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Richard Simmons
08-03-2010, 04:43 PM
Haven't had mine to the range in quite a while but still have:

Unissued MAS 36/51
MAS 36
MAS 36 in .308
MAS 36 LG48
MAS 49/56
Berthier 07/15 M16


Plus about 500 rds of the original Indep 7.5 MAS ammo. It's been something like 8-9 years since I got the 36/51. I guess since I haven't popped it's cherry by now I probably never will but she sure is sweet.

Here's a couple of pics of the LG-48 to start things off, I had some pics of the others but they were on the old Gunsnet photo album, perhaps some of you will post pics of your fusils de francais?


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/rsim20011/LG48.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/rsim20011/LG48FL.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/rsim20011/LG48III.jpg


She's missing the actual GL sight but is otherwise complete. I've not seen many MAS 36 of any model with the crossbolt through the buttstock. She looks to have seen some action and the handguard looks like she was fired at one time enough the get the barrel quite hot, a slight charred appearance to it. From what I've gleaned over the years and since it's not marked as an LG 48 I believe it to be a field level conversion, probably out of Indochina. The forearm and front sight are loose and none of the #'s match but she's one of my favorites. If only she could talk.

AKTexas
08-03-2010, 09:12 PM
Haven't had mine to the range in quite a while but still have:

Unissued MAS 36/51
MAS 36
MAS 36 in .308
MAS 36 LG48
MAS 49/56
Berthier 07/15 M16


Plus about 500 rds of the original Indep 7.5 MAS ammo. It's been something like 8-9 years since I got the 36/51. I guess since I haven't popped it's cherry by now I probably never will but she sure is sweet.

Here's a couple of pics of the LG-48 to start things off, I had some pics of the others but they were on the old Gunsnet photo album, perhaps some of you will post pics of your fusils de francais?


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/rsim20011/LG48.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/rsim20011/LG48FL.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/rsim20011/LG48III.jpg


She's missing the actual GL sight but is otherwise complete. I've not seen many MAS 36 of any model with the crossbolt through the buttstock. She looks to have seen some action and the handguard looks like she was fired at one time enough the get the barrel quite hot, a slight charred appearance to it. From what I've gleaned over the years and since it's not marked as an LG 48 I believe it to be a field level conversion, probably out of Indochina. The forearm and front sight are loose and none of the #'s match but she's one of my favorites. If only she could talk.

My only French is a MAS 49/56 and it is for sale.

number6
08-03-2010, 09:33 PM
Well, I've got a couple of MAS 36s, one of which I haven't reassembled yet and I have a pristine 49/56 that I wrote a range report on last year.
I enjoy the 49/56 so much, that when the weather cools off, I'll be taking it back out to the range.

aliceinchains
08-11-2010, 03:09 PM
I didn't know they made a MAS in 308 caliber. Is it a rare or common rifle?

Richard Simmons
08-11-2010, 03:27 PM
I didn't know they made a MAS in 308 caliber. Is it a rare or common rifle?

They were never made by the French to my knowledge though France did make 250 MAS 49/56 in 7.62x51 for police use. None of those were ever imported to the U.S. to my knowledge.

My MAS 36 and every other one you see marked as .308 is a Century Arms conversion that was done back when they were also converting MAS 49/56 to .308.

aliceinchains
08-11-2010, 04:00 PM
Here is another question Richard. How about accuracy with this rifle. Say at 100 yards group size out of 5 shots.. Never shot one so don't know if they are tack drivers.

Richard Simmons
08-11-2010, 07:52 PM
Here is another question Richard. How about accuracy with this rifle. Say at 100 yards group size out of 5 shots.. Never shot one so don't know if they are tack drivers.

Are you talking about the MAS 36, the converted 36 or just French rifles in general?

With Syrian surplus 7.5x54 ammo I can keep five rounds inside of 4" at 100yds (open sights of course) with my MAS 36 or 49/56. From the book Proud Promise by Jean Huon the accuracy requirement for the MAS 44A (predecesor to the MAS 49 and 49/56) was a 30mm group (1.18"W x 1.18"H group at 200 meters which is just over .5 MOA which is outstanding in anyones view. Depending on the ammo and the condition of the rifle I would say the MAS 36 can be every bit as accurate as the US 1903A1, 03A3 or the 1917. The MAS 36 receiver is actually pretty massive. Add in the solid bolt and you have a really simple and strong action. The semiauto 49/56 is also very robust and with ammo it likes I think it can keep up with or best any Garand in the accuracy department. Add a scope and it would give an M1A a run for it's money. In fact if you add a modified M1924/29 mag (25rds) to the 49/56 you've esentially got an M1A with 25% more firepower in a shorter package.

aliceinchains
08-11-2010, 08:15 PM
So it is a very accurate rifle. A lot of people just bought them to collect them. Not to shoot them. Typical reply I got a mas 36 here are some pics . But i don't ever recall having a range report.

fingolfen
08-11-2010, 11:03 PM
Yep - though I generally hand load for them...

mpoppel41
09-13-2010, 07:28 PM
i still have a few left, the two in the boxes i haven't opended since i got em years ago.
http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/907/034ra.jpg (http://img808.imageshack.us/i/034ra.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Richard Simmons
09-14-2010, 07:50 AM
What are the two in the boxes? It says "46 carbine". I'm familiar with the MAS 45 carbine in .22lr but not a "46".


I notice the left most MAS 36 has muzzle flush with the butt of the bayonet, .308 coversion?

mpoppel41
09-14-2010, 02:51 PM
yes that's a 308 conversion with a Winchester barrel, it shoots great, no century hatchet job,had a good gunsmith do it for me from one of those numerich mas they were selling cheap years ago, and the two in the box are just a couple of reg 36's that's the best picture i could take.
http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/4042/036tpl.jpg (http://img840.imageshack.us/i/036tpl.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Penguin
09-14-2010, 05:33 PM
Cool colections. I don't have any french rifles. I might get into those some day.

coppertales
01-20-2011, 01:45 PM
The MAS 36/51 (unissued), MAS 36, MAS 36 LG48, and the MAS 49/56 308 are all exceptional shooters. The MAS 36 and the LG48 were the 41 buck delivered from Numrich back then. I think they are worth a bit more now......hehe....chris3

TheMrMitch
11-01-2011, 08:14 PM
I now have a 36.....49/56 and a Berthier on the way.
Am I in trouble? I LOVE these Frenchies!

number6
11-01-2011, 10:15 PM
What are the two in the boxes? It says "46 carbine". I'm familiar with the MAS 45 carbine in .22lr but not a "46".


I notice the left most MAS 36 has muzzle flush with the butt of the bayonet, .308 coversion?
That's just a box size. It's a 46" long box that is carbine sized.

I took my 49/56 out for a spin last Jan. It was a 'meet and shoot". It ran pretty good, but had 3 ejection jams using Privi Partizan (Serbian). Gotta say, I love shooting that thing, it looks like a true battle rifle, and like a Garand, there's no mistaking it for a civilian plinker.

Schuetzenman
11-01-2011, 10:32 PM
The Privi ammo is generally underloaded, but a good source for brass. Your failures to eject causing a jam are not unexpected with that ammo.

Richard Simmons
11-02-2011, 07:10 AM
I now have a 36.....49/56 and a Berthier on the way.
Am I in trouble? I LOVE these Frenchies!

Good deal. What Berthier? I've got an 07/15 Mlle 16 which is basically the 07/15 that has been upgraded with the five round magazine. I've only fired a few rounds through it that I made with new Graf & Sons Lebel brass and bullets from some Turk 8x57 that had cracked necks. I didn't put it on paper but at 100yds it was hitting right on a chuck of dirt/mud that was about 12" square. Don't have any clips so I just fed it one at time.

number6
11-02-2011, 12:05 PM
The Privi ammo is generally underloaded, but a good source for brass. Your failures to eject causing a jam are not unexpected with that ammo.
Well, that explains it. I had thought the Serbian was loaded better than the FNM(Portugal, w/soft primers), I guess not. At this 'shoot', on a private range I was able to rapid fire, instead of on the bench, very slow-fire at the county range. It was difficult for me to clear the jams whilst standing as the 49/56 gets pretty heavy. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to retrieve my brass that day.
I don't reload, but I thought I might find someone around home to reload them for me, some day.
I still have a small amount of the corrosive linked 7.5, but cleaning the gas tube is difficult, so unless I feel very energetic, that surplus stuff just sits in the box. I last used the FNM in a MAS 36, for one of Redstar's postal matches, but was thinking that maybe I'd use it in the 49/56 to see if it would do a slamfire. :-)


Don't have any clips so I just fed it one at time.
Richard Simmons: Clips? Really?
:smile:

Richard Simmons
11-02-2011, 12:50 PM
Richard Simmons: Clips? Really?
:smile:

Yes really. That's what they take, 3 or 5rd clips.

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7296/1489/1600/berthierammo.jpg

Berthier clip on left in link above.

number6
11-03-2011, 05:18 PM
Yes really. That's what they take, 3 or 5rd clips.

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7296/1489/1600/berthierammo.jpg

Berthier clip on left in link above.

Aha, I sit corrected. Pierre weel only shoot 3 today.
http://www.exordinanza.net/foto/berthier1892clip3.jpg

Helen Keller
11-03-2011, 07:42 PM
Not lately as the weather has been sucking hard.
Maybe this weekend I'll run down and try out my 25rd mags and new loads.



I have a Golden State arms "Santa Fe" Mas 36 to pick up from the one shop. Thing looks unfired.

TheMrMitch
11-30-2011, 11:03 PM
Good deal. What Berthier? I've got an 07/15 Mlle 16 which is basically the 07/15 that has been upgraded with the five round magazine. I've only fired a few rounds through it that I made with new Graf & Sons Lebel brass and bullets from some Turk 8x57 that had cracked necks. I didn't put it on paper but at 100yds it was hitting right on a chuck of dirt/mud that was about 12" square. Don't have any clips so I just fed it one at time.


This one below. Off these boards less bayo. I LOVE it!
*
*
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee314/TheMrMitch/Berthier20M-1620with20Bayonet20Right.jpg

TheMrMitch
11-30-2011, 11:19 PM
I ngotta know. What is that screw system shown here. For grenades? Thanks.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/rsim20011/LG48FL.jpg

Richard Simmons
12-01-2011, 08:21 AM
I ngotta know. What is that screw system shown here. For grenades? Thanks.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/rsim20011/LG48FL.jpg

Yes. The MAS-36/48 was kind of the father, so to speak of the MAS 36/51. In the case of the 36/48 they took the grenade launching system that they added to the MAS 44 to make the MAS 49 and added it to the MAS 36 to get the 36/48. Mine in the photo you posted is missing the flip up grenade launcher site.

Richard Simmons
09-30-2017, 08:06 AM
Update:

After a little more than 7 years since my original post I can say I still have the same French firearms that I had in August of 2010. On the flip side I don't think I've had any of them to the range over the last 7 years. Still need clips for my Berthier 07/15 mile 16. Need to load some more 8x50R. My MAS 36/51 remains unfired. Really need to make the time for my older guns.

Helen Keller
09-30-2017, 03:45 PM
yep, my 36/51 is still unfired too.