7.5x54mm French

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7.5x54mm MAS mod. 1929

Type Rifle
Place of origin Flag of France France
Service history
In service 1929-1980
Used by France, Germany, Vietnam
Wars World War II, First Indochina War, Algerian War, Suez Crisis, Vietnam War
Production history
Designer MAS
Designed 1924
Variants Balle "C", Balle "D"
Specifications
Parent case 7.5x57mm MAS mod. 1924
Case type Rimless, bottleneck
Bullet diameter .308 in (7.8 mm)
Neck diameter .340 in (8.6 mm)
Shoulder diameter .441 in (11.2 mm)
Base diameter .480 in (12.2 mm)
Rim diameter .482 in (12.2 mm)
Rim thickness .054 in (1.4 mm)
Case length 2.11 in (54 mm)
Overall length 2.99 in (76 mm)
Rifling twist 10
Primer type Large rifle
Ballistic performance
Bullet weight/type Velocity Energy
139 gr (9.0 g) Balle "C" FMJ 2,699 ft/s (823 m/s) 2,241 ft·lbf (3,038 J)
150 gr (9.7 g) SP 2,800 ft/s (850 m/s) 2,620 ft·lbf (3,550 J)
180 gr (12 g) SP 2,590 ft/s (790 m/s) 2,692 ft·lbf (3,650 J)
Test barrel length: 574 mm (22.6 inch)
Source: SurplusRifle.com [1]/Cartridges of the World [2]

The 7.5x54mm French MAS or 7.5 French cartridge was developed by France as an update to the 7.5x57mm MAS mod. 1924 cartridge. In terms of power it is roughly comparable to the 7.62x51mm NATO/.308 Winchester round.

Note that the 7.5 French cartridge is not the same as the similar 7.5x55mm Schmidt Rubin (7.5 mm Swiss) and users should never try to interchange the two.

Contents

[edit] History & General Information

By World War I France realized that it needed to update its revolutionary, but awkward, 8 mm Lebel ammunition. Unfortunately due to occupation and loss of materials and supplies it was not able to do so until after the war had ended. In 1924 the 7.5x57mm MAS cartridge was introduced but was soon replaced with the 7.5x54mm MAS. France made two main variations for military use, the 1924C and 1924D, being light and heavy ball, respectively. While many countries chose their heavy ball ammunition, France chose to keep the light ball ammunition for main service use. For the MAS-36 and MAS-49 rifles Balle C ammo is preferable. Balle D is best for machine gun usage. Tracers, incendiary, training, etc. 7.5 mm MAS ammo was created for use by the military as well as a modified form of the cartridge as a hunting round.

[edit] Specifications

Overall Length: 2.981 Inches FPS: Approximately 2,700 FPS Pressure: Approximately 40,000 PSI

[edit] Balle 'C'

Projectile: 139 grain (9 grams) FMJ Spitzer Powder: 44.78 grains (2.90 grams) of BPF1 or B.Ba.

[edit] Balle 'D'

Projectile: 191.6 grain (12.4 grams) FMJ boat tail Spitzer. Powder: 38 grain (2.46 grams) of BPF1.

[edit] Weapons chambered for 7.5x54mm MAS

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Surplusrifle.com
  2. ^ Barnes, Frank C. [1965] (2006). in Skinner, Stan: Cartridges of the World, 11th Edition, Iola, WI, USA: Gun Digest Books, 353,375. ISBN 0-89689-297-2.