Maybe Doing Research isn't Always Good

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!

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. ;):thup:

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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"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

:cheers:

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!

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.

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.

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.

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Originally Posted by Wolf308

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

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

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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jmoore

"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

:cheers:

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Originally Posted by bigduke6

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

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You pegged it. :)

---------- Post added at 10:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:58 PM ----------

It's over, folks. The MAS has been turned in and I got a 1926 Enfield SMLE and a 1943 Mosin Nagant, plus some ammo for it.

I'm much happier. I understand the MAS can be fixed, or maybe nothing is wrong, but when I lifted the case this evening with the SMLE and the Mosin inside and proceeded to pull my shoulder out of the socket, I realized maybe I really DID make the right choice. I'm not your "average" female and can handle a rifle with some punch (K31, anyone?), but over the years my right arm hasn't been what it should be. Between a shoulder that has taken too much recoil from sighting in safari rifles for people to a broken wrist thanks to a small revolver with a massive load, I just don't think taking the chance of an unexpected slam fire pushing the rifle into my shoulder unexpectedly is worth it. If that MAS had cut down on my K31 time I would have been very upset. Besides, I seem to go very "old fashioned" anyway. I always take a bolt over semi, pump over semi, and wheel gun over semi. I have semis, but they don't make me as happy. And when I brought home that SMLE tonight... the buyer's remorse was gone. So I think I did good.

The MAS is back up for sale for a nice price and will make someone else very happy.

Good year for an SMLE. Looking forward to hearing more about your new purchases!

Yesssss........ 1926 was a very good year for Champagne, Chateau Lafite Rothschild..... and SMLEs from Enfield.

Made slowly and carefully.

And VERY few were made or survive.

You have a very real prize there.

Have fun!
.

I had a 49/56 in French 7.5 (wish I still had it) and I reloaded the 7.5 as it is hard to get with only one slam fire, I loaded the ammo with WLRP and it emptied the mag. Went home and pulled all down and loaded with CCI #11 Milsurp primers and never had another problem, very accurate and lots of fun. If I ever get the chance I will buy another when I have the money.

Sorry to butt in on the thread, but I know of a MAS 49/56 for sale in my area, for $385, but it was converted to .308. I did some research and found out that a lot of shooters don't like those, due to a poor conversion job. Anyway, I was thinking about buying one if I could get the price down a little bit, but I held off when I saw the negative reviews on the converted ones, do any of you have any input on the .308 conversions?
Thanks,
Jim

Edit: Also, the overall condition of the gun is pretty nice, has the rubber butt cover, and the white knob on the bolt handle. I believe the conversion was by Century Arms.

Well, you guys will be happy to know that this MAS in question recently found itself a nice new home.