Hello All,
Well its been exactly 3 months since my last update with my little Lefaucheux. I spent a lot of time and frustration trying to get this rifle to shoot. All tested hand-loads and factory ammo resulted in 2 groups about 15" apart, with the barrels having "crossed". Mathematically, the bullets crossed about 10 feet from the muzzle. Here is an example target:
I purchased the rifle from Champlin Arms in February. I spoke with George Caswell, the owner, about the crossing problem and he said he would stand behind the rifle and take care of me. He said I should send it to him to have JJ Perodeau regulate it. JJ is George's partner, and owns the Service Divivsion of Champlin Arms. George says he's the best in this Country.
I expressed my concerns about preserving the originality of the piece and the aged patina of the barrels, since all was original from 1898. (I didn't want the Gold and Platinum inlays coming back in a separate envelope.) George put it to me this way; "JJ is not a Gunsmith, he is a Gun Maker." George assured me that all would be as original and I wouldn't be able to tell anything was done to the rifle in the regulating process. He said it would take 4-6 weeks depending on the weather.
I gave it serious thought, and in mid May, I finally decided to send him the rifle so JJ Perodeau could work his regulating magic. Per instruction, I included 40 rounds of ammo, which was Factory PRVI 8mm Lebel, 200g FMJ BT.
After 3 long weeks, I called for an update. I spoke to JJ, and he told me that he was surprised to find that the front wedge had been "silver-soldered" in place. This was something that he had seldom seen, and then only in a very few instances, and never, on such an old rifle. He was absolutely amazed that a rifle from 1898 would use such high temperature joining.
He indicated that trying to re-regulate with such high temperature joining, would surely cause the barrels to be separated from both ribs, full length, and destroy the original patina.
His solution was to "cut" through the existing front wedge, and insert another wedge in-between, using the conventional temperature methods.
Here is the before, and after of JJ's work. Interestingly, he left the new wedge in place, protruding 1/8" forward of the muzzle faces. Perhaps this was to protect the muzzle, or just to show that something was actually done to the barrels, otherwise one couldn't tell. Total center/center change, was only about .015 inches more spread.
And, as they say: "The Proof is in the Pudding". Here is the Regulating target that came back with my rifle, about 5 weeks after I sent it to JJ.
JJ used only 22 cartridges for regulating. The last 8 shots are shown on the target. The 6 shots in the black at the right, are labeled "Mixed R & L Sight In Rounds." The 3 far right shots that string vertically, are about a 2-1/2" total spread. The larger irregular hole, an inch left of the string, has 3 shots into that "one ragged hole".
And, the last 2 shots, at the top edge of the 2" dia. white bulls-eye, are labeled "Last L1 R1 Two Rounds + POA 50y." Those last 2 shots are about 3/8" apart.
I really like JJ's final notation on the Target that reads: "Old Casimire would like that!" This is referencing Casimire Lefaucheux, the namesake and builder of Lefaucheux rifles.
Do I really need to say how satisfied I am with the work that was done to my rifle by J.J. Perodeau? Its been a week and a half since I got it back, and I'm still smiling.
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