Mas 1936

[lunicy]

I have come across a MAS 1936. Funny looking thing. None the less, I thought it shot 7.5x54. I traded for some brass but it doesn't want to chamber at all. So, What does a MAS 1936 shoot?

[runfiverun]

look on the side of the reciever if there is a big 308 on it it has been converted .as so many have to 308 win.

[randyrat]

I'd bet it is chambered for the .308....Otherwise if you need more brass just use 30-06 brass and do some/lots of trimming....Or less common .284 cut down .020" and re-cut/reamed out primer pockets.

[Charley]

You're gonna have one tough fight trying to chamber anything converted from 284 Winchester. It works FINE for the Swiss 7.5x55, but it's a might big for the 7.5x54 Frenchie.
Graf's has 7.5x54 brass, but all it takes is running a 6.5x55 case into a 7.5x54 sizer. Even shortens up a bit.

Your rifle is probably one of the ones Century's "wizards", converted to make them more salable in the US. Most of their conversions also added a trigger blocking safety while they were destroying/converting. If it isn't marked, I would suggest a chamber cast...

[randyrat]

Your right Charley. I wouldn't mess with .284 brass either. Lot of work.

[Linstrum]

As has already been pointed out, chances are a MAS 36 is going to be chambered in either 7.5x54 French or .308 Win/7.62 NATO. A few were re-chambered in Europe to other cartridges but those are not very common. Since the 7.5x54 French cartridge is a bit longer than the .308 Win, if the French brass will not go in it is probably a .308 Win. If the rifle is not marked as a .308 Win but the French cartridge will not chamber, do not automatically assume that it is .308 Win, though. Do like was recommended, make a chamber casting to positively i.d. it!

Like Charlie said above, you can make your own 7.5x54 French brass by simply running 6.5 Swedish Mauser brass into a Lee 7.5x54 French sizing die. Lee specifically designed their 7.5mm French die set for converting Swede brass into the French in one easy operation, and when done the brass normally does not need to be trimmed to length. The bore size takes a true 0.308" projectile, the groove diameter is 0.308" and the land diameter runs 0.299" in my rifles.

I have two unmodified MAS 36 rifles, one is unusually accurate using surplus 147-grain .308" fmjbt bullets, with 5-shot groups consistently running about an inch at 100 yards. The other runs about 4 or 5 inches and consequently sits unused in my safe.

You can do a quick and dirty sporterizing job on the MAS 36 by removing the wooden forestock to get rid of the bayonet and related hardware. Looks funky but it is light weight and handles well. Since all it takes is removing a few screws it can be put back into full military dress by simply re-installing the parts.

The screws used on the MAS 36 are "soldier proof" by having two holes in the screw heads instead of a slot and require a special spanner. I made my own spanner by carefully filing a regular blade-type screwdriver to fit the two holes. Some have had good luck using a pair of needle-nose pliers to engage the screw heads but in mine I bent the plier tips and had to make the special spanner to break them loose. Once I got the screws out I cut slots in the heads with a fine-tooth hacksaw.

They are one of the ugliest rifles ever made but they have excellent potential.


rl464

[Bret4207]

I'd bet it is chambered for the .308....Otherwise if you need more brass just use 30-06 brass and do some/lots of trimming....Or less common .284 cut down .020" and re-cut/reamed out primer pockets.

Randy- Why would you have to play with the primer pockets?

[Buckshot]

http://www.fototime.com/4CE0AE555332580/standard.jpg

...........Or convert it to 45-70 :-)

............Buckshot

[randyrat]

Randy- Why would you have to play with the primer pockets? I stated it wrong.... The corect way for .284 brass= reduce/shorten the case head by .020 then you would have to deepen/ream out your primer pockets, so your primers don't stick out.

[Slogg76]

Buckshot-is that 45-70 conversion on a MAS36 easy? Inexpensive? I've seen a few around locally for next to nothing as no one likes or wants the things.

[Buckshot]

Buckshot-is that 45-70 conversion on a MAS36 easy? Inexpensive? I've seen a few around locally for next to nothing as no one likes or wants the things.


.............As easy as doing it to a SMLE. No making a replacement mag or mods to one, but you DO have to do some grinding to the feed rails to let the fat 45-70 up.

...........Buckshot

[Slogg76]

Thanks for the info Buckshot! I may have to seriously look into this MAS36 45-70 thing.

[primersp]

here due legislation mas 36 and k31 are often reamed in 30/284

[Buckshot]

...............primersp is that due to a law about military cartridges? Welcome to the board, also!

..............Buckshot