Un Remington Fusil de Infanterie Modèle 1907-1915 (French Berthier 8mm Rifle)

[jmoore]

Found this one whilst visiting an old friend, mentor, and former employer(!) recently. Almost new except for storage dings (including a warped rear sight) and evidence that someone had affixed a bayonet for some length of time. No serial number, so never delivered to France.

Nothing earth shaking otherwise except for the price. But French rifles just don't turn up often in these parts, especially in good shape. Last time I had one was in high school, but it had to be returned after a couple of weeks. Seems the fellow student that sold it to me had raided his father's closet! Good grief.

So, some introductory photos:






No serial number in the usual places.



Need to do some bore and chamber measuring. Partly to sort out what sort of bullets will be needed for shooting purposes. (A possibility) Partly to see if the claims of poor dimensioning on Remington's part has any truth as to why these rifles were not accepted by the French in a time of great need.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Aragorn243]

Interesting. I wasn't aware Remington made the full length version.

[jmoore]

Badger does a nicer job, but here's a link to the Knowledge Library entry on the Mle. 07-15:

https://www.milsurps.com/content.php...Berthier-Rifle

[RCS]

The Remington model with French rebuild marking are seldom found and have a collectors interest. Most desirable are the Mle 02 Indo-China models.

The Mle 07/15 never worked out as a sniper during WW1 while the Lebel was the main sniper rifle up to WW2 in some unitsAttachment 49125Attachment 49126Attachment 49127

[rayg]

Nice, those stay at home Remington rifles are probably the only French model rifles you'll find in that condition. Most French rifles that were over there have been used for many years and their conditions shows it. I have one like it also, Ray

[jmoore]

Another link that's extremely useful is in the "sticky" header of the Milsurps General Discussion Forum:

* Berthier Carbine and Rifle Information *

Which thread was referenced just now regarding cartridge neck dimensions and the 1920s change in cartridges. This Remington has a chamber neck that runs ~0.354"-0.355" ID which is too small for the newer round. Should be good for the old balle "D".

What's very good news is that the current Prvi Partisan ammo has a case neck that's ~0.347-0.348" OD. So it's "small" for the "N" chambered firearms, but I've had good results using it in a couple of carbines. It chambers fine in the "new" rifle as well.



Need to pull a bullet and see if it's dimensioned like the solid brass balle D or if it just has a thin case wall. Thinking the former.

[Aragorn243]

Is the Privi ammo safe to use in a Lebel magazine? Does it have the ring around the primer? I'm a bit leery of using pointed bullets in tubular magazines

[jmoore]

Is the Privi ammo safe to use in a Lebel magazine?

Not without cutting an annulus on the base.

[Aragorn243]

That's what I figured. If and when I reload, I'll use round tip bullets.

[vintage hunter]

Does anyone in forum land know of a documented case of a tube magazine explosion caused by the use of pointy bullets?