{"id":4472,"date":"2016-11-02T20:40:29","date_gmt":"2016-11-02T19:40:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunsmithdesigner.com\/?p=4472"},"modified":"2019-05-05T05:06:40","modified_gmt":"2019-05-05T04:06:40","slug":"the-rifle-mle-1866-chassepot-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsmithdesigner.com\/index.php\/2016\/11\/02\/the-rifle-mle-1866-chassepot-2-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The rifle mle 1866 Chassepot 2\/2"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Through the retranscription of an article punctuated by an ounce of optimism published in 1869, we saw in the first section devoted to the rifle Chassepot to outline the beginnings of the adoption of the new regulatory weapon.<\/span> A weapon firing so much cartridge that the enemy would be quickly cut in pieces in case of conflict.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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What about in 1873?<\/span> Through the study of older texts, what can we deduce?<\/span> Is there a relationship with more contemporary facts?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The rifle mle 1866 Chassepot<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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The wish to have a small caliber rifle charging the breech was issued in June 1865 by the Emperor Napoleon III.<\/span> That same year, the permanent commission of Versailles had chosen a rifle charging by the mouth.<\/span> The recent victories of Prussia require a more modern choice.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Under the influence of Switzerland, the tendency of the time tends towards the diminution of the caliber.<\/span> We look for a weapon of caliber between 10 and 15 mm in order to obtain a more tense trajectory and to make it possible to shoot at great distances, which is not possible with a projectile of 17 to 18 mm.<\/span> One thus seeks to strongly impact, to see undo, the enemy before the combat with the white weapon.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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It is a period of strong technical evolutions, many choices exist.<\/span> We make selection tests with a retrograde rifle but still strongly anchored in the minds: the shotgun.<\/span> The latter is ultimately a stallion of the old armament and an old way of making war.<\/span> On the other hand, no weapon with metal case is present on the ranks.<\/span> The commission is charged with deciding on three weapons: the Chassepot rifle, the Chassepot rifle modified by Mr Plumerel, a rifle charging by the mouth.<\/span> The Chassepot rifle was adopted.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The creator of the 1866 rifle is the author of three patents: the rubber shutter, the latch mechanism derived from the Prussian Dreysse, the cartridge.<\/span> The ballistic characteristics of the gun and the warhead: bullet length \/ caliber, bullet weight \/ powder charge, shape and inclination of the stripes \/ influence of the rotation of the projectile were defined according to the studies of various stakeholders and commissions<\/span> then applied on the Chassepot mechanism.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

February 14, 1866, an order of 1500 weapons is passed to the factory of Ch\u00e2tellerault.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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In June 1866, 400 rifles were received.<\/span> they will be sent to the camp of Chalons to be experienced by the Imperial Guard (see first article on the Chassepot rifle).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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July 03, 1866, creation of the manufactures of St Etienne and Puteaux.<\/span> The goal is to manufacture 150,000 weapons a year and 1,800 machine tools for manufacturing.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The 1866 rifle is a resolutely modern weapon for its time.<\/span> Terribly well done and that required a major effort to the nation.<\/span> Then comes the time of the first tests then the fire test.<\/span> The only criterion of the gun is not enough to predict the winner of future battles.<\/span> The idyllic setting described by the first article has it evolved?<\/span> What about the best weapon in Europe?<\/span> Are Mr. Chassepot’s patents adapted to a weapon of war?<\/span> or a stand gun?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Spitting towards the face of the shooter (synonymous with lack of tightness) are the reasons for the delay in the adoption and spread of bolt loading weapons.<\/span> Mr Chassepot uses a recent material for the time: a rubber washer to achieve this seal which in the process reduces the recoil of the weapon.<\/span> The room is deteriorating in various ways.<\/span> It cracks, it melts and closes the channel of the needle, it loses its elasticity.<\/span> The spitting increases in a growing way when in melting it loses its diameter.<\/span> The soldier has a spare room in his cabin.<\/span> The use of this material is a bold choice.<\/span> To date, very few weapons have used rubber for this function.<\/span> The Chassepot may be the only one.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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As seen above, the seal is more or less well done to the outside.<\/span> It is the same towards the interior.<\/span> The gases, the result of the burning of the powder, go wherever they do not encounter resistance.<\/span> This is how they pass into the breech through the channel of the percussion needle.<\/span> This has the effect of soaking the percussion spring causing a weak percussion see the breakage of the spring.<\/span> In some cases, it is possible to arm the dog just by slamming the ground diaper.<\/span> The combustion gases also strongly foul the inside of the cylinder head.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The fouling does not only affect the inside of the cylinder head but also the room.<\/span> Debris and firing residues remain and prevent the introduction of the following ammunition.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The diameter of the needle is 1.5 mm.<\/span> A doubled diameter, 3 mm, would bring a solidity 4 times higher.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The muscled closure of the breech may cause the percussion of a cartridge.<\/span> This sudden closure exists due to the lack of inclined closure ramp on the receiver.<\/span> The presence of this machining helps the shooter to gradually push the ammunition into the chamber while locking the bolt.<\/span> The vast majority of modern lock weapons have this ramp, it brings unparalleled comfort.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The polished white finish of the weapon, in addition to being very visible, requires significant maintenance under penalty of corrosion.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the speech of Mr Thier, President of the Republic, of June 8, 1872:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

“In the opinion of the men of war, the Chassepot rifle was the best weapon in use in the armies” “The Chassepot rifle is recognized excellent except the cartridge, which all European countries seek to improve” …<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Although it is necessary to bear in mind the industrial context of the time as well as the speed with which the weapon was manufactured and distributed, it still seems that one can address some reproaches on the<\/span> design of the Chassepot rifle.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The Chassepot Rifle Cartridge<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

As said before, three principles compete at this time in the history of armament: the loading by the mouth, the cartridge with fuel pouch, the cartridge with metal case.<\/span> Although proposed by the commission of Versailles, the loading by the mouth is considered exceeded, swept away by the consequences of the battles of Sadowa.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The fuel cell cartridge thus found itself in competition with the cartridge with metal case.<\/span> Although some observers of the time give their preference for the latter which is said to be of better quality even from abroad.<\/span> The disadvantages of it have had a bigger forum.<\/span> The defects of the era of the metal cartridges are:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n