M1918 Chauchat: First Shots (Will It Work?)

Published on May 19, 2018
Duration: 5:17

This M1918 Chauchat in .30-06, tested by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons, surprisingly functioned without the expected extraction issues common in historical accounts. The primary failure point identified after 60 rounds was the magazines, not the firearm's action or potential overheating. Further testing is planned with improved magazines.

Quick Summary

The M1918 Chauchat tested by Forgotten Weapons surprisingly functioned without common extraction issues. Malfunctions were traced to magazine feeding problems, not the firearm's action or overheating, after 60 rounds.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: M1918 Chauchat NFA Transfer
  2. 00:33Magazine Issues & Initial Testing
  3. 01:11First Firing Sequence: Success!
  4. 01:51Malfunction Analysis: Magazine Feed Failure
  5. 03:52Conclusion: Magazines are the Weak Link

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the M1918 Chauchat experience extraction problems during the Forgotten Weapons test?

Surprisingly, the M1918 Chauchat did not exhibit the common extraction issues often reported historically. The firearm functioned reliably for 60 rounds without significant extraction failures, indicating potential variations in chamber cutting or firearm condition.

What was the main cause of malfunctions with the M1918 Chauchat?

The primary malfunction encountered was related to magazine feeding. Rounds jammed in a 'banana'd' fashion into the chamber, indicating that the magazines, rather than the firearm's action or potential overheating, were the weak point.

What caliber is the American M1918 Chauchat tested by Forgotten Weapons?

The American M1918 Chauchat tested was chambered in .30-06 Springfield. This caliber was adopted by the US military for these rifles, differing from the original French CSRG models which used 8mm Lebel.

How many rounds did the M1918 Chauchat fire before malfunctioning?

The M1918 Chauchat fired approximately 60 rounds before a malfunction occurred. The failure was identified as a magazine feeding issue, not an extraction problem or overheating, which are more commonly cited historical concerns.

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