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Thoughts on the MAS 49 56?

2427 Views 37 Replies 21 Participants Last post by  red_metallic
Hello,

I ran across a MAS 49 56 in my most recent visits to different dealers. It looks to be 95% condition, rearsenaled in 1978. It is in the original 7.5 x 54 French caliber, not a rechambered 7.62 NATO.

I've done some reading about these guns, but wanted to get the opinions of the more experienced people here who might have dealt with them in the past.

Thanks for any input.

Nu2AKSKS
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ive been wondering the same, i saw a really nice one (had to be rearsenaled) in .308 they wanted 400 even for it.
I think it's a well thought out, well made weapon in the original caliber.

I'd like to have one.
if it is in the original caliber then buy it. if it was a 308 one id say no.
they are cool guns.
I was able to pick up a sniper with the orignal scope and caliber for a price that was too good to pass up. I really enjoy it.
i've been wanting a french rifle for awhile. i would love to have a mas 36 for my ww2 collection and a mas 49 for my half-ass vietnam collection.
I have one in the original caliber. It's a nice hard hitting carbine. I got it for the collection :twisted: Its GI action like the M16. But it doesn't blow into the action area . Its a great design and old school. Forged steel and Hardwood stock. A rifle of the past but very formidable to say the least. I broke down and got a 1000 rnds of new ammo for it. There are several that carry the ammo. SOG and Coles did at one time. It was a newly manufactured ammo by FOM . You don't want the 170 grain ammo. Alot of folks rifle short stroked with it. You want ( I believe ) the 139 ? grain ammo. It was designed for that pressure curve. The rifle is damn accurate. If you had the extra money and consider yourself a collector .. It would make a fine example in your group. Cheers WarDawg
Auzie said:
I was able to pick up a sniper with the orignal scope and caliber for a price that was too good to pass up. I really enjoy it.
Me too. I......kack, kack......like it maybe more than my Garand!

(awaits giant lightning bolt to hit through ceiling)

I am looking for a MAS 44 or MAS 49 shooter now.
eVERY ONE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST ONE MAS 49 ,SVT 40 ,GEW...
i would love to get a g43/k43 but i'd rather use the money for a trip. people get offended if you bad mouth the garand. i actually like my SVT a little better because it had a detachable 10 round box mag instead that damn 8 round clip that hits me when it comes out. but the m1 is more accurate and more durable and a hell of a lot easier to field strip.
Having owned one and been shooting with another buddy that has one, my advice is to avoid Syrian surplus ammo for them.

Also clean the bolt and make sure the firing pin floats well as they do like to slam fire on occasion.
I had one that I bought fromSOG years ago, NIB with all the accessories. Never put a round thru it and wound up trading it for a documented Vietnam bringback chinese type 53 mosin-nagant with a field made stock and all the capture papers, the guy even had the Vietnamese export license that's written on rice paper. That and he wrote down the details of where and when it was captured.
I've had MAS 36, 36-51, 49 & 49-56. All four shot decnet, but ammo was a pain to find when I had them and when you did it wasn't cheap.

I had them until the US went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq and the French :gay: acted like a bunch of pussies. I couldn't stand for them to be in my house any longer and sold them pretty cheap.

To be honest, I don't miss them.
SimonovsDog said:
I like my French rifles. :smile:

Just think, they may have only been dropped once. :grin:
USP45 said:
SimonovsDog said:
I like my French rifles. :smile:

Just think, they may have only been dropped once. :grin:
white...

hat...
Make all the jokes you want about the French Army, but I sure as shit wouldn't have wanted to tangle with the Foreign Legion post WWII.....most of it was comprised of ex Wehrmacht and Waffen SS guys.

If you can find the book, I highly advise "The Devil's Guard".

Chassuer d'Hommes.......Kopfjaegers.
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I would like to have one i have a mas 36 but never got around to getting a 49-56. They are good guns in the original caliber...
Templar said:
Make all the jokes you want about the French Army, but I sure as shit wouldn't have wanted to tangle with the Foreign Legion post WWII.....most of it was comprised of ex Wehrmacht and Waffen SS guys.

If you can find the book, I highly advise "The Devil's Guard".

Chassuer d'Hommes.......Kopfjaegers.
You sir, are correct, but, the rank and file of the Legion are not Phrench, only the officers are. :dance:
Templar said:
Make all the jokes you want about the French Army, but I sure as shit wouldn't have wanted to tangle with the Foreign Legion post WWII.....most of it was comprised of ex Wehrmacht and Waffen SS guys.

If you can find the book, I highly advise "The Devil's Guard".

Chassuer d'Hommes.......Kopfjaegers.
"Legionnaire" is also great. I could not put it down once I started. I'll have to get "The Devil's Guard".

http://www.amazon.com/Legionnaire-Years-French-Foreign-Legion/dp/0891418873

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