NickFromAK Posted August 16, 2023 Report Share Posted August 16, 2023 (edited) I finally was able to take possession of a Chauchat, and I haven’t taken it to the range yet. Are there any tips, tricks, or bits of useful knowledge that I should know that aren’t readily apparent before I shoot it? Edited September 4, 2023 by NickFromAK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got Uzi Posted August 16, 2023 Report Share Posted August 16, 2023 Take an ice pack for your shoulder. They are not pleasant to shoot…put 10 rounds through one and I have no desire to do it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickFromAK Posted August 16, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2023 I will have a shoulder pad on standby then. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhouston8 Posted August 16, 2023 Report Share Posted August 16, 2023 Awesome Nick...post some pics. I rarely see Chauchats ! and never in person. Interesting and strange gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsonlmg41 Posted August 17, 2023 Report Share Posted August 17, 2023 Lots of tips and info in the book. It's a John Browning "long recoil" design....takes a "long time" to get a round out compared with all other MG's so it takes some getting used to. Most of the guns here have been butchered up to the point of not running reliably, so there's that, but they are all generally fixable and were very reliable back in the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickFromAK Posted August 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2023 I’ve owned both an Auto 5 and a Remington Model 8, so I’m familiar with the action. This one is not a REWAT, so hopefully it’ll run fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterdawg2000 Posted August 23, 2023 Report Share Posted August 23, 2023 Try looking up on YouTube many videos. This is a good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterdawg2000 Posted August 23, 2023 Report Share Posted August 23, 2023 Get the right ammo. There is a difference between WWII ammo and WWI ammo. Balle D vs Balle N. Do a search on this site and others for more info. Modern Serbian ammo works on both. also this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterdawg2000 Posted August 23, 2023 Report Share Posted August 23, 2023 https://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php?/topic/24064-mg-gunsmith-recommendations/#entry214189 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterdawg2000 Posted August 23, 2023 Report Share Posted August 23, 2023 https://www.1919a4.com/threads/chauchat-failure-to-feed-issues.103237/#post-688195 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterdawg2000 Posted August 23, 2023 Report Share Posted August 23, 2023 I could go on all day with with stuff I bookmarked so here is another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterdawg2000 Posted August 23, 2023 Report Share Posted August 23, 2023 Disassembly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterdawg2000 Posted August 23, 2023 Report Share Posted August 23, 2023 I have to Load mag with bolt open otherwise will not strip off the first round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickFromAK Posted September 4, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2023 So I finally took it out over two separate occasions and I’m suffering from failure to feed and failure to extract. The magazine isn’t tilting the cartridge up enough to make it onto the feed lips and the barrel keeps locking to the rear and getting caught on the case. This gun is going to give my problem solving skills and non existent gunsmithing skills a run for their money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1gewehr Posted September 5, 2023 Report Share Posted September 5, 2023 Did you try a different magazine? Also, try loading only 2 or three rounds to see if the magazine is feeding correctly. If you have some dummy rounds, you an try manually cycling them to see where the issue is. This will sounds strange, but don't use the charging handle to manually cycle the gun. Use a long cleaning rod from the muzzle and force the barrel and bolt to cycle like it would when shooting. If you can get a buddy to man the cleaning rod, you can watch to see where the problem occurs. The most common cause of extracting issues is a dirty or rough chamber. Second is a weak extractor. I second the use of the PPU ammo. Once I solved my magazine problems, the PPU ammo has been flawless. If you can get a copy of "Honour Bound: Chauchat Machine Rifle", you will find a wealth of information. When I manage to get to the range with my Chauchat, it attracts more attention than my buddy's MP5. And my answer to the 'know-it-alls' who inevitably chime in with that old 'world's worst machine gun' phrase is; "OK, name one automatic rifle prior to October 1918 that was better". Sure, the gun had it's issues. But, it was cheap enough to field in huge numbers, reasonably effective, and available. And you don't so much 'shoot' a Chauchat as 'ride' it! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickFromAK Posted September 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2023 I’m currently stuck with my only magazine. It isn’t canted upward enough for the nose tips to make it past the feed lips. I noticed my PPU extracted well but my N balle surplus didn’t. Which is cool because my PPU doesn’t feed as well as the N Balle, which fails to extract. I have an N barrel and receiver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterdawg2000 Posted September 6, 2023 Report Share Posted September 6, 2023 https://www.1919a4.com/threads/chauchat-failure-to-feed-issues.103237/#post-688195 Failure to feed thread on 191a4 site. there is a lip on the bolt face which someone had problem with using PPU ammo so they smoothed it out, I did not have this problem. also look for dents on your magazine lips see mark novak YouTube for correct orientation of round in mag for correct presentation of round to feed up the ramp and what causes dents in the mag feed lips, should be a link to it above Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterdawg2000 Posted September 6, 2023 Report Share Posted September 6, 2023 (edited) The two screws on left side of frame are not there to be tightened. They are indented and are used to adjust feed ramp so with correct round presentation from magazine the round will feed up the ramp. The 2 screws adjust how the feed ramp moves up and down. The only way I found to adjust is use a blank round and slowly feed a round off the mag and and watch how it goes up the ramp, then adjust screws accordingly. See mark Novak YouTube video for a better explanation. Also mine needs bolt locked open before I insert mag, otherwise first round will not feed. Also insert Ppu ammo into chamber manually to make sure it freely chambers all the way in, on mine WWII ammo would not freely chamber all the way but PPU ammo did. See thread from above. Edited September 6, 2023 by waterdawg2000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterdawg2000 Posted September 6, 2023 Report Share Posted September 6, 2023 If you like to tinker with guns more then shooting then you will love this gun. Happy Trails Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patwa Posted September 9, 2023 Report Share Posted September 9, 2023 On 9/6/2023 at 12:38 PM, waterdawg2000 said: The two screws on left side of frame are not there to be tightened. They are indented and are used to adjust feed ramp so with correct round presentation from magazine the round will feed up the ramp. The 2 screws adjust how the feed ramp moves up and down. The only way I found to adjust is use a blank round and slowly feed a round off the mag and and watch how it goes up the ramp, then adjust screws accordingly. See mark Novak YouTube video for a better explanation. Also mine needs bolt locked open before I insert mag, otherwise first round will not feed. Also insert Ppu ammo into chamber manually to make sure it freely chambers all the way in, on mine WWII ammo would not freely chamber all the way but PPU ammo did. See thread from above. Adjusting those two screws was the most important thing to get my Chauchat running reliably. Once that was done, I could do mag dumps with no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterdawg2000 Posted September 14, 2023 Report Share Posted September 14, 2023 (edited) https://www.forgottenweapons.com/wp-content/uploads/manuals/Chauchat drill-combat-mechanism manual.pdf link to Chauchat manual on Forgotten weapons website. I need the selector switch pin, mine has 2 flat sides instead of 3 like on page 62 of this manual. My auto works but not the safety or semi, although I would never trust a safety on an open bolt gun, any jolt can release the sear. For some reason I can not post pics today? Edited September 14, 2023 by waterdawg2000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickFromAK Posted September 16, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2023 Thanks for the help and links. This is going to be a process, but I’ll get it running. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hkg3k Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 Just out of curiosity, what is considered the controlled (registered) part on the Chauchat? Is it the receiver tube -or- the lower assembly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterdawg2000 Posted October 7, 2023 Report Share Posted October 7, 2023 Tube, I think. The bottom is just a trigger group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browning1917a1 Posted October 10, 2023 Report Share Posted October 10, 2023 The bottom receiver has the serial number that is on both my Chauchats form 4's along with the manufacturer's name. Browning1917a1 Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hkg3k Posted October 10, 2023 Report Share Posted October 10, 2023 5 hours ago, browning1917a1 said: The bottom receiver has the serial number that is on both my Chauchats form 4's along with the manufacturer's name. Browning1917a1 Brian Serial # on the lower assembly only is what I've seen also...which is why I'm curious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickFromAK Posted December 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 The gun is now feeding perfectly, but I’m still suffering from brass getting stuck in the chamber and not letting the barrel release forward. Essentially the gun fires, both the bolt and barrel move back, the barrel only moves 1/4” back forward. I believe the chamber may be imposing too much friction on the case somehow, but I’ve thoroughly cleaned and scrubbed it. The gun is also well lubed. It’s a N stamp barrel too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterdawg2000 Posted December 27, 2023 Report Share Posted December 27, 2023 (edited) Maybe extractor is sticking or weak extractor spring maybe, but except for a gunsmith I do not know how to fix that? Maybe try Bob Naess, he fixes Chauchat’s. Link to his web page here: http://www.blackrivermilitaria.com or maybe disassemble and clean inside of receiver, I cleaned mine up because of too much drag on barrel and extension with red 3M cleaning pads. Or disassemble and try putting a cartridge into chamber by hand, that is how I found I was using the wrong cartridge. Mine will not accept WWII ammo only the Serbian ammo made in 8mm lebel. Even the hand loads that came with the gun would not chamber unless the bolt slammed it into chamber. Edited December 27, 2023 by waterdawg2000 Additionally info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterdawg2000 Posted December 27, 2023 Report Share Posted December 27, 2023 Also see this post for ammo sticking in chamber and advice from Bob Naess. I had to use PPU ammo to get mine to work, even hand loaded ones would stick after firing because the die was the wrong size. https://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php?/topic/24064-mg-gunsmith-recommendations/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickFromAK Posted December 27, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2023 My unfired PPU cartridges fit like a glove when unfired. But it’s about a 75-25 for sticking and non sticking when fired. I hope it a just an over annealed case. If I get get it fixed, then I’ll reach out to Bob. I haven’t heard of him, so that is very much appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterdawg2000 Posted December 28, 2023 Report Share Posted December 28, 2023 My 8mm Lebel die set also did not resize the fired cartridges to the correct size, they were too big. Only new PPU ammo works on my gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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