MAS 36 Range Report

[krinko]

This is for A Historian.
"I would be interested to see what accuracy someone can produce with it.

I have heard a lot of people say that the rifle, in general, is not that great in the accuracy department, but have seen only one person prove it. I hear other people say it is just as accurate as any other rifle out there.

Too much hearsay, though, and not enough empirical evidence, for my taste."

OK, let's go...

The rifle is a 1940 MAS 36 from St. Etienne---




All targets shot @ 100 yards from a simple sandbag rest on a bench.
First target---



As it says, "repacked India .308". That's bullets and powder from Kirkee Arsenal .308, transferred to FNM MAS 36 cases.

Second target---



Repacked Chilean .308 "Cartouchos De Guerra".

Both of these targets were shot with what is actually blasting ammo---some of the India slugs were .306! This third one is shot with PPU 7.5 MAS, which has the correct 139 grain bullet.

Target three---



For comparison, a Czech post-war 98K---



And a 1942 Dispersal Rifle (SMLE)---



I had five rifles out today and another firing test involving a M1941 Carcano, so not that many groups were fired---pictures are representative, but they are the best groups of the day.
-----krinko

 

[nathan]

Didnt the French Foreign Legionnaires used the MAS 36 in the battle of Dienbienphu?

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

I love my MAS 36. It is quite accurate in spite of it's horrible trigger.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The MAS 36 is an interesting rifle, especially when compared to other period rifles. Rather unconventional. They are fairly handy, but thump pretty good on the back end.

Mine is stilll chambered in 7.5x54, and produced pretty acceptable accuracy with Graf brass and Hornady 150 gr. FMJBT:



Pretty comparable to other surplus rifles, like my M96 Swede:



And S-R M1911:

 

[fpgt72]

Let me guess....that one person is a youtube expert.

The 36 is a great rifle, I have a 36 and a 49/56 and both are on par with my other rifles of the same time frame. Both of my rifles are still in the 7.5mm french.

The real truth of these rifles are slowly coming out and people are getting to know the total BS of the "built in bacements" that some people seem to think, these are well made rifles that are well in their means to take man sized targets at 100m+.

Of my military rifles that shoot full sized rifle rounds the french rifles are in my top 3 of rifles that I like to shoot....greatly under rated....I just need to get dies for them now.

 

[nathan]

how do you adjust windage and elevation on these rifles? Do they normally shoot high at 100 yds ? does it have the calibration on the rear sight ramp like 1, 2, 3, etc ?

 

[krinko]

Nathan,
The MAS backsight is numbered from 2 through 12---so it starts at 200 meters, which means, yes, it goes high at 100 yards.
Windage isn't readily adjustable by the firer, as it is set at the factory by the use of backsight apertures which are drilled to the left or right, as needed.
-----krinko

 

[A Historian]

I wonder why so many people try to trash talk this rifle?

I definitely would not have any complaints with that. Thanks for the range report!

 

[nathan]

So windage is adjusted by moving the front sight post similar to the Mosin Nagant?

 

[Trevorusn]

This is for A Historian.
"I would be interested to see what accuracy someone can produce with it.

I have heard a lot of people say that the rifle, in general, is not that great in the accuracy department, but have seen only one person prove it. I hear other people say it is just as accurate as any other rifle out there.

Too much hearsay, though, and not enough empirical evidence, for my taste."

OK, let's go...

The rifle is a 1940 MAS 36 from St. Etienne---




All targets shot @ 100 yards from a simple sandbag rest on a bench.
First target---



As it says, "repacked India .308". That's bullets and powder from Kirkee Arsenal .308, transferred to FNM MAS 36 cases.

Second target---



Repacked Chilean .308 "Cartouchos De Guerra".

Both of these targets were shot with what is actually blasting ammo---some of the India slugs were .306! This third one is shot with PPU 7.5 MAS, which has the correct 139 grain bullet.

Target three---



For comparison, a Czech post-war 98K---



And a 1942 Dispersal Rifle (SMLE)---



I had five rifles out today and another firing test involving a M1941 Carcano, so not that many groups were fired---pictures are representative, but they are the best groups of the day.
-----krinko

A bit off topic, but how did you verify your MAS is from 1940???

 

[ball3006]

Windage is adjusted by changing the apature of the rear sight. They made the apatures with the hole calibrated, left or right, to adjust windage. You can adjust for windage by determining which way you need to move the hole and drill it out a litter larger in the direction you need to move it. It worked on my 36/51. The only French rifle I have in the MAS series is a MAS49...chris3

 

[shuvelrider]

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com


Like the man said, those apertures where interchangeable to get the correct one,s in place for the shooter. They were part of the armorer,s set. Go to this website and you will find all you need to know about French guns, to include how to date them. Lots of good info there.

 

[C'Thulhu]

I've honestly never heard anything bad about the MAS. I regret not picking one up when I had the chance, also an MAS 49 (not the 49/56)