before when "under fire" from dismounted cavalry pistols.

I do agree with you, though, absolutely, about the use of any kind of pistol wad raising eyebrows among certain reenactors. This is a very important issue and, in my opinion, it can't be discussed enough. At one west coast event a few years ago a zouave sergeant just down the line from me was "gunned down" by a pistol with cylinders sealed with wax. The guy thought the wax would melt and claimed he tested it in his back yard. One hit the zouave in the wrist, and a second just above the belt buckle. So believe me, Harry, I couldn't agree with you more about the use of wads. I'm just not ready to call floral foam a "wad", in the sense that reenactors understand the word, when I think a case can be made that it has been demonstrated to be a safe alternative to cream of wheat, etc.

I've seen some of your blanks in pictures you've posted in other threads, too. I gotta say Harry, you're pretty darn good at putting lipstick on pigs!

[Rob Weaver]

I used to roll cartirdges from cigarette paper for my revolver. You could use hair rolling papers, too. I use that for Sharps cartridges.

[Artyman]

I've not been able to find any curler papers for some time. Where do you get yours?

Harry