Article on the Chauchat - With Quotes from Gus

Peter_Suciu

Peter_Suciu

Well-known member
I wrote a piece on the Chauchat for the firearms magazine "Recoil," and Gus was kind of enough to offer some thoughts:
http://www.recoilweb.com/the-chauchat-99785.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
Very nice piece. At one time I owed one of these, I found it easier to carry and use than the BAR. But in combat, with my life depending it I would go wth the Browning. The Chauchat would jam even on the range and with everything being clean. I don't remember ever firing a full mag with out it jamming. The weapon (in my option) was not field serviceable, too easy to foul and damage.
 
Oddly enough, the Chauchat action was also a Browning design. The biggest problem with the Chauchat was that it took a skill gunner to function well. The long recoil system required that the gunner keep the weapon stationary. If the weapon was allowed to transfer recoil to the gunner, the long recoil action would not always have enough inertia to make up any slop in the use of the rifle. The French gunners had very good luck with these weapons, and so did the American gunners who were properly trained.
 
aicusv said:
Very nice piece. At one time I owed one of these, I found it easier to carry and use than the BAR. But in combat, with my life depending it I would go wth the Browning. The Chauchat would jam even on the range and with everything being clean. I don't remember ever firing a full mag with out it jamming. The weapon (in my option) was not field serviceable, too easy to foul and damage.
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I'm wrapping up my piece on the BAR, which will be posted next week!
 
This article motivated me to acquire an example (demilled) for my collection. These are hard to find in any condition as they were worthless in 1968, and no one wanted to pay $200 for registration of a gun that was worth much less.
 
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