French MAS 36

[bob4wd]

The MAS has one big problem, at least for me- I continually skin my knuckles on the rear sight when working the bolt rapidly if I'm not careful how I grab the bolt handle. Gets better with practice, I suppose.
I'm in a very small minority regarding French battle rifles. Remember the gun's intended use, which is to shoot the other guy in the heat of battle, when tunnel vision takes over and attention to small details may be lacking, like remembering to take the gun off safety. Better to not even have a safety in the first place! It is a very well known fact that "buck fever" even affects hunters in the field when the same thing happens.

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[Aragorn243]

I understand why the French rifles don't have safeties but I still don't agree with their reasoning. To me it's simply hanging on to a concept way past it's use. When troops are fighting from fixed positions, it isn't an issue. But warfare had changed by the time the Lebel, Berthier and MAS were developed. Warfare was much more fluid. They were "fortunate" if you could call it that that the machine gun changed that for the span of WWI forcing the system of trench warfare which again forced fixed positions.

If you have to be on the move, conducting patrols, sneak attacks, etc it is very inconvenient to be running around with a rifle that doesn't have a safety. Nervous people squeeze triggers and one shot when it isn't desired alerts the enemy to your position. It can also kill the guy standing next to you.

I like the rifles, but I'd never take one hunting. And yes, I recognize they were designed for battle, not hunting but as every other nation by that time had safeties on their rifles, the French were simply way behind the times, despite being the first with a smokeless self contained cartridge.

[bob4wd]

I understand why the French rifles don't have safeties but I still don't agree with their reasoning. To me it's simply hanging on to a concept way past it's use. When troops are fighting from fixed positions, it isn't an issue. But warfare had changed by the time the Lebel, Berthier and MAS were developed. Warfare was much more fluid. They were "fortunate" if you could call it that that the machine gun changed that for the span of WWI forcing the system of trench warfare which again forced fixed positions.

If you have to be on the move, conducting patrols, sneak attacks, etc it is very inconvenient to be running around with a rifle that doesn't have a safety. Nervous people squeeze triggers and one shot when it isn't desired alerts the enemy to your position. It can also kill the guy standing next to you.

I like the rifles, but I'd never take one hunting. And yes, I recognize they were designed for battle, not hunting but as every other nation by that time had safeties on their rifles, the French were simply way behind the times, despite being the first with a smokeless self contained cartridge.

Yeah but- if a guy was to "accidently" shoot himself in the foot, it'd be much more believable if the gun had no safety, non?

[boristhepig]

I have one and really like it, smooth short action good weight and not heavy on the recoil for a short rifle. It has a decent sight for a milsurp I have only fired it out to 100 yards as yet but held a nice group size. Looks wise you either love it or hate it, and love its qwerky look.
As another recommendation after firing my Mas my brother put in for a variation so he could get one for himself, and he is not usually a fan of surplus rifles normally preferring something new and in plastic.
So if you decide not to buy it please let me know the dealer and price so I can pass the info on to him.

As regards to reloading standard 308 bullets, I got the cases and die set from Peter Lawman Henry Kranks do them also. Kranks usually also stock the rifle as well but currently are out of stock.

Let me know if there is any thing else you would like to know
Terry

[bigduke6]

Thanks for all the reply's I was back today but couldn't get a closer look as I landed at closing time and just in time to buy one of the .22,s I was after I,m in touch with them again tomorrow over a few things but will be a week or so before I can get my mits on it. I will keep all informed.

[heelmark]

i think you will like it. a gunshop had 3. i bought one ,liked it so much i went back and bought the other 2.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I saw three last Week end one .308 two 7.5 French. Resisted the temptaion (already having one in 7.5) even though they were the closest thing to a bargin on a milsurp at the funshow. A .308 would be nice if you had some assurance of proper function. I think they are a bit under appreciated.

[Mk VII]

The front sight is solid so any zeroing is done with the rear sight. Yesterday I was told that an offset peep was made so that you can take care of any lateral error. Very few of these offset ones appear to have survived, and are unobtanium as spares. My informant said he had only ever come across one rifle fitted with one.

[bigduke6]

Picked it up today, never intended to as its too close to Christmas but considering what come with it, I couldn't say no.

Not as mint as I originally thought as It was in a rack and only glimpsed it, but certainly very good, its a 1936-51 has the attachment for the grenade launching sight on the nose cap, but barrel looked standard? Come with a 100 cleaned and sized cases, 60 live rounds and a set of dies. will get some pics when I can.

[seabot2]

Mas 36 in 45/70 anybody? I heard of some talk about doing this, but haven't seen anybody else do it. Mines is a work still in progress. Bolt needs to be bent back to avoid hitting the Parker Hale rear sight. Magazine feed is something to ponder on. Shoots as a single shot right now.