How cool would a modernized LeMats' be?

[GunnySkox]

In the middle of my computer science exam (don't worry, I've finished it, now), I started thinking about a book my class read last year for English, Cold Mountain, in which the main character carries a revolver called the "LeMats'", a hefty-sounding piece with a 9-shot cylinder with a short 12-gauge barrel in the center.

That said, how useful would a weapon like that be today? With a cylinder that big, it could probably hold 10 shots of .38 or .357, and the shottie might make a good SHTF-shot (by which I mean, "Sweet Holy Pants, there's a BG right there *foom!*), or, if one were to use it as a "kit gun", the shottie shell could be loaded with "snakeshot" or some other specialized shell to drop the hammer on something too big or too little for the .38/.357.

Or, get this, you could take the same concept and make an itty-bitty version of those "survival rifles", with a .22LR cylinder surrounding a .410 barrel, for similar versatility to weapons like the Springfield M6, but in a kit-sized package.

*ramble, ramble* Sorry for the rambling post, but this just occurred to me, and I wanted to get it down before I forgot.

~Slam_Fire
"Click, click, BOOM!" ~Saliva

 

[critter]

Wouldn't the feds go into appoplexy over a handgun with a smooth bore? I think that is a no-no.

So, lets make it (the center barrel) like the TC and make it a combo 410/45 colt chambering and maybe give it shallow riflling.

Fun gun but sort of unweildy I'd suspect and most likely quite expensive.

 

[Jeff Timm]

Dixie Gun Works sells replicas $645,
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/produc...=3497&osCsid=c38a394283d1a149f22106cad100a25c

Geoff
Who wouldn't mind one in .357 with a .44 Magnum down the center.

 

[mainmech48]

While I'm sure that with enough wizard engineering and about a cubic yard of folding money, a workable something similar could be produced.

I seriously doubt that anyone with the above requirements will do it though. Not enough potential market to support mass production and likely too few people willing to part with the necessary cash to reach a break-even point to tool-up for limited custom run.

I bought my Navy Arms replica "Navy" model Le Mat a few years back when they had an 'inventory clearance' sale for $500 + shipping. Not cheap, but it was and is the single most finely made and finished production C&B replica revolver I've ever seen.

Compared to what an even marginally functional original will cost, it seemed pretty reasonable to me. Besides, if you want to actually try shooting a Le Mat, it's going to be the only game in town for the foreseeable future.

 

[Logan5]

Wasn't there a thread a while back about Russian LeMat-like weapon? I seem to remember it, but I can't find it.

 

[Marshall]

Whew, for a minute there I thought someone was talkin bout birthing lessons.

 

[PowderBurn]

Seems to me the original LeMat was in 18 or 20 gauge. But they were made in several different countries, so I guess someone might've made a 12 gauge version. That'd be a handful o'shot.

 

[Majic]

Wouldn't the feds go into appoplexy over a handgun with a smooth bore?

The TC Contender once had a barrel that chambered .45 Colt and .410. It was outlawed in Cali, but I don't know if it's still in production. There were also smoothbore .22s that shot a shotshell in the past.

 

[bjbarron]

Who wouldn't mind one in .357 with a .44 Magnum down the center.

Second! Altho maybe a .45LC/410 down the middle. Wow, what a great backpaking gun that would be with the center loaded with snake shot.

 

[P-35/53]

Taurus is coming out with a Revolver called a 44/410 that fires 44.40 and 410 shotgun shells and 45 Colt if I read the small print right.Might be a modern version of a Lemat on a smaller scale.

 

[Majic]

Taurus is coming out with a Revolver called a 44/410 that fires 44.40 and 410 shotgun shells and 45 Colt if I read the small print right.

Big mistake by Taurus and I think they have realized it, but not corrected it yet. If the original ad was correct then the .44/40 would have no accuracy after going down a .452 bore.

 

[cane]

TC still sells the .45 Colt/.410 barrel, I just bought a 10" vent rib one.

 

[PowderBurn]

The distinction is that the Contender barrel is rifled, not a smoothbore. To some extent this is a distinction without a difference, because I can't really explain why that loophole is allowed, other than there must be some diminished performance pushing shot through rifling. But performance is already compromised by the 10-12" barrel.

I just know it's fun to shoot, and I've picked grouse and pigeons out of the air with it.

 

[cane]

POWDERBURN; The "rifling" does provide some spin, but the screw in choke helps the pattern. I haven't had much luck in shooting the .45 through it (make sure you take the choke tube out first) there is a big jump from the case to the barrel. It's a lot of fun, use it for ptarmagin when we are in AK.

 

[P-35/53]

Big mistake by Taurus and I think they have realized it, but not corrected it yet. If the original ad was correct then the .44/40 would have no accuracy after going down a .452 bore.- Majic

My thoughts also . I do want to see how they plan on doing this though.