Milsurp After Hours

With only a 1935s in my collection to represent the Fifth Republic I decided it was time to give it some company.

MAS-49/56? - Fusil Semi-automatique de 7,5mm Modele 1949.

Wikithingi says.....
Many MAS-49/56 rifles imported as surplus into the United States were rechambered locally by Century Arms International to fire the 7.62mm NATO round. However several user reports have noted that these particular conversions were often unsatisfactory (resulting in numerous action stoppages and misfires) due to imperfect workmanship. Furthermore, the shortening of the barrel to allow rechambering brings the gas vent closer to the chamber hence creating a higher stress on the bolt carrier. In addition to these Century Arms conversions, approximately 250 MAS-49/56 rifles were converted in France to 7.62×51mm NATO for use by the French National Police. These rifles are not known to have the reliability issues that plague the later Century Arms conversions.

Commercial 7.5×54mm "French" ammunition made in countries other than France for current distribution have been known to produce burst fire (2 or 3 rounds at a time) because of more sensitive primers. The original heavy steel firing pins on the MAS-49 and 49/56 can be replaced by commercial titanium firing pins which are much lighter and generally cure the problem of burst fire on these weapons. It is also possible to prevent these slamfires by shortening the firing pin by approximately 0.5 mm, or by modifying the bolt to accommodate a firing pin return spring.

Yes sir Duncan , there both MAS 49/56's but the are both still in 7.5 french.

Century Arms imported into the US a number of these rifles in original 7.5 caliber the same time they got a boat load of MAS M36 rifles around 1998/99. After I got my MAS bolt action in December of 1999 I was going for one of the auto rifles too. But considering how pricey the ammo was I held off buying and bought something else with my next accumulation of mad money. Then , eventually, they were all gone.

I have no idea what they go for now days but considering you see plain Yugo SKS rifles going for high four hundred dollar figures, only because they are semi auto and of military nature, I'd be afraid to guess what the more rare French semi auto would bring....even with the higher price ammo.

The rifle was a bargain @ $585.00 shipped, with them normally going for $800.00/$1000.00. The scoped rifle was $1400.00, and is in the low end of the range , some fetch up to $2000.00 with all the toys.

That's remarkable. I can't remember what they were back in the day. Since the MAS 36 I got was $59.87 it couldn't have been much more than twice that for the automatic rifle.

Niner wrote:That's remarkable. I can't remember what they were back in the day. Since the MAS 36 I got was $59.87 it couldn't have been much more than twice that for the automatic rifle.

Yes sir, and Mosin's where 39.95 from CAI, now they are over $200.00. Guess that means to things, either we bought them right back then, ........or............we are getting old real fast.

Those look great!



Yeah, prices just keep going up. It sure sounds like you got a good deal though

-ArchFluffy