The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - WW1 Light machine gun: French Chauchat (Sho-Sho)

**Mike Irwin** · April 21, 2012, 08:13 PM

"In fact it's just a a necked down 11 mm Gras black powder cartridge."

Yep, I'm well aware of the history of the development of the Lebel.

But that's not what the guy in the video was inferring. He was indicating that the Chauchat was originally developed for a blackpowder cartridge and the reason it was so bad was because the smokeless powder 8mm Lebel was simply too powerful, and that's not even remotely close to the truth.

April 21, 2012, 08:13 PM	#10
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	"In fact it's just a a necked down 11 mm Gras black powder cartridge." Yep, I'm well aware of the history of the development of the Lebel. But that's not what the guy in the video was inferring. He was indicating that the Chauchat was originally developed for a blackpowder cartridge and the reason it was so bad was because the smokeless powder 8mm Lebel was simply too powerful, and that's not even remotely close to the truth. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.