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Posted: 2/4/2011 5:21:08 AM EDT
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Why didn't anyone tell me how awesome this cool little rifle was?
Screw the Mausers, Mosins, Lee Enfields, et al; this thing is the cat's ass. Full-length barrel (22.6"), full-power rifle round (equivalent to 7.62 NATO), accurate as all get out, stupidly simple, and very user-friendly, all in a very compact package. Despite the really short length of pull and my monkey arms, it shoulders very naturally. Did I say the action is fast? The SMLE's got nothing on it in that department. The front sight is wide, but that makes picking it up quickly a breeze. The history behind it is cool as well. Mine's a post WW2, and it almost certainly was bustin' up the Viet Minh in Indochina and/or the fellaghas in Algeria. Say what you will about the French, but they kicked some serious ass in their former colonies, and their firearms were first rate. Too bad our politicians followed their example for own Vietnam experience. While having won the military side of things, they pissed away their victory at the negotiating table. Consider this post a placeholder for pictures I have yet to take, since I'm stuck at work. 
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| I just purcahsed one a few months ago, pre WWII parts but most likely made during the German occupation of france. Mine has no serial numbers besides the number 54 on the top of the receiver and on the top of the bolt and no import marks of any kind. Unfortunately though mine cannot shoot. At the edge of the barrel where the case sits a small piece of the metal was filed out. Due to that small defect pressure escapes and messes things up. I do believe this was a defect created by its French maker during the occupation (there is no sign that it is fresh, looks like it has aged. I wish I could shoot it but nice looking rifle non the less |
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I love my MAS-36, that goes without saying. They're fantastic little rifles. Bear in mind that they were one of the last bolt-action rifles ever designed and adopted for a military, so they have the benefit of all of the updates and improvements that had to be learned from the failures and mistakes of previous rifles.
The odd bolt angle takes a little getting used to but is very fast once you do, and the rifle would not be as compact as it is without it. The lack of a safety may be disconcerting, but this was standard for French bolt-actions and consistant with their military doctrine. It's not a real issue once you get used to the rifle and as long as you obey the rules. As long as they haven't been messed with (the funky screws are funky for a reason - leave them alone, the soldier was not supposed to disassemble the rifle in the field) they tend to be very accurate. |
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Quoted:
Shhh. You're not supposed to talk about how awesome they are, because they're French. In that case, I'd sell this piece of trash, but it's not worth the hassle. I'll go throw it on the bonfire and sell the metal for scrap. How am I doing so far? 
Mark, I'm leaving the fore end in place. No need to mess with it and I know what it looks like under there. How the hell does the buttstock come off? I can get the trigger guard off and the stock loosened, but I'll be damned if I can get the stock to fit over the trigger to allow me to take it off. I'd love to clean and lube the trigger components. |
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Quoted:
I like mine. Early fifties edition. Ammo is better than it used to be, tho still no bargain. I reload, and I can use the primers, powder, and 147 gr. .30 cal. bullets that I already have for my FAL. Just need to get more cases. I'm contemplating a Savage or Remington bolt action precision gun in this caliber (7.5). Maybe I'm just going crazy.
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Here are complete disassembly instructions for the rifle.
http://www.surplusrifle.com/mas36/fulldisassemble/pdf/mas36hs.pdf |
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