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I have previously posted in the reloading section as I was looking at getting .43 mauser and I have since been looking and am still considering getting this. However, more recently another thought crossed my mind what about getting a chassepot?

It does seem to have the advantage of not having to worry about brass and it seems a very interesting rifle

From what I have read they don't seem to bad other than needles being blunt/snapped and after watching a few videos/ reading around making the paper cartridges doesn't seem to bad.

So does anyone on here shoot them? If so what are they like how complicated are they to maintain? would it be recommended to possibly get one? (if so what sort of price would you expect to pay?)

Many thanks in advance for reading this

Chassepot is easy enough to load ammunition for and I find quite satisfying as it is more involved, items to easly modify are available to make obdurators & needles.

Only one I know of for sale at my usual dealer is £695.00 inc. bayonet.
Both rifles are highly recomended to own & shoot.

Regards

David

Needle rifles are great fun I've owned and shot a Chassepot in the past along with the Dreyse which I prefer.

As you say they can be made to shoot well and I enjoyed loading for mine.

Guy and Leonard West are fonts of all knowledge on these rifles and their writings on the subject are worth tracking down. They spent time educating me at Bisley years ago. Make sure the seals are sound if looking at a purchase, As to price I think your would be looking at £650 upwards depending on condition. Most of the nice ones I've come across have been in the £1000 range.

My Chassepot has gone the journey now and I prefer to shoot my Mauser 71, just cleaner and quicker to load for.

My dad has a cracking one ( best I have ever seen ) with bayonet on sect 58 he keeps toying with selling it if your interested. He is based in Leicestershire

Thanks for the replies very much appreciated has given me some food for thought smile2 smile2

Also pe4king have you got an email address i can contact you on as im not able to use pm's on this forum yet

I have it would be my user name on here @gmx.co.uk

With regards to the hand loading where did people get the bullets from? or is it easier to hand cast them? if so what mold did you use?

I’ve used Lyman 45712, Its obviously not of the original pattern...

Materials sourcing fyi.
I purchased some Bullets from a gentleman in Switzerland supposedly of original pattern but the diameter varied slightly the result was that if you made the cartridge the correct length for the largest diameter bullet it would headspace 4mm further forward on the smallest diameter bullet.
Also obtained from the same source some needles they were made by welding a small disk to a pin they were not of the best quality its far better & cheaper to modify plastic molding ejector pins, his obdurators are ok but a shooting associate found some rubber washers on eBay pk 100 2mm & 3mm thick using 2 of each to make a 10 mm thick obdurator works fine.

It was a while ago there other sources appear to be around now.

http://jp.sedent.free.fr/UNE%20CARTOUCH ... SSEPOT.htm

David

Thanks for the reply david very helpful. Next problem if the gun is currently help under sect 58 but i intend to shoot it it must become a section 1? I do have a variantion for the gun to put on as a section 1 but presumably would i have to take the gun to an rfd for him to put that on my certificate?

If you want to steer clear of possible grief best advice would be to speak to your Firearms administration department. I would not have a RFD to do it though.
I normally enter them on the certificate myself & send notification within 7 days as normal stating that is transferred from sec 58.2 around here it's previously been ok doing it that way but it seems some forces don’t like it.

MY previous post should read from Sweden not Switzerland I always mix them up

David