The FFL got the 4" Mateba in last Friday but I was also expecting a rifle so I waited until yesterday to get both on one "instant" check. I went to their range while I waited for my "instant" check and, half an hour later, I was approved. I agonized a bit over which barrel length to get as CDNN had the 4" and 6" when I talked to them. I went with the 4" thinking if I liked it I would locate an 8" later. Glad I did as the 4" seems muzzle heavy to me. I did a quick but thorough once over of the pistol. I simply guessed where oil should go because I could not find a manual in my box, then to the range with some fairly potent 158 gr .357. The double action was pretty stiff, guessing 12-15 pounds, but the single action was pretty nice at a crisp 3 pounds or so. Recoil was very pleasant compared to the same load in my 3" 686, almost 9mmish in the Mateba. I am guessing .38s will feel like .22s. Accuracy was OK but I am thinking once I get used to the pistol, that will improve quite a lot. The grip was very comfortable when shooting but if you wish to thumb cock the hammer, the "beavertail" is a bit harsh. The biggest problem was ejecting spent cases. Perhaps after a really good cleaning this will get better but the way that thing was hanging on to empties (on the first six rounds even) I suspect the chambers may need to be polished. One other thing I noticed and this may just be ignorance on my part is that there seems to be no way to decock without pulling the trigger. Not a big deal with a normal revolver as I almost never shoot those single action anyway and if I do they have huge spurs to grab on to. With the Mateba though, the hammer doesn't have a lot of places to get a good grip on it so I am not as comfortable decocking manually. So it seems that if you don't want to decock manually and then you start shooting you gotta empty the thing. I guess it is a good thing it "only" holds 6. It is a fun gun to shoot though, nice big boom, little recoil, and the "What-the-hell-is-that-thing?" factor.
Pros:
caliber(s)
pleasant recoil with stout loads
comfortable grip
just plain fun
great single action trigger
Cons:
ejection of spent rounds is a problem (may improve with thorough cleaning)
slightly muzzle heavy
heavy double action (may improve with thorough cleaning)
no decock (or is there?)
no manual (dunno how I am gonna get that .38 spring in there)
Jury still out:
accuracy
All in all a good purchase especially with that Winchester Super Grade M-70 bought as an accessory (as ugly as the Mateba is that rifle is a GD work of art).
Pros:
caliber(s)
pleasant recoil with stout loads
comfortable grip
just plain fun
great single action trigger
Cons:
ejection of spent rounds is a problem (may improve with thorough cleaning)
slightly muzzle heavy
heavy double action (may improve with thorough cleaning)
no decock (or is there?)
no manual (dunno how I am gonna get that .38 spring in there)
Jury still out:
accuracy
All in all a good purchase especially with that Winchester Super Grade M-70 bought as an accessory (as ugly as the Mateba is that rifle is a GD work of art).