french MAS 49/56 conversion HELP

Shealladh

September 20, 2009 17:37

Can an MAS 49/56 7.5/54 be re-chambered to a 7.62x54? Will the flanged cartridge work in this gun. Or can the MAS 308 be re-barreled to take take an 8mm mouser round? If so what barrel should be used,a mouser,fn49 or what. Will the magazine take the 57mm cartridge? I would like to convert one of these to either of these cartridges due to the availability of these rounds. Any help anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Robert

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  EVILDR235

  September 20, 2009 18:28

  Get one in the original caliber 7.5 French.Too many problems with adapting to a different caliber. 7.5 French can be formed from other easier to get brass like 6.6x55 Swede.
  EvilDr235

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  dfletcher

  September 20, 2009 18:30

  Anything's possible, but I think the rimmed 7.62 is a poor choice, unless you're going to manufacture a new magazine.
  
  Century Arms modified many MAS 49/56s to 7.62 NATO, in general they didn't do a good job and the guns have a poor reliability reputation.
  
  An 8mm Mauser is probably a pretty good choice and I think the issue mag would work, maybe need a different follower. I don't know of a source for barrels & I don't know if the MAS barrel has enough "meat" on it to go from .308 to .323 diamter in reboring & rechambering.
  
  I have a MAS 49/56 and like it fine as is. It's a great round and reloading is easy for it. If you're going to make a change you can take a chance with the Century Arms rework or have a gunsmith do the work for you specifically.

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  ElMuertoMonkey

  September 20, 2009 18:50

  Stick with the original 7.5mm French. I've heard nothing but bad things about them when converted away from their original caliber.

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  sandwarrior

  September 21, 2009 04:20

  Everyone I know of who has gotten one chambered in 7.62x51 has had problems. I will say I think the 7.62x54 Russian would be far worse. Keep it in the original caliber and don't have problems. If you don't reload for an odd caliber like that, it's a good time to start. If I remember right the French loaded them with a 139/140(?) gr. bullet to about 2650-2700 fps. A fair amount lighter than the 7.62 but effective nevertheless. They saw service in post-WWII Indo-China and were supposedly pretty reliable, if heavy.
  
  -good luck

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