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I'm starting to think I might fancy something a little different in a semi-auto milsurp. I'd prefer good brass life, which eliminates the SVT and Ljungman designs. I have no desire to reload 7.62x39, G43s are out of my price range, and Norinco M14's are not my cup of tea, and not milsurp in my opinion. It's going to be an FN49 or Garand, but that MAS1949 that P&S has is quite intriquing.
So what's the deal with these rifles, and what about 7.5x54ammo? :help:
7.5 French ammo is commercially non-existant. But if you like to reload your own, it's basically a step up from the 7.62NATO round.
You can use all of the cponents for 7.62NATO to reload for 7.5 French, even the load data.
Hornady publishes specific 7.5 French data. Brass can be made from 6.5x55 but just resizing it, or you can buy Frontier brass on the bay.
I don't know if you'll find this helpful or not, since it's not about the 1949 sem-auto, but I recently sold a French 1936 MAS. If you find a 1949 and enjoy it, then perhaps you might want to add a bolt action sister rifle to your collection to go with it.
The photo montage is still on display .....
Quote:
1936 MAS French Service Rifle (Manufacture d'Armes de St-Etienne)
Caliber = 7.5x54 French
"French military bolt-action rifle model of 1936 made by Manufacture d'Armes de St-Etienne (MAS) in caliber 7.5x54 French. "MAS Mle 1936" marked on the left side of the receiver, has a two piece stock, and detachable spike bayonet concealed in the forearm. Serial numbers are matching on metal and wood. Condition is excellent, un-issued and unfired."
http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...20_Medium_.JPG(Click PICS to Enlarge)http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...20_Medium_.JPG
1936 MAS Service Rifle (lots more detailed pics ... click here)
Regards,
Badger
So ammo can be made, good good. What about the rifles themselves, junkers or something worth shooting?
I'd go with the 49 hands down, I got the granddaddy, SAFN-49. This is one of the finest semi-autos I've owned, and that is many-SDH
PS Those French guns don't show much promise with the complete lack of ammo and the converts to .308 were complete failures
I disagree. Here in Canada, 7.62 isn't cheap and plantiful, so 6 to one, half a dozen the other.
7.5 French brass is readily available from hornady and you can also make it by simply running 6.5 Swede brass through a 7.5 sizing die - no trimming required.
Just use 7.62 Data of the purpose-made data from Hornady.
i don;t have the MAS49, but I do shoot a MAS36 from time to time and they are a nifty rifle with a very capable round that in many ways has a slight edge over the 7.62 NATO (which the Americans basically copied from the 7.5, changing it just enough so it wouldn't be the same... lol. Same bullet, same load, slightly smaller base and slightly different shoulder angle - that's it!).
I haven't seen a can of 7.5 in years, I guess its a geographic thing. I read sometime last year that gun gun runs fine w.7.5, but, many problems when re-built to .308. Have you fellas gotten any of that new South African .308 ammo that has been floating around lately?-SDH
We had the South African ammo maybe a year ago, but it's all shot up now with no sign of more comming. The last stuff we had in quantity was the portuguese FNM. It's now gone as well.
Cheap surplus in Cnaada is pretty much limited to Czech 7.62x39 and 7.62x54R. Very little else has been allowed to be imported by the Geheimstatzpolitzei at the department of Natural Resources where ammo importations are approved, or more appropriately, declined in recent years.
it's a "death by a thousand cuts" sort of aproach that our beurocracy has been systematically following to eventually kill the shooting sports for all but the financially elite with their commercial ammo and expensive safari guns...
Actually the 7.62 NATO cartridge's ancestry is a long necked .300 Savage, which predates 7.5 by @ 15 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Claven2
That's what the Americans claim, yes. But ballistically it's a slightly stepped-down 7.5. Personally, I think it has much more in common with the 7.5 than the .300 Savage too.
6.5x55 brass is very easy to come by and I'll be reloading for whichever gun I get.
I'm surprised nobody here owns one, or shoots one?
Owned one, shot it, sold it. Nice rifle, gentle kick, but ammo is difficult to get and I got off of my "French" kick awhile back. I enjoyed it while i owned it. Overall, it seemd to handle a touch better than an SAFN. Just seemed "handier" to me.
Still have a bit of ammo kicking around if i ever get the urge again.
LI
For the MAS40 families (MAS44=> MAS 49 (or FSA 49) =>MAS 49/56 (FSA 49/56) and MAS (FSA) 49/56 MSE for Tireur d'élite (SQUAD DESIGNATED MARKSMAN) .
A the end of the WWII adopt the FSA 44 (base on MAS 40 with box mag feed), in FSA 49 modification in simpliiaction, MAS49/56 shorter version with grenade launcher pass trought and MSE is Kit for MAS49/56 (for Rifle cometition and SQUAD DESIGNATED MARKSMAN)
You could found the same gas sytem than in Tokarev and in AR10 /AR15 rifle
FSA : Fusil Semi-Automatique
MAS : Manufacture de Saint Etienne (state arsenal).
40 or 44 or 49 : year of entrance in service
The caliber MAS 7,5 mm 1929C (7,5x54 mm) is from 1929, that a shorter version of the 7,5mm (7,5x58mm) 1924,
Weapon with this caliber : FM 24-29 (squad machine gun), MAS36, MAS40, MAS44, MAS 49, MAS49/59, FRF1 (Sniper rifle and SQUAD DESIGNATED MARKSMAN) and rebarrel Lebel 07/15
for reloding (explanation in English):
- Reload 7.5 Mas Ammo French
- 7.5x54 French MAS Cartridge - Load Data
- 7.5 French MAS Case Forming
SNMP
I have shot both at our local club and the semi-auto is a great weapon to shoot
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...AS361web-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...AS362web-1.jpg
Here is a 36 for you to drool over :bow:
There was a short article in HANDLOADER magazine last year, about PHIL SHARPE's notes. The US government studied the 7.5 in great detail before WW2, and basically combined the 7.5 and .300 SAVAGE to come up with 7.62 NATO. This makes sense, because the 7.5 is so close to the NATO round, one could easily confuse them. I had a MAS 1944 once, and sold it in a moment of insanity. Great rifle, but it did have quite a backblast from the direct acting gas system. It was almost like being next to a rifle being fired with a muzzle brake. Other than that, it was fine.
I have experience with French rifles. I was never issued one but would not have minded. The Mle 44/49/49-56 are IMO excellent rifles. Very well made and designed to launch grenades as part of the French infantry system. The optics provided for the 49 and 49-56 are very good. Ammunition is easily made from 6.5 Swede. I use gallery cases..works well and cheap. Using NATO surplus powder /bullets cost me about 20 cents per round..
The 7.5 x 54 ammo for the Mas rifles does exist commerically. I just placed an order from Ammunitionto go.com. Use google to do a search and you will find the ammo at many locations. I just purchased a Mas 49/56 sniper rifle and but have had a chance to fire yet. Am interested in hearing from other owners of this rifle
[QUOTE=sdh1911;6913]I'd go with the 49 hands down, I got the granddaddy, SAFN-49. This is one of the finest semi-autos I've owned, and that is many. The tilting bolt originated with the french in 1927. The gas impingement with the French in 1900. IMHO,The best of all tilting bolt rifles is the Mas 49/56. Still in service today. Next of course is the Magnificent FAL. I make my 7.5 French ammo from 6.5 Swedish gallery which cost me $80 for 1400 rds. Regards, Gary
PRVI makes 7.5 French and its not terribly expensive. Now that the factory is back in production it should start showing back up in quantity. If you get a 1936 or 1949 model rifle, avoid the 7.62x51 conversions; they generally don't shoot very well.
Ammo is easily available and no more expensive than any other ammo of similar type. I own both the 36 and the 49 (from the looks both refurbushed and stored by the French before being surplused) and I ordered ammo from Graf and Sons. Availability is on again off again like all ammo right not.
The rifles are extremely accurate and very functional but lack a bit in looks. Dies for reloading are available from several sources such as Lee and bullets are standard 308. It is a simple reload. As stated stay away from any converted rifle. I understand that there were some French made rifles in 7.62 NATO but I would never buy one without being absolutely sure that it was original.
It would be a great rifle for your purpose.
One important fact people do not realize is that only approximately 250 FSA Modèle 1949-1956 rifles were converted in France to 7.62 NATO for use by the Sûreté Nationale (National Police) none of these were ever imported and are still in inventory with them.
All of the 'conversions' for sale in the U.S. are the Century Arms, Inc. done ones.
Patrick