Why is my MAS 49/56 action so "stiff"

[914]

I posted this question on another board but I got no replies.
Maybe I will have better luck here.


I just picked up a MAS 49/56 . The very first time I opened the bolt (no mag in rifle) The action felt so heavy/rough and stiff that the bolt held open on its own. I figured "OK" Its got alot of cosmoline and all the parts were re-arsenal parkerized soooo... I will just clean it up and smooth out the parkerizing and it will be fine.....well....while the action is smoother and the bolt does not hold open on its own (with the mag out), it still takes more than a little MUSCLE to pull back the action ESPECIALLY when the hammer is in the "thrown" or fired position. Are all MAS 49/56 models like this??? or am I just to used to my Russian SKS's that takes 1/3 the effort to open the action??

What say you?

Thanks,
Louie

[whos2kno]

914
I have a MAS 49/56 and I would say it takes a little MUSCLE to pull the bolt back.
it will lighten up after you shoot a few rounds with it but not much.the one I have the spring is about 2 times the strength as the one on my yugo sks.
hope this helped
whos2kno

[1 Patriot-of-many]

Mine also FLIES forward when releasing it held all the way back.If I release it slowly it will hang up halfway closed,but in general it's pretty easy to pull back....Is the bolt hold open all the way down without a mag in it???
Bolt in carrier correctly??(Haven't disassembled mine in a while,so just a thought)...

[whos2kno]

Originally posted by 1 Patriot-of-many
Mine also FLIES forward when releasing it held all the way back.If I release it slowly it will hang up halfway closed,but in general it's pretty easy to pull back....Is the bolt hold open all the way down without a mag in it???
Bolt in carrier correctly??(Haven't disassembled mine in a while,so just a thought)...
mine does the same thing when you release it slowly.it just like a AK, riding on the hammer.
whos2kno

[Richard Simmons]

Is this a SOG 49/56? The reason I ask is their rifles have been rearsenaled. The parkerizing gets into many places that perhaps it shouldn't. Some also have a shorter spring than original which can make the action weak on closing. The bolt should slam home when pulled fully to the rear without a magazine in place. Mine has only had 100rds or so through it and still hesitates or stops if not released briskly. The bolt will remain to the rear if a mag is in place as these are also designed to be loaded via stripper clips will leaving the mag in place. Until your mags and rifle are quite well broken in though this is nearly impossible to do with any degree of grace. Get out there and shoot that bad boy. It'll straighten out just fine.

[REDSTAR]

Where are you guys gettin your ammo at for these babies? I'm leaning towards one heavily.

[whos2kno]

the last ones i got was from http://www.gunsnammo.com/ but it been a wile.
whos2kno

[914]

Thanks for your replies,

The bolts slams home ok now, BUT it's still tough to open the action. I guess its just the very heavy hammer (spring) that the bolt has to compress/slide over. Its ok though it just shows how this battle rifle was "over"built as all good MBR's should be.

Can't wait to shoot this bad boy!

Thanks again,
Louie

[whos2kno]

when I shot mine it was DEAD on with open sights. the recoil is like a G-3 or a HK-91.firm but not bad at all. the Blast was knocking things over on the table I was shooting from.
with out a doubt fun rifle to shoot.
I need to get some more ammo and take my new one out and see if she fires like the first one.
whos2kno
p.s where did you get your rifle from?

[914]

"Richard"... I forgot to mention, this rifle did come from SOG

[whos2kno]

the reason I asked the first one I got from them it would not chamber right. I had to send it back and they sent me a new one.
whos2kno

[Richard Simmons]

http://www.coledistributing.com/

These guys had the reloadable 7.5 Mas earlier but their website dosen't show it now.

[914]

Your correct Richard... Dang... I was going to order some. would have done so already but my printer is not working so I could not print out their "Waiver"

I don't have a C&R so I can't order from SOG, Century, Aim etc. sooooo....where do I go for this ammo?

[914]

I just remembered, Wholesale Guns & Ammo has Mil-surplus 7.5 French... 200 rds "Belted" $96.99 (shipped)

I am hoping to purchase some fresh commercially made 7.5 but if all I can get is old surplus, I guess it will have to do. Anybody out there ever tried this surplus 7.5 from WG&A ??? is this ammo reloadable? also is it non-corrosive??? How's it shoot (accurate?)



Thanks,
Louie
914

[whos2kno]

Originally posted by 914
I just remembered, Wholesale Guns & Ammo has Mil-surplus 7.5 French... 200 rds "Belted" $96.99 (shipped)

I am hoping to purchase some fresh commercially made 7.5 but if all I can get is old surplus, I guess it will have to do. Anybody out there ever tried this surplus 7.5 from WG&A ??? is this ammo reloadable? also is it non-corrosive??? How's it shoot (accurate?)



Thanks,
Louie
914
I shot 200 rounds of this stuff. no misfire or anything like that and yes it is "corrosive".
the stuff shoots really good at 100 yards I was getting 2 1/2" groups with open sights.not bad from a gun coming out of the box and using brake cleaner to clean the grease off.
no it not reloadable.
one thing to watch out for. DO NOT CHAMBER A ROUND WHEN YOU ARE NOT READY TO SHOOT IT!!! it does leave a indication on the primer when you chamber it.
whos2kno