Mousin-Nagant vs 1886 Lebel - Page 2

**Mike Irwin** · May 18, 2017, 08:26 AM

Some points of information on the Lebel 1886's magazine, ammunition, etc.

When it was adopted, magazine tube detonation was a concern with the 1886 Lebel, so the French did several things to help prevent it.

The first was the shape of the cartridge. It was designed with the extreme body taper to help keep the point of a bullet from resting on the primer of the round in front of it.

Second was the primer. Lebel ammunition had a separate cover that was inserted into the primer pocket after the primer was inserted and which served as a buffer zone for the primer.

Third was bullet design. The initial load for the 1886 used a flat-point bullet, the Balle M. The flat point, in conjunction with the primer cover, proved to be extremely effective in preventing detonations.

In the late 1890s the French adopted the famous lathe-turned spitzer boattail Balle D.

Worried about the pointed bullet and thinking that the primer cover might not be protection enough, the French redesigned the case with a large "safety ring" in the case head that helped trapped the Balle D's point during loading into the magazine.

All in all, these steps were extremely effective in preventing magazine detonations.

That said, during World War I most French soldiers were issued various iterations of the Betherier clip fed rifle, while French Colonials came to the fight often armed with surplussed 1886 Lebels.

French soldiers often took great pains to obtain 1886 Lebels because, even with their known drawbacks, they considered them to be better rifles and were found to be significantly more accurate at longer ranges and they held a great number of rounds.

May 18, 2017, 08:26 AM	#26
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Some points of information on the Lebel 1886's magazine, ammunition, etc. When it was adopted, magazine tube detonation was a concern with the 1886 Lebel, so the French did several things to help prevent it. The first was the shape of the cartridge. It was designed with the extreme body taper to help keep the point of a bullet from resting on the primer of the round in front of it. Second was the primer. Lebel ammunition had a separate cover that was inserted into the primer pocket after the primer was inserted and which served as a buffer zone for the primer. Third was bullet design. The initial load for the 1886 used a flat-point bullet, the Balle M. The flat point, in conjunction with the primer cover, proved to be extremely effective in preventing detonations. In the late 1890s the French adopted the famous lathe-turned spitzer boattail Balle D. Worried about the pointed bullet and thinking that the primer cover might not be protection enough, the French redesigned the case with a large "safety ring" in the case head that helped trapped the Balle D's point during loading into the magazine. All in all, these steps were extremely effective in preventing magazine detonations. That said, during World War I most French soldiers were issued various iterations of the Betherier clip fed rifle, while French Colonials came to the fight often armed with surplussed 1886 Lebels. French soldiers often took great pains to obtain 1886 Lebels because, even with their known drawbacks, they considered them to be better rifles and were found to be significantly more accurate at longer ranges and they held a great number of rounds. __________________ "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.