Despite being superseded, the Gras rifle and the 11×59mmR cartridge continued in wide service with territorial and second line troops as well as throughout France's colonies, continuing in these roles during the Great War.
In addition to arming second line troops, old Gras rifles and the 11×59mmR cartridge were widely used by front line troops as converted grenade launchers, known as Bombardes DR (grenade throwers) these conversions had cut down barrels and butts of varying workmanship and always fired cartridges with the bullets removed to propel the grenade, and were used as a crude form of trench mortar.

In 1916 it was decided to re-equip the Kingdom of Serbia's Army with French-made weapons, and from October that year the Serbian Army received 20,000 Gras rifles along with other French weapons.
 Due to a chronic shortage of modern rifles within the Imperial Russian Army, 105,000 Gras rifles and a quantity of 11×59mmR cartridges were supplied to Russia during the war, these rifles were subsequently used by the Red Army in their early years.
Despite being superseded, the Gras rifle and the 11×59mmR cartridge continued in wide service with territorial and second line troops as well as throughout France's colonies, continuing in these roles during the Great War. In addition to arming second line troops, old Gras rifles and the 11×59mmR cartridge were widely used by front line troops as converted grenade launchers, known as Bombardes DR (grenade throwers) these conversions had cut down barrels and butts of varying workmanship and always fired cartridges with the bullets removed to propel the grenade, and were used as a crude form of trench mortar.
In 1916 it was decided to re-equip the Kingdom of Serbia's Army with French-made weapons, and from October that year the Serbian Army received 20,000 Gras rifles along with other French weapons.  Due to a chronic shortage of modern rifles within the Imperial Russian Army, 105,000 Gras rifles and a quantity of 11×59mmR cartridges were supplied to Russia during the war, these rifles were subsequently used by the Red Army in their early years.
11×59mmR Gras