OK, I bought a MAS 49/56 and have the brass now...

[O.S.O.K.]

I'm checking around for load data. I do have an older Hodgedon manual that has data but not for W748 which is what I would like to use (I have a good quantity).

Anyhoo, found this posted on another board:

"From a French collector in France who knows these weapons:

As we use only Vectan (French) here in France, so I can't help you guys much on handloads but I can help to kill another urban legend, the maximum safe working pressure of the 7.5x54 is not that far from the 7.62x51, look below at the maximum safe pressure data from the CIP (european equivalent of the US SAAMI):
7.62x51 = 52.250 Psi or 3600 bars
7.5x54 = 50750 Psi or 3500 bars
Using loading tables designed around the 7.62x51 for handloading of the French 7.5x54 is safe as long as you don't try the max pressure loads, the 7.5 case having a larger internal volume, the pressure of any given load will be significantly lower than with a 7.62x51 case as long as bullet weight and seating are respected."

Makes sense to me.

The max pressure is similar and the 7.5 case is a bit larger in volume, so using .308 Win data (starting low of course) should do just fine.

I want mil-equivalent velocity and good accuracy - and of course, proper cycling...

Oh, and I'll post a pic of the 49/56 when I get back home (on the road again...).

Anybody else load for a 49 or 36 Mas varient?

[AKTexas]

did you get the firing pin fix? If not expect slamfires.

[raxar]

Hogdon has a reloading manual on it's website which may be able to help you out.

[Schuetzenman]

did you get the firing pin fix? If not expect slamfires.

Unless he uses the CCI milspec primers.

[AKTexas]

Unless he uses the CCI milspec primers.

Yes sir I forgot about those.

[O.S.O.K.]

I ordered 5000 CCI #43 (IIRC) primers with the brass and dies - so yeah, I've got that covered.

I owned a 49/56 and a 49 previously and loaded for them. Just that it was some time ago and I can't find the load data.

I wasn't looking to get one of these - it just jumped into my hands at the shop... and then I asked what the price was... $225 - can't beat that! Of course, that's just the beginning as we all know. :)

I posted in the French and Italian rifle forum but I was posting all by myself - replying to an existing thread actually.

Anyhoo...

[Richard Simmons]

I've not reloaded for my Frenchies yet but I did a google search and found a post from 2009 where someone said that the Lee Reloading Manual had a section on reloading the 7.5 MAS cartridge.

[O.S.O.K.]

Ah - I mispoke in the OP - it's the Lee manual that I have that lists the data = not Hodgedon.

That's right.

I was looking at that an it seemed that all of the 7.5 loads were just a grain or two below the .308 Win's max loads with the same bullet.

[O.S.O.K.]

Here's a pic of the rifle:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5644220684_9ba83399de_b.jpg

Looks like a Mas 49-56 don't it? :D

I'm planning on loading 40 rounds and taking it to the range this weekend - I'll let you know how it does.

Loads: 20 rounds each: 47 and 47.5 Grains of W748 under a 150 grain Hornady spire point in the privi brass with the CCI milspec primers.

I have a bunch of W748 and it meters so nicely. It works really well in .308 Win, so I figure it should be equally as good in the 7.5 French.

[Schuetzenman]

Nice fishscale grain in the stock.

[AKTexas]

Looks like the one I had.

[Klawndyke]

Very nice rifle.. I have looked at those off and on for to long... I see you found the load data....

[O.S.O.K.]

Thanks.

I posted this on another board (survival type board) and got a lot of dissing because it's French :peeeifel:

It is French. But those with knowledge of ammo and firearms development history know that the French were prominant in it.

Their tactics, strategies and lack of fortitude, notwithstanding :)

[slamfire51]

Nicve.
I had one in 2003. Never shot it. I like the looks of them. Something exotic about the looks.
I have a box of commercial ammo you are welcome to. Next time we have a trade, I'll send them to you as a freebie.

[O.S.O.K.]

Thanks :)

I just got through loading 40 rounds - 20 with 47 grains of W748 and 20 with 48 grains. All with 150 grain Hornady 3130's. Privi Partizan brass and CCI 34 primers.

Plan on heading over to the range tomorrow morning earlier... hopefully to avoid a lot of traffic on the rifle range. But it is Easter too, so that may keep some away as well.

[O.S.O.K.]

Well, got to the range today. Got her sighted it which was pretty easy. The first shot was about 1 foot high and 4" left. The 47 grains seemed to shoot pretty well - 4" groups at 100 yards. The rest wasn't the best - had to do with what was open for benches and this one was a bit high which made shooting a bit auckward.

The 48 grains seemed a bit too hot - not badly so and it shot about as well as the 47 grains and to the same poa.

I had only one malfunction and that was due to the charging handle hanging up on the brass catcher that I had attached to this. The range had all kinds of brass including .308 laying about (they don't allow scrounging) and it is very hard to distinguish 7.5 French from .308... so I put the catcher on and it worked very well - lost one piece of brass though...

Anyway, I'm calling it 100% function with these two loads.

Need a bit more experimentation with different bullets, loads - it seemed to want to put the rounds into 2" groups but I would screw it up by pulling a shot...

Need to go back during the week when there's nobody there. I really miss having my own land and range.... can shoot w/o the brass catcher and no distractions :)

Regardless, the rifle did well. It's not very hard on the shoulder either - about like an SKS really.

[coppertales]

on my MAS. It slides right on the dovetail on the left side of the receiver. chris3

[O.S.O.K.]

I saw those - a bit more $$$ but look really sturdy.

So far, I'm happy with the iron sights - the apertures are fine for my 50 year old eyes and hopefully will be for a long time!

The mid-mounted sights are starting to get a little fuzzy...

[AKTexas]

When mine did not slamfire I could put 5 shots of factory privi into a 2" group.

[Helen Keller]

little old but

I've been loading for my 49/56 for a little now making various loads ball/tracer .
46gr of IMR 4350
CCI # 34
Lee Die set.
various weight of FMJ/tracer bullets using same load .

Runs 100% and accuracy is really impressive.

[O.S.O.K.]

Thanks - what kind of accuracy are you getting with that? Any idea of velocity?

[Helen Keller]

dunno about velocity cause I'm not a robot BUT. Recoil is mild can shoot up to 100 rounds and not have a mark on my shoulder.


I can hit a pie plate at 300 yds with it easily and consistently and that's good enough for me. ONCE i get a decent scout scope to put on my mount I'll go for grouping.

[O.S.O.K.]

:lool: you're not a robot.

Well, if it's cycling, it's got to be decent velocity.

K-var used to make a great mount for these - now, S&K is the one I guess.

But I'm leaving mine sans scope. I've got my Saiga 308 setup with a scope if I want that.

[Helen Keller]

yeah, one thing about these is.. IF you forget and switch to irons real quick you'll have a nice 50 cent size mark on your forehead like I got 2 weeks ago.


I have the K-var mount. rock solid.



one shop down the road has an all matching 49/56 with matching mount/scope , little pricey but maybe someday IF they still have it.

[O.S.O.K.]

Yeah, I wish I'd snatched one of those mount/scope combos up when they first came out.

[Helen Keller]

Yeah, I wish I'd snatched one of those mount/scope combos up when they first came out.


I think you could have gotten teh combo at teh time for something like $65....... not at the time.. wasn't no 7.5 mas ammo to be had other than syrian crap.

[Richard Simmons]

Yeah, I wish I'd snatched one of those mount/scope combos up when they first came out.

No kidding. I remember maybe 6-7 years ago, maybe even 10, Century had an ad that read something like "MAS 49 scope parts and accessories". They were selling off their remaining APX scope parts, cases, mounts, etc. I was hanging out at Gunboards in the C&R section quite a bit at the time and a member bought everything Century had for something like $200. When he got the order it wasn't just parts but IIRC 6-7 complete scopes and mounts, plus enough parts and pieces to get a couple more sets that weren't complete, back in working order. A killer of a deal. Not sure if someone at CAI shipped out the wrong stuff or if they just didn't bother to finish sorting through it before they put it all on clearance but at today's prices that guy got a several grand in return for that $200.

[O.S.O.K.]

Yep. But who was to know? There was no ammo or brass and the .308 conversions were crap...

[1 Patriot-of-many]

Here's a pic of the rifle:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5644220684_9ba83399de_b.jpg

Looks like a Mas 49-56 don't it? :D

I'm planning on loading 40 rounds and taking it to the range this weekend - I'll let you know how it does.

Loads: 20 rounds each: 47 and 47.5 Grains of W748 under a 150 grain Hornady spire point in the privi brass with the CCI milspec primers.

I have a bunch of W748 and it meters so nicely. It works really well in .308 Win, so I figure it should be equally as good in the 7.5 French.

Sweet. I have one too, minty. They actually shoot great, of course they were never fired and they only have one mark in the stock. Remember Burns bros? I think i picked up my 7.5 on belts when they were around. You can find black bolt handles too, I forget where I picked one up.

B square makes a repro scope mount too, least I thinik it's Bsquare, have to pull it out of the safe if you want to know for sure, or see pics.

[O.S.O.K.]

I'm always up for a gun pic! But the mounts are pretty easy to find - S&K and B Square both make one. I'm just not really feeling the need for that with this particular carbine.

[Helen Keller]

i tossed a leather cheek rest on mine, makes a world of difference.