Essentially a faster-firing variant of the mitrailleuse mle 1931, and using the same 7.5 mm MAS ammunition, the MAC 34 worked by gas operation and was fed from drum magazines.
Two main variants, sharing common parts, were introduced: Because it used an open bolt action, the MAC 34 could not[citation needed] be fitted with synchronization gear, and was more expensive to manufacture than comparable weapons; but it was compact and had excellent reliability.
Like other rifle-calibre machine guns, the MAC 34 proved to be too light for combat in World War II.
The Armée de l'Air had plans to use several types of heavy aircraft machine guns, including an 11 mm variant of the MAC 34, but none could be completed before the Armistice.
[citation needed] The MAC 1934 was used in Algeria on Morane-Saulnier MS.500 light aircraft for anti guerilla operations around 1957.