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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:31:32 PM EDT
This rifle is a beast in 7.5. It is the SOCOM 16, fifty years in advance. They're creeping up in cost, but if you can get one under $450 in 7.5, get one.
MAS lovers, share your observations please! (If you came in to shit in this thread with "Only dropped once" comments, let me save you the trouble. You can lick my sweaty balls.) 
49/56 MSE variant 
49/56 MSE with rare 25 round mag 
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:32:37 PM EDT
[#1]
Always reminded me of the rifles the gorillas used in the Original Planet of the Apes movies.
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:34:30 PM EDT
[#2]
I've wanted one for awhile now, but I don't think I've ever seen one for 450 that wasn't a century conversion. And fuck that. I've seen what they did to cetmes.
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:35:03 PM EDT
[#3]
I had the opportunity to shoot one that had been rechambered, I liked it quite a bit.
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:35:15 PM EDT
[#4]
People hate them for the same reason CETMEs here have a bad rep. I still want an unmolested FN 49.
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:35:58 PM EDT
[#5]
My boss bought one of the .308 versions years ago. Still has it but never did get it to be reliable enough to zero. They are very robustly built, tanks really. I'd buy one in their original caliber but ammo is scarce, no? |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:38:21 PM EDT
[#6]
Nice rifles would not mind having one.........
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:38:44 PM EDT
[#7]
7.5 French is an enthusiast round. (read: hard to get, expensive and not even that easy to reload for.)
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:40:33 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
My boss bought one of the .308 versions years ago. Still has it but never did get it to be reliable enough to zero. They are very robustly built, tanks really. I'd buy one in their original caliber but ammo is scarce, no? It comes in new intermittently from Privi. AIM had some privi a while back for the same cost as 308. Century scored some French surplus a while back (de linked MG rounds) that some retailers were selling as low as 40 cents a round. I bought some Syrian from an established milsurp retailer a couple years ago for just under 40 cents a round, delivered. The point is that it is available periodically and you can get good deals on it; buy in bulk when they present. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:41:28 PM EDT
[#9]
I'm with you, OP. Great rifle.
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:42:41 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
7.5 French is an enthusiast round. (read: hard to get, expensive and not even that easy to reload for.) I've heard you can make the brass from .30-06 Never tried it tho, so don't take that as gospel. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:42:42 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
7.5 French is an enthusiast round. (read: hard to get, expensive and not even that easy to reload for.) There is a reason for the enthusiasm, mon frere. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:44:18 PM EDT
[#12]
Almost bought one with 300 rounds and a couple extra mags for $200 back during the C&R heyday. And then I didn't. Looking back...not really any regret. Neat gun, but I was up to my eyeballs in neat guns.
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:46:28 PM EDT
[#13]
Explain why this is a great rifle.
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:49:07 PM EDT
[#14]
Ok
I'd still rather have a SOCOM 16 M1A |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:50:03 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I've wanted one for awhile now, but I don't think I've ever seen one for 450 that wasn't a century conversion. And fuck that. I've seen what they did to cetmes. I got mine for $450 ish about three years ago. As long as you don't want a pristine, freshly parked one that was rearsenaled in the early 90's, you can occasionally find one in that range. Mostly 500-550 though. I don't know what the 308 conversions go for, becuase I disregard them as junk. Virtually all have been rearsenaled. The ones with more "wear" were done in the late 70's to mid 80's. Not cites for that, that's just the observations of a guy who's been paying attention. You can tell the year of rearsenal because it is stamped on the receiver. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:50:12 PM EDT
[#16]
Looks heavy, bulky, and like nothing special. Explain whats so great about it so we will see your point.
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:50:49 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Ok
I'd still rather have a SOCOM 16 M1A Get both. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:52:06 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Looks heavy, bulky, and like nothing special. Explain whats so great about it so we will see your point. It is none of those. It is an extremely handy rifle capable of great accuracy, especially if it is one of the MSE variants. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:52:12 PM EDT
[#19]
I had one that I bought in new/surplus condition in 1999 for $200. Nice rifle, decent shooter with the then available surplus ball. Traded it off about 7 years ago, since I didn't love it. Wouldn't pay $450 for one now, because I don't love surplus bolt guns.
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:53:57 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I had one that I bought in new/surplus condition in 1999 for $200. Nice rifle, decent shooter with the then available surplus ball. Traded it off about 7 years ago, since I didn't love it. Wouldn't pay $450 for one now, because I don't love surplus bolt guns. I think you're thinking MAS 36. 49/56 is a semi auto. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:54:36 PM EDT
[#21]
I would like to have one and a 36. I have nearly bought 36es before, but I always saw them when I had money in hand to buy something else.
I've never seen a 49/56 in person. It is unusual for a semi-auto in a full size rifle cartridge to stay in the price range of the MAS guns, though, especially given how they aren't exactly super common. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:55:22 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I had one that I bought in new/surplus condition in 1999 for $200. Nice rifle, decent shooter with the then available surplus ball. Traded it off about 7 years ago, since I didn't love it. Wouldn't pay $450 for one now, because I don't love surplus bolt guns. Yeah, the semiauto variants are much nicer....wut? |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:57:59 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I've heard you can make the brass from .30-06 Never tried it tho, so don't take that as gospel. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
7.5 French is an enthusiast round. (read: hard to get, expensive and not even that easy to reload for.) I've heard you can make the brass from .30-06 Never tried it tho, so don't take that as gospel. You can, (it is easier to just reform 6.5 swede though) but 99.9% of shooters and 95% of reloaders won't, therefor, enthusiast round. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:58:27 PM EDT
[#24]
I have one... Built like a tank. It's a carbine. And is a hard hitter... Mines a 7.5 . Got 1000 rounds Prvi for $399 a few years back.... Wardawg
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Posted: 1/19/2014 1:59:44 PM EDT
[#25]
As I said in the SKS thread today,I'd much rather have a 49/56.
It's an excellent gun and 7.5 is a great round |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:00:04 PM EDT
[#26]
Is the magazine catch on the magazine?
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:00:08 PM EDT
[#27]
I like them
very well made simple design machined receiver tool less take down no small parts to drop or loose short for small guys like my self grenade launcher peep sights most are re arsenal ed wood furniture low cost investment CAN BE FOUND IN GODS CALIBER (308) Yes some are problematic, but there are lots of them that are not! remember how much sks`s were, these will only go up in value. who remembers the lane co 100 dollar m-1 carbines? who remembers the 79.00 mosin`s? as a military battle rifle i give it a 8 out of 10 |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:01:33 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Is the magazine catch on the magazine? Yep. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:05:44 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Explain why this is a great rifle. Only been dropped once.
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:06:30 PM EDT
[#30]
I would love one of the 30-06 models. There are so few 30-06 battle rifles with detachable mags.
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:07:36 PM EDT
[#31]
I want one. Who sells them?
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:08:19 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Only been dropped once. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Explain why this is a great rifle. Only been dropped once. How do they taste? My balls, I mean. Salty? |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:11:06 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I want one. Who sells them? Nobody's importing them anymore. You'll see them pop up on gunbroker and on gunboards. Don't pay more than $500, unless a pristine late 90's arsenal refurbish. Then, I'd go to $700 in today's market, but that's just me. That said, if you see a 49/56 MSE variant, if you can get it for $1500 or under, jump on it. All of the above assumes 7.5. 308 conversion = POS. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:15:49 PM EDT
[#34]
I had one for awhile with a few hundred rounds of Syrian ammo I put throught it. Fun rifle and has that "seems " lighter and smaller than it is. I sold mine off years ago when I consolidated my odd ball rifle and pistol collection.
All in all I would rather have an sks. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:17:16 PM EDT
[#35]
Have two in 7.5 Ive never shot...had three, but sold one last year.
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:20:06 PM EDT
[#36]
The MAS ain't a bad piece, but I'm more interested in the FN-49.
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:20:18 PM EDT
[#37]
Define the "great accuracy" from these rifles. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:21:50 PM EDT
[#38]
Isn't ammo a bitch to find?
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:26:37 PM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
How do they taste? My balls, I mean. Salty? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Explain why this is a great rifle. Only been dropped once. How do they taste? My balls, I mean. Salty? You mad? I mean, seriously? I read your OP and made the joke BECAUSE you said it. Hence the smiley. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:26:58 PM EDT
[#40]
OP is exactly right. The MAS 49/56 is a wonderful design, robust and chambered in a cartridge with real power. They typically have very nice triggers, good sights, and they are 87% easier to fit with optics then their contemporaries - slide on the rugged APX L806, lock down the mount, and you're all set.
I have a pair of 49/56 rifles, one like new in the original 7.5 French chambering, the other one of the Century rifles in .308. My .308 rifle is completely reliable, even with steel cased ammo. The 49/56 sent a great many Arab terrorists and Communists to their final resting places. It deserves recognition as a worthy competitor to the FAL as a 1960s battle rifle. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:27:49 PM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The MAS ain't a bad piece, but I'm more interested in the FN-49. http://www.fn-browning.com/FN49_sample_pic2.jpg This one really interests me. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:31:01 PM EDT
[#42]
Beautiful rifles.
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:39:15 PM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Define the "great accuracy" from these rifles. I don't read French, but "Kelt" a respected retired French soldier on Gunboards claims that the MSE variant will do 1MOA. He's their expert on all things MAS. Not bad for a rifle of that era. I think the "standard" variant shooting standard military ball was 4 moa; which I believe is the standard the US Army uses for the M16/M4, which is also 4 moa, believe. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:40:42 PM EDT
[#44]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
This one really interests me. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
The MAS ain't a bad piece, but I'm more interested in the FN-49. http://www.fn-browning.com/FN49_sample_pic2.jpg This one really interests me. And your thread is where? I'm bored, educate me. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:41:10 PM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I've wanted one for awhile now, but I don't think I've ever seen one for 450 that wasn't a century conversion. And fuck that. I've seen what they did to cetmes. Same here. The only ones I found at a decent price have been converted. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:45:47 PM EDT
[#46]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You mad? I mean, seriously? I read your OP and made the joke BECAUSE you said it. Hence the smiley. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Explain why this is a great rifle. Only been dropped once. How do they taste? My balls, I mean. Salty? You mad? I mean, seriously? I read your OP and made the joke BECAUSE you said it. Hence the smiley. I knew that and that's why I referred back to the sweaty balls I referenced in my OP. No smiley from me 'cause I thought we were on the same page. Send your meter out for recalibration:
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Posted: 1/19/2014 2:57:03 PM EDT
[#47]
OP, what are the specific qualifiers that lead you to rate all .308 conversions as POS?
These are very robust & durable rifles - in .308 they are infinitely more desirable to own for the sake of ammo availability - I don't own one but have spoken to a few folks that did and they have all liked their .308 versions. So why exactly the 308 hate? |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 3:00:42 PM EDT
[#48]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
OP, what are the specific qualifiers that lead you to rate all .308 conversions as POS? These are very robust & durable rifles - in .308 they are infinitely more desirable to own for the sake of ammo availability - I don't own one but have spoken to a few folks that did and they have all liked their .308 versions. So why exactly the 308 hate? Century botched the conversion. There were after market gas regulators sold to retrofit the Century conversions, but the results were less than spectacular. If you can find a French Army conversion to 7.62 nato, by all means buy with confidence. (I don't think any were imported though). There have been some reports that "good" conversions were done, but it is a total crapshoot. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 3:08:31 PM EDT
[#49]
So, if I want a MAS 49/56, my options are a gun I can't find ammo for or a gun that doesn't work?
Seems like a .308 VEPR or M77 would be a much better option. |
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Posted: 1/19/2014 3:10:04 PM EDT
[#50]
Excellent rifles in the frog round, skip the Century 7.62 conversions.
They are simple, robust, and better than the M14/M1A. Yeah, I have both. In the common service rifle configuration, they are both 2 MOA rifles. The MAS is also 1/3 the price of an M1A, even now. When they were <$250 or so, they were a screaming fricken' deal. Downsides: Coarser sights, but that can be fixed. It is easy to make a finer front sight, and I started on a M14 rear sight adaptation to the top cover I never finished. The rifle is more sensitive to ammo than the M14. It likes lighter weight bullets and doesn't like medium/slowish powders very well, where the M14 eats any bullet under 175 grains and a huge range of powders for excellent accuracy. The commonly recommended loads with WW760 hammers that poor rifle hard. The gold standard, like the 7.5 Swiss, is French ball ammo. Rare and getting expensive, not that it was ever cheap. THe problem with the 308 conversion is a typical Century problem: low skilled personnel, all the steps required for the proper conversion were not done due to cost. There is a web page out there where Century's consultant smith outlines all the steps he recommended done which Century did not do. The rifles themselves are hit and miss - sometimes you have a great one, and the next one is a dog. I think there were only a dozen French 7.62 arsenal conversions, so in reality they do not exist. |
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