MAS 36 , Possible Sporter?

Wehrmacht_45

The stock has already been shortened, and relatively well done.

Would this make an alright hunting gun, and how hard are these to rebarrel to something new? I am thinking 6.5 Swede, 308 Win, or 7x57mm.

Plus where would I get a barrel?

spec.4

You can rechamber it to an 308 win, but I have found out that the buttstock is to short for me, I give my wife my rifle. Someone made one into an 300WSM.

spec.4

dfletcher

The MAS 49/56 rifles are often converted to 308, but I don't know if the 36 is safe to make that conversion in. The 7.5 French round does operate at lower pressures than the 308 Win, I believe.

The 7.5 French is not such a bad round and you can find ammo for it at about $15.00 per 20.

nononsense

Wehrmacht_45,

You can re-barrel a MAS 36 but I don't see the need. The 7.5 x 54 MAS is a fine intermediate cartridge suitable for deer hunting. Dies and cases are available from Graf & Sons and Huntingtons. The cases are the same price as Winchester or Remington .308 Win.

This cartridge is rated at a slightly lower pressure than some other intermediate cartridges due to the rear lugs on the bolt but the performance is fine for hunting. Be aware that bolts with a rear lock up can be responsible for case stretching. Measure your cases before reloading once fired cases. Generally you'll find a need to full length resize.

Your consideration of the 6.5 Swede is interesting since before cases were available here in the U.S. the Swede cases were used for conversion to the 7.5 cases. I see no real gain in having this rifle re-barreled unless the original barrel is shot out or mess up.

"MAS-36 is a manually operated, magazine fed, rotating bolt action rifle. The rotating bolt has two opposing lugs, located at the rear of the bolt body. The bolt locks into receiver walls, the bolt handle is located at the rear of the bolt, and is bent forward for more comfortable operation. The square-shaped receiver is machined from steel, and contained integral magazine. Magazine is loaded using charging clips or single rounds, with clip guides machined into the receiver bridge. The wooden stock is made from two parts (buttstock and forend), both connected to the uncovered receiver. The spike-shaped bayonet is stored in the tube below the barrel in reversed position, when not in use. Diopter rear sight is located at the rear of the receiver, and marked from 100 to 1 200 meters in 100 meters increments. Probably the most noticeable feature of the MAS-36 is the lack of any manual safety - rifle was supposed to be carried with empty magazine, and loaded only before the actual combat."
http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl13-e.htm

After the Second World War, civilian hunting rifle versions were made by MAS and by the gunsmith Jean Fournier. These half-stocked rifles were chambered for the 7x54 MAS-Fournier, 8x60 "Magnum", and 10,75x68.

Best.

MIKE WISKEY

"MAS 36 , Possible Sporter?"... they make realy nice lamps[}:)]

bigtire

There are much better uses for an MAS 36. Boat Anchor comes to mind at the moment. I had an MAS 36 converted to .308 and was not impressed. On the fourth round I shot out of it, the front handguard broke. While taking it apart to repair I notcied it was not very well made and poorly designed.

spec.4

The one the rechamber to the 308 win, I have never had an problem, at 100 yds, my wife can hold an two inches group. Like I said that the stock was short and my wife love its. i put an scope mount and need to put on an cheek rest for her. But she still shoot it.

spec.4

Wehrmacht_45

I have seen some century arms conversions of french guns to 308 so I dont doubt the crappy qulaity, especially since the wood rattles on those.

1KYDSTR

Excellent little rifles! Don't buy into the horsesh** you are hearing here! They are ungainly, and none too aewsthetically pleasing, but every one I have (36's and 36/51's) is an excellent shooter. They have kinda' coarse sights, but at 100 yards for deer they would be great?! Sorta' like Ghost Ring sights. The 7.5x54 is easy to relaod, fairly powerful (not too much short of a 308, and a fair bit long of a 303 or 30/40) and aboout as efficient as anything that is NOT 6.5 Swede or 7mm Mauser. If the barrel qualaity is up there, I would reccomend you order some hunting ammo from Graf and give it a ride...I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

dfletcher

The MAS 36 is probably a close 2nd in the "Ugliest Gun" category - the MAS 49/56 is hands down 1st place.

I have one and it is a solid little rifle in a worthy caliber. It has its deficiences, the scope sits high & the trigger is spongy, but it is easily the equal of the FN49 (another ugly gun I own)and I really wouldn't feel outgunned against an M1 Garand.

So far as rattling - well, they are French so you have to allow for them being dropped during the occasional surrender ....[;)]

SoreShoulder

The Fournier conversions came in calibers that were as hot as a .308 in terms of bolt thrust.

The French issued a lower pressure round to riflemen called Balle C which only used 40,000 psi, but the manual says the gun is safe for Balle D. US soldiers were also issued a lower pressure round in WW2 but that doesn't mean an M1 or an O3A3 can only take the 38,000 cup which Ball M2 produces. It's just what they thought the soldiers needed.

I am not sure but I think CIP says the round's limit is 3500 bar vs 3600 bar for 308.

These things are supposed to be tack drivers. They also have a very fast, positive action. However, for hunting, I think you want a gun with a safety.