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AR15.COM
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12/28/2003 8:36:05 AM EDT
I got a MAS 49/56 from my brother.  Yes, it's the Century Arms butchered job in .308, pitted barrel with NO headspace.  I am still surprised that nobody got hurt and sue CAI out of business yet.

Anyway, what would I need to restore it back to its original configuration, besides a new barrel?  And where can I get the parts?
12/28/2003 8:43:09 AM EDT
[#1]
pub113.ezboard.com/fparallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforumsfrm32  looks like arfcom from frog guns.  

Any other C&R forum, and there's a bunch, can probably help.

Might not be a bad idea to buy another whole rifle for spares.

-hanko
12/28/2003 10:35:37 AM EDT
[#2]
I agree with buying another whole rifle for parts.

It's the only way you will get some of those pieces.

Dennis Jenkins


Quoted:
pub113.ezboard.com/fparallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforumsfrm32  looks like arfcom from frog guns.  

Any other C&R forum, and there's a bunch, can probably help.

Might not be a bad idea to buy another whole rifle for spares.

-hanko

12/28/2003 4:12:04 PM EDT
[#3]
Thanks, guys.

BTW, go to the fifth post of French Firearms Information on the link, and check out the name of French Supervising Officers for 1915.



Col. Anus ... 1915

12/28/2003 4:22:25 PM EDT
[#4]
Don't badmouth the French over there.  They are quite sensitive about any comments.

They are the only ones that actually know anything about the MAS rifles.

Don't run them off.<G>

Dennis Jenkins



Quoted:
Thanks, guys.

BTW, go to the fifth post of French Firearms Information on the link, and check out the name of French Supervising Officers for 1915.



Col. Anus ... 1915


12/29/2003 12:09:14 PM EDT
[#5]
I haven't post any comments over there, much less negative ones about the French or their rifles.  As far as I can tell theirs are as good as any out there.

But "Col. Anus" is just too good to pass up.
12/29/2003 2:53:50 PM EDT
[#6]
if it is a stock looking .308 conversion you may be able to have a gunsmith deepen the chamber to fit the 7.5x54 french cartridge again(they are both .308 diameter barrels).  the problem with the conversions is that they never modified the gas system to match the 308 pressure curve.  so, you shouldn't have to do any other modifications to have it work.  when CAI did the conversion they just shortened the chamber end of the barrel to match the 7.62x51 NATO.  so the overall length is around 3/8" shorter than a stock barrel.  check out Numrich for parts.  they very few.  MAS 49/56 parts are hard to come by.  
12/29/2003 8:57:23 PM EDT
[#7]
I have thought of re-chambering the barrel, or just get a whole new barrel.  The problem is that the barrel that I already have is very finely pitted throughout, so it's probably not good anyway.  I cannot find any reamer, or even headspace gauges, for the French 7.5 in Brownell's catalog.  I am sure I can have one specially made, but it's just not worth the expenses.  I have checked Numrich and Sarco, and neither one has barrel.

I am taking the gun apart right now.  If no barrel becomes available, I'd sell the parts and call it a day.
12/30/2003 10:40:35 AM EDT
[#8]
another option is to leave it .308.  i read that the key to fixing the problem is an adjustable gas system.  there werea couple of gunsmiths that were recommended to do the upgrade.  i can't remember the exact web site, but i think it is something like JFPO.org.  i did a search on MAS 49/56 scope mounts, and that was one of the first choices.  i believe it was the(sorry if i am way off) Jews For The Proctection of  Gun Ownership.  the did a whole acticle on making the weapons reliable.
12/30/2003 5:52:23 PM EDT
[#9]
Have you contacted Buddy Hilton over on sturmgewehr.com? He runs the website and I've seen him post MAS parts for sale.
12/30/2003 9:46:04 PM EDT
[#10]
Have you actually shot this rifle? Some of these actually work just fine.

According to the French these guns are routinely rechambered over there and work just fine.

Century just did a terrible job of converting these rifles and some of them won't eject. The brass just sticks to the chamber.

This is what I've figured out after talking to a number of people over the last four years.

YMMV

Dennis Jenkins


Quoted:
I have thought of re-chambering the barrel, or just get a whole new barrel.  The problem is that the barrel that I already have is very finely pitted throughout, so it's probably not good anyway.  I cannot find any reamer, or even headspace gauges, for the French 7.5 in Brownell's catalog.  I am sure I can have one specially made, but it's just not worth the expenses.  I have checked Numrich and Sarco, and neither one has barrel.

I am taking the gun apart right now.  If no barrel becomes available, I'd sell the parts and call it a day.

1/19/2004 4:09:26 AM EDT
[#11]
The French have updated the MAS and now call it the FR2. I handled one in Macedonia in 2002. It had a composite stock with pistol grip, heavy 7.62 barrel and great scope.

At least I think it's the same rifle.
1/19/2004 5:15:49 AM EDT
[#12]
Here's a forum at JPFO.org which deals, in part, with the MAS, and which includes some fixes for common problems:www.jpfo.org/preserve.htm
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