French MAS 36

[gwilly]

I'm beginning to consider the French MAS 36 as an option lately.
My question is how would the 7.5x54 version compare to one in 300 Savage? I've read that CAI converted some to 308 & are to be avoided......any thoughts from those with first hand knowledge?
Thanks!!

[desdem12]

The 308s need to be resisted for sure. Never seen one in 300 savage but have seen a type 99 in that caliber. Did century do that too? It is a complete mess and the bolt barely works without a bullet. The French ammo is available and there is limited surplus I have seen lately. My 36 is a terrible shooter and looks new. It is relegated to looking at now.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Screw that conversion shit, most of it's done by drunk monkeys, stick with original chamberings and reload for it if you have to.

[gwilly]

Aye aye, thank Ye!
(Currently watching 'Master and Commander')

[Junk Yard Dog]

That is a good movie I have the entire Horatio Hornblower series here someplace also.

[Rongo]

I lost out on one a few weeks ago on GB. I plan on getting one before fall. A very well built rifle & ammo is still available.

[Longcolt44]

The 308s need to be resisted for sure. Never seen one in 300 savage but have seen a type 99 in that caliber. Did century do that too? It is a complete mess and the bolt barely works without a bullet. The French ammo is available and there is limited surplus I have seen lately. My 36 is a terrible shooter and looks new. It is relegated to looking at now.

Hey Des. If you get tired of looking at that 36 I have an open slot I need to fill.

[Rongo]

The 308s need to be resisted for sure. Never seen one in 300 savage but have seen a type 99 in that caliber. Did century do that too? It is a complete mess and the bolt barely works without a bullet. The French ammo is available and there is limited surplus I have seen lately. My 36 is a terrible shooter and looks new. It is relegated to looking at now.

Hey Des. If you get tired of looking at that 36 I have an open slot I need to fill.

Same here.

[Greasemonkey]

The biggest issue with the .308 Mas 36 is when Century did the conversion, they shortened the chamber and it set the barrel back several mm. Then they altered the stock, they removed the rear tang plate that holds the fore stock tight, and helping barrel harmonics. That in turn, through off the predesigned bedding provided by the forestock and handguard causing numerous accuracy issues due to the stock modifications to fit the now slightly shorter barreled rifle.

A loose fitting forestock and handguard is the Mas 36's accuracy weakness, any looseness in that area will cause issues and the rifle to pattern like a shotgun. The forestock has a tang plate at the rear where it hooks in the receiver that can be shimmed some to tighten it up. If loose or if it even moves a little, it takes a little trial and error to get it back with home made shims, but it can be done. Some accuracy issues are from the wood that has dried over the years, shrinking slightly and getting loose. All of my Mas bolt rifles accuracy wise, are very comparable to my Mauser's or Mosin rifles. They are by no means a Swede or Swiss, but against most rifles, I think they hold their own with no problems

Also another reason the French used the 2 prong style screws was to keep troops from destroying the tuning provided by the tightness of the forestock by loosening the the barrel bands and or nose cap.

Like the .308 Mas 49/56, if they would have recalibrated for the higher chamber pressure of the American/Nato round, it probably wouldn't have been as bad. There is quite a pressure difference between 7.62 Nato and 7.5 French, especially when you add in a direct impingement gas system already calibrated for lower pressure round. A heavier recoil spring or restricting the gas system slightly, or maybe both probably would have helped greatly.

One of the most under rated military rifles, but I like'em.
And Des, there is always a space for one more

[shoto2758]

Wow,nice GM..

[Rongo]

Great spread!!!!

[Junk Yard Dog]

[desdem12]

Don't get me wrong, I love the French weapons and the mas 36 is a very unique rifle. I just wont ever have the love for it at the range. Mine is just a bad shooter and that is a fact. I have enough other rifles to shoot. It took me forever to get the ammo for it. Would I get another? HEll ya I would. I am chasing a couple of mas 49s kind of at the moment. I will have to figure out where to find the doh though.

[Greasemonkey]

I've tracked down an actual Mas 49, not the 49/56, price is a bit steep on it. I'm trying to find something else at the moment, so I'll let it sit a while, hopefully the price will become more negotiable.

[desdem12]

Yes I'm talking about the mas 49, not the 49/56. I have a track on 2 of them. Reasonable for now but not making too much headway at the moment. Shot one the other day and loved it. Handled well and shot well also. I would take a 49/56 if I could find an affordable one but they are up there around these parts.

[gurn]

If you can find a MAS 49 non Syrian rifle then you have really found something there. I have the Syrian 49 and really like it. I think the French made @ 20k of 49's and @280k of the 49/56's

[Dan4good]

hmm i should add one to my collection i have no french rifles

[etprescottazusa91]

Screw that conversion shit, most of it's done by drunk monkeys, stick with original chamberings and reload for it if you have to.

+1 on that I thought about buying a MAS 49/56 Century .308 conversion a few weeks back, they wanted five bills for it and after some thought and advice decided to stick to original chambered 7.5 French when one becomes available at a decent price.

(A good movie scene with a little MAS 36 rifle action is the opening scene in We Were Soldiers)

GreaseMonkey, nice collection of French hardware

[mitch5690]

i just got a 36/51 and havent got to shoot it yet, i really want a 49/56

[Junk Yard Dog]

i just got a 36/51 and havent got to shoot it yet, i really want a 49/56

Have we seen pictures of this rifle?