Maybe Doing Research isn't Always Good

[Wolf308]

Hello everyone. I've been a member for a while, but have posted very little and not recently, so I'm the new girl on the block. I'm pretty much a beginner to collecting older weapons, but they have grabbed me good.

Today I brought home another one, a MAS 49-56. I don't know a whole lot about the gun, but that's half the fun to me, doing the research on them.

But I stumbled on something that has me not wanting to shoot the gun now, so I wanted to see what your experience was.

I found a site that says these guns are prone to doing bursts if you don't use the French surplus ammo. How possible is it that this is going to happen? My odds of only finding French surplus are slim at best, and I don't have access to land, so I shoot at indoor ranges. I am terrified of this thing bursting on the firing range and me ending up in a prison cell with some nut job.

How's that for a first "noob" post?! LOL!

Information

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[Paul S.]

My limited experience with the MAS49/56 is with the Century Arms imports converted to .308 WIN in the 1990s. Some of those for some reason would 'double' when fired. Quite a few of the .308s went back to Century to be tinkered with and diagnosed as cured. It is a very handy rifle and fun to shoot despite the rather awkward magazine release.

You can send me yours if you decide you don't like it. I'll gladly give an orphan rifle a good home.

[RobSmith]

Long story short " either too much pressure or not enough. Ammo is ammo. Gotta figure out what the design specs called for and go with that.

[jmoore]

Long story short " either too much pressure or not enough. Ammo is ammo. Gotta figure out what the design specs called for and go with that.

"Bursts" as in "full automatic uncontrolled bursts", not Kaboom! (But it's not too far behind, in this case- if the breech isn't locked it makes a mess.)

Ammo ain't ammo. If the primers are too soft as might be found on some commercially produced ammunition, then the impact of a non-spring retracted firing pin during bolt closure amy result in trigger free multiple round discharge.

If you reload, there are primers made just for such weapons, such as the CCI "milspec" primers.

Alternatively, there should be some info as to which ammo to avoid. French surplus ammo may still be had if you shop via internet.

For instance:

http://www.fivesevenammo.com/shop/page4.html

[Wolf308]

Well, I thought it over real good. No matter what mods I do, I'm never going to trust this rifle enough to shoot it. So it's heading back to the shop on Tuesday when they're open again. There's a nice little SMLE dated 1926 waiting for me to make the right choice. And if things go well, I might get a Mosin out of it, too. LOL!

[vintage hunter]

Wolf, I don't think your fully understanding what you've been reading. The rifle isn't going to blow up, the warnings pertain to slam-fires. A slam-fire is the firing of a cartridge caused by the closing of the bolt as the round is fed into the chamber.Some causes of slam-fires are 1. sensitive primers, 2. Minimum chamber,minimum headspace, 3. Inadequate case sizing, 4. Hammer following the bolt, 5. Frozen firing pin, and/or 6. Fouled bolt face. This problem can happen with any semi-auto firearm, not just the MAS 49/56. I have a 49/56 that I've shot both factory ammo(PRVI Brand) and handloads in with no problems. I've also shot the tar out of my M-1 Garand, M-1 Carbine and M-1a with factory ammo and handloads without a slamfire but I regularly disassemble the bolt to clean the face and firing pin. Also I clean the primer pockets, check that the primers are fully seated and full length size the cases so theres no resistance when the round chambers. The only slam-fire I've ever witnessed happened with an SKS, don't recall the ammo but believe it was commercial stuff.

[onlycrimson]

I see no reason not to trust the rifle. Every semi-auto gun can slam fire. Look who's shooting semi-auto guns, almost everyone has one.

[Wolf308]

No, I get it. But I spent some real good time thinking it over and almost talked myself into keeping it. But the reality is I'll probably rarely shoot the rifle anyway because I can't get ammo for it other than at gun shows (yes, I know there is online, but there's issues with living arrangements that prevent me from having it shipped here). I also need to start taking caliber size into consideration. My shoulders aren't doing really well anymore, and if the rifle surprises me too many times I could be out of the game for longer than I wish to be. And, when I really thought it over, it was the rifle I left behind that was on my mind more. I think it will be a better fit all the way around. I do prefer bolts to semi-auto anyway, always have.

[bigduke6]

There's a nice little SMLE dated 1926 waiting for me to make the right choice.

You cant go wrong with the SMLE, interesting to see the make (maybe a 1926 Lithgow).

[RobSmith]

I''m well aware of the possibility of spontaneous discharge in firearm, as I have occasionally witnessed such events (never had it happen to me though). I've even seen an older hinge-action shotgun fire upon closing the action (turns out that there was some rust and grit that worked it's way into the non user-serviceable mechanism over the years and the gun would sometimes not fully cock when the action was opened). Some bolt action rifles are also notorious for spontaneously discharing if one works the safety catch back and forth and so on.

As long as the individual exercises rigorous muzzle discipline the chances of injury is minimal, as it is generally a one-in-a-million even to begin with.

"Bursts" as in "full automatic uncontrolled bursts", not Kaboom! (But it's not too far behind, in this case- if the breech isn't locked it makes a mess.)

Ammo ain't ammo. If the primers are too soft as might be found on some commercially produced ammunition, then the impact of a non-spring retracted firing pin during bolt closure amy result in trigger free multiple round discharge.

If you reload, there are primers made just for such weapons, such as the CCI "milspec" primers.

Alternatively, there should be some info as to which ammo to avoid. French surplus ammo may still be had if you shop via internet.

For instance:

http://www.fivesevenammo.com/shop/page4.html