French MAS 36 Project

[Carguy]

New here and am proud of this so I thought I show it off :rockon:

I picked up a MAS 36 that had been sporterized in the 60's for short money. I loved it and decided to try to bring it back to it's military origins. So bought the furniture etc and created a Frankenstein's MAS. Then I was able to pick up a new barrel, nicer wood and a bayonet...again reasonablly priced...and created, restored, reconfigured it back to it's original appearance and function. I haven't even shot it yet in this latest set up as it took 7 weeks to get the barrel replaced (not cheap either but worth it).

What do you think?
Started off a sporter
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u182/carguy714/DSCF0695.jpg
Became Dr. Frankenstein's MAS
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u182/carguy714/DSCF0737.jpg
Now in it's French glory
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u182/carguy714/DSCF0841.jpg

I think I need to start reloading...7.5x54 isn't the most available or cheapest cartridge around.

[KMURPHY]

I have always liked those....cool in an ugly sort of way

[turbothis]

lol,:icon_biggrin: mine looks just like the 2nd picture!

[jfowl31]

I'm not gonna lie... I think the sporter looks pretty sexy as well.

And I'll be the first to post the "Never fired, only dropped once" statement, just to get it out of the way.

[SSwee]

Kudos. Nice work. Mine is as accurate as the shooter behind it.
SS

[nevada]

That cow avatar drives me nuts.

[K.O.A.M.]

Good restoration work. The new ammo for those makes them affordable to shoot every once in a while.

[Rampager]

Looks good. I must say I'm atrracted to the odd looking mil-surplus guns myself. I'd still like to get one of those .308 converted MAS 49/56 rifles if I ever come across a good deal on one.

[SteelCore]

bayo mount?

Heeehee, J/K

We sometimes like to cut up on the French, ya know.

[Carguy]

Jfowl: I kind of liked the sporter...it was cheap and accurate as heck...then I got the bug and started spending money! As far as dropping it that is why the good ones have a recoil pad with a thick rubber pad inside...they bounce!!

SSwee: accurate and soon to have a sling ring!!

nevada: then it's working :wink:

[Norton]

Nice job, I have a 1938 MAS 36.
They are the ugly duckling of bolt actions. But they are very rugged and are fairly compact. You could do alot worse for a battle rifle, the MAS 36 always shoots when you pull the trigger and the 7.5 French has plenty of power.
As for reloading the 7.5 , the problem is boxer primed brass is pretty high.
Most of the Surplus ammo is Syrian berdan primed corresive.

[ELEFANTMKVI (The Inbred clown)]

Nice job, I have a 1938 MAS 36.
They are the ugly duckling of bolt actions. But they are very rugged and are fairly compact. You could do alot worse for a battle rifle, the MAS 36 always shoots when to pull the trigger and the 7.5 French has plenty of power.
As for reloading the 7.5 , the problem is boxer primed brass is pretty high.
Most of the Surplus ammo is Syrian berdan primed corresive.

+1, I love the MAS series rifles. They are very robust and hit hard, The only major drawback being the lack of a manual safety.:rockon:

[Carguy]

Norton: Last year I picked up a couple of hundred rounds of that Syrian crap and I mean crap as I thought it was going to make plinking economical because I got it cheap. So far it has averaged close to $1.50 a round as 1 in every 5 or so has fired...the rest...DUDS! I'm afraid to shoot it because even the few that went bang had a slight delay from the trigger pull, to the audible click of the firing pin and then the loud bang or not. :eek: I'm afraid to continue handling what I think is a dud but you never know. I think I'm just going to write it off and get rid of the ammo somehow. Besides i just put a beautiful barrel on my project and don't want to play with the corrosive ammo (I know it's easy to clean but why bother with the crap that don't go bang anyways).
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u182/carguy714/DSCF0713.jpg

[pigpen]

great job:thumbup:

I got to molest one today when I stopped to pick up some primers. Seemed like a nice piece. And everyone says the enfield is ugly!!

[okie shooter]

I am impressed, you don't seem them that much, and in 7.5 is some work to rebarrel.

[K.O.A.M.]

FNM is making 7.5 French ball new. It's about $10 a box. I wouldn't shoot that Syrian #$%^ again if you paid me a lot of money.

Also, I think that Prvi Partizan is making it as well. Both of those shoot fine.

[robocop10mm]

Did you see the new French Main Battle Tank?




It has a rear view mirror so they can see the battle.

[jfowl31]

LMAO Robo

[brewskzilla]

That cow avatar drives me nuts.

In a good way or a bad way? Cause, you know... Cows aren't real talkative...

[okie shooter]

Did you see the new French Main Battle Tank?




It has a rear view mirror so they can see the battle.We are all a little hard on the French Solders and their equipment, their defeats in the past are more indicitive of national wills, rather than the blood that French solders have fought, been injured and died, on the battlefields all around the world. You still fight and die and bleed red blood, even if your nation has had far more wars than we as Americans can imagine fought on your own soils, by invadeing and hostile armies, of both your doing and the aggressions of others. Thus untill you have a army running thur your home nation, the thought of discussing the cowardess of a nations troops is questionable.

[hunter_la5]

We are all a little hard on the French Solders and their equipment....

I think the armies of Jeanne D' Arc and Napoleon Bonaparte would agree with you

[Carguy]

K.O.A.M.: I agree...I am not going to shoot any more of the Syrian stuff...especially with my new to me barrel...I haven't seen any of the FNM 7.5 french ammo anywhere as yet but I have been shooting only the Privi stuff. I wish I could find the FNM ammo at $10 a box...I'd load up if it's any good.

[Norton]

K.O.A.M.: I agree...I am not going to shoot any more of the Syrian stuff...especially with my new to me barrel...I haven't seen any of the FNM 7.5 french ammo anywhere as yet but I have been shooting only the Privi stuff. I wish I could find the FNM ammo at $10 a box...I'd load up if it's any good.

Have you thought about dumping the powder and pulling the 1950s berdan primers. The recharging them with fresh powder and berdan primers?
I know some folks on the board have a berdan primer removal tool from RCBS.
If there ever was a reason to try it .. the Syrian 7.5 would give reason.
I admit I am a hippocrtit, I don't reload berdan stuff.. YET.
but am thinking about having the option. Man there is so much berdan primed stuff out there for low bucks. I think If I got the hang of de-primimg it.
I could justify buying the tools and fresh primers. Think of Styer M 95 ammo and All that ex Warsaw Pact 7.62x54..7.62x 25 etc. Most is Berdan primed.
Well anyway it is somthing to think about.

[Planning]

We are all a little hard on the French Solders and their equipment, their defeats in the past are more indicitive of national wills, rather than the blood that French solders have fought, been injured and died, on the battlefields all around the world. You still fight and die and bleed red blood, even if your nation has had far more wars than we as Americans can imagine fought on your own soils, by invadeing and hostile armies, of both your doing and the aggressions of others. Thus untill you have a army running thur your home nation, the thought of discussing the cowardess of a nations troops is questionable.


thank you okie for taking up for the french, it seems they are not inclined to take up for themselves. :rolleyes:

just joking about this.............:wink::airtight: it is a joke ...:icon_biggrin:

[Carguy]

The French have taken a beating both literally and in print of late here! I am screwed no matter what I'm half French and half Italian so I'm used to getting the crap kicked out of me...but I sure can cook!

I haven't started reloading...yet...I just can't justify the expense and time necessary, I'm stubborn and would rather spend more and keep the free time to shoot and refurbish my little projects...:airtight:

If I ever save up enough cash to pick up a MAS 49 semi-auto then I may need to reload but for now as a plinker I can afford the new stuff for my 36(as long as I save the brass...:thumbup:).

Thanks for the compliments on my MAS.

[okie shooter]

Sounds like with the problems with getting 7.5 I am happy mine is in 7.62x51 after the conversion.

[drhall762]

Boxer primed 7.5 brass can be expensive. 6.5x55 Swede isn't. Run it through the expander and you have 7.5 French. Won't chamber in a 6.5 any longer. Some people have a real problem with the head stamp deal but I have done it for years as an alternative to Mil Sup ammo that is usually poor at best.

Dave :sniper: