M1918 Chauchat: Testing a New Magazine

Published on September 23, 2018
Duration: 4:32

This video details the creation and testing of a custom 20-round .30-06 Chauchat magazine, modified from a Johnson M1941 magazine. While the custom magazine fits and functions initially, it experiences feeding issues and jams as it empties, attributed to its non-standard nature. The presenter concludes that for reliability, especially in competition, the original 8mm Lebel Chauchat with its reliable magazines and parts availability is preferred.

Quick Summary

A custom 20-round .30-06 Chauchat magazine was created by modifying a Johnson M1941 magazine. While it fits and fires, it experienced feeding issues and jams, leading the presenter to prefer the more reliable 8mm Lebel Chauchat for competition due to better parts and magazine availability.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: Custom .30-06 Chauchat Magazine
  2. 01:10Live Fire Test & Initial Malfunction
  3. 02:48Jam Analysis: Feed Lip Issue
  4. 03:25Conclusion: 8mm Lebel vs .30-06 Chauchat

Frequently Asked Questions

What was modified to create the custom .30-06 Chauchat magazine?

The custom 20-round .30-06 Chauchat magazine was created by modifying a Johnson M1941 .30-06 magazine. It was narrowed in both width and length to fit the Chauchat's specific magazine well.

What kind of malfunctions did the custom Chauchat magazine experience?

During live fire testing, the custom magazine experienced a misfeed where the bolt caught the cartridge halfway up as the magazine neared empty. A specific jam occurred where the casing was held by the feed lips, preventing magazine removal.

Why does the presenter prefer the 8mm Lebel Chauchat over the .30-06 version for competition?

The presenter prefers the 8mm Lebel Chauchat for reliability in competition because he has a larger supply of original, dependable magazines and better access to spare parts for that model, despite 8mm ammunition being more expensive.

What are the capacity differences between standard and custom Chauchat magazines?

The standard .30-06 Chauchat magazine typically holds 16 rounds. The custom reproduction magazine tested in the video was modified to hold 20 rounds, making it slightly longer than the bipod legs.

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