MADSEN Lightweight Military Rifle

[cwo4uscgret]

Although not a US gun, it is chambered for the M2 .30 Caliber Ball round. It is also the last bolt action military rifle ordered for a military after WWII, but was never issued.

Here's my Colombian Madsen, chambered in M2 .30 Ball (aka .30-06).

Information

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[Badger]

Very nice example ....

Modern Firearms - Madsen M1947

Caliber: .30-06 (7.62x63 mm), but also advertised in any contemporary rifle caliber between 6.5 and 8mm
Action: manually operated, rotary bolt action
Overall length: 1080 mm
Barrel length: 595 mm
Weight: 3.65 kg empty
Magazine capacity: 5 rounds

Madsen model 1947 rifle, also know as "the MADSEN Lightweight Military Rifle" (listed as such in Madsen catalogs) or "Colombian Navy M1958 rifle", was designed and manufactured by Dansk Industrie Sindikat "Madsen" A.S., mostly to be offered for 3rd world countries, whose armies had not enough funds to buy and maintain semi- or full-automatic infantry rifles. It was also advertised in Madsen catalogs as 'suitable for soldiers of comparatively small stature'. This rifle was first offered in DISA / Madsen catalogs in 1947, but initially found no buyers, as world arms markets were flooded with surplus rifles of the WW2 era, and the focus of military interests shifted from bolt action rifles towards semi-automatic and automatic rifles. In 1958 Colombian Navy made an order for Madsen Model 1947 rifles in caliber .30-06 US, but it appears that the service life of these rifles was rather short, and most were soon sold as surplus. Total production of the Madsen model 1947 rifles is estimated at around 5-6 thousands rifles. The Madsen model 1947 rifle is often called 'the last military bolt action rifle', as it was designed and manufactured when bolt-action rifles finally became obsolete as standard military rifles.

The Madsen model 1947 rifle is manually operated bolt action rifle. It uses rotary bolt action with dual locking lugs, located at the rear of the bolt body. Bolt lugs engage cuts, made on the inner receiver walls just behind the magazine housing. The cocking handle is located at the middle of the bolt and bent down for more comfortable carry. Manual safety is located at the rear of the bolt, and has two position. When it points to the left, rifle is ready to fire; when it points up, rifle is set to 'safe', it cannot fire and bolt is locked. Rifle is fed from integral, non-detachable box magazine that holds 5 rounds. Magazine is reloaded from the top, when the bolt is opened, using single rounds or stripper clips. Sighting equipment consist of the protected front sight and aperture type rear sight, which is adjustable for windage and range between 100 and 900 meters. To decrease felt recoil of the rifle, it is equipped with integral muzzle brake and a rubber buttplate. Other standard accessories include carrying slink and a knife type bayonet.

Thanks for posting the pics ...

Regards,
Doug

[onlycrimson]

Awesome, I'd really like one of these.

[MGMike]

I have some unissued stocks for these rifles, complete with recoil pad and some hardware. No handguards, sorry. If you need a stock, send me a PM.

M

[bighank]

Do you still have any of the stocks for sale? Also I have been looking for a front sight post.

[Ronn38]

Ditto to the above question...

[Patrick Chadwick]

Weight: 3.65 kg empty

How is it shooting the Madsen? An M1917 is 20% heavier, and more than enough recoil for my shoulder.

[jmoore]

Not bad, actually, if you have good hearing protection. Stock fit is good, better than an M1917, but only if you don't mind it's short LOP. All the better for a PAST recoil pad strapped to the shoulder, I guess.

The rubber butt pad is not all that soft, but between it and the brake things seem pretty tame. But It's been a long time since I shot one.

[RCEMERalf]

"Other standard accessories include carrying slink and a knife type bayonet. " Any pictures of that slink? Someone ground the front sight hood off mine. Any ideas? Thanks

[Patrick Chadwick]

The rubber butt pad is not all that soft, but between it and the brake things seem pretty tame.

So the muzzle brake is effective?