Mas 36

[The Deer Hunter]

I have seen a little bit about them here and there and I also really want one. Most people think they are ugly, but I really like them.

So I was up at the gun store today, and they had two MAS 36's. One was in almost perfect condition, for $200 and the other one was in fair-poor condition for $650. Not sure why one was $650. Now I asked the guy behind the counter said that they get 3-4 of them a year, and I thought that was pretty cool that they ever get them.

So if I was going to go back to look at it again, what would I look for in a good rifle? I know about function of a rifle and checking the bore and such, but what should I look for specifically in the MAS 36? The park. job(assuming its parkerized) is almost immaculate, with the exception of a weird looking splotch near where the model number was stamped but its not really a big deal. The wood is in excellent condition, and there was a sling included.

Now on to my evaluation of the rifle;

The rifle itself was short enough to be handy, but long enough to be a rifle. The forearm and the hand guard seemed to be much thicker than the rest of the rifle. The length of pull seemed like it was designed for a small child. Anyone who talks about the Mosin Nagant being built for a small Russian man has clearly never shouldered a MAS 36 before. The guy behind the counter measured each one because I thought one had been cut down but they were both the same. The sights are really nice, I like the peep style sight.



One more thing:

I saw a horrible sight, today. It was a Finnish 91/30 with a scope mounted....

The rear sight had been removed, and a 3/8" dovetail mount was added where the rear sight used to be. On it was some weird mount with a cheapo LER scope. This was no beater either-It was in really good shape. The asking price was $250. I'm sure it shoots great(with a better scope) but for shame.

 

[Acheron]

I've heard that the MAS-36's are great milsurps. I was tempted to pick one up last year for cheap money but I passed on it because I thought the ammo would be way too expensive and hard to find. It turns out I was wrong...you can find 7.5 MAS online. PRVI sells it for around $10 for 20.

Still, as great of a rifle as they are, I still think that they are butt-ugly. But if you like it, get it. Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks, I guess.

 

[dumdum303]

I just picked one up for about $150. It looks brand new except for a recent ding on the handguard. The date is on the bottom of the barrel near the receiver. I have not shot it yet, however my intention was not to make it a frequent shooter. They are said to be very accurate when you can get ammo for them. I don't reload yet, but I have heard 6.5x55 swede can be formed into 7.5x54 with the proper dies and trimming.

Don't know why the beat up one is so expensive. Saw some action somewhere I suppose. Even though I have not yet shot mine I would say get one. Wish I did a few years back when they were much cheaper. The only complaints I hear are the length of the pull and the scarce ammo.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

I think the beat up one has a serial number of 171. Or maybe that was the 03A3....

Anyways, the 03A3 had such a low serial number it couldn't be shot. But thats good about the ammo, $.50 a round isn't that bad, especially compared to most high powered rifle ammo nowadays, about $1.00 a round.

 

[MRIman]

About 4 years ago you could get them from egunparts.com for
$42 shipped. Still have 3 left.
$200 you say?!?! Might have to move a few of them out now.
They are a very nice weapon,ammo is some times hard to come
by,but it can be found if you look.
Good luck

MRI

 

[The Deer Hunter]

Even if they go for less, an almost new rifle for $200 seems like a good deal to me. And it has a bayonet so thats like having an ice cream with like a whole bunch of toppings.

 

[Vicious-Peanut]

I really want one, and may look for one at the gunshow on saturday, but the fact that the ammo is rare makes me leary of buying one. But they are perty!

 

[Jim K]

The Deer Hunter wrote, "Anyways, the 03A3 had such a low serial number it couldn't be shot."

The so-called "low number" Springfields are M1903's below serial numbers 800,000 (Springfield) or 285507 (Rock Island). M1903A3's began at about 3,350,000. No M1903A3's "shouldn't be shot"; they are all OK.

Jim

 

[R.W.Dale]

but I have heard 6.5x55 swede can be formed into 7.5x54 with the proper dies and trimming.

DO NOT! form 6.5x55 cases into 7.5x54mas!





As you can see the casehead on 7.5mAS is already .006 smaller than SPEC 6.5x55 brass normally this would not be an issue, The problem lies in lazy domestic manufacturers making 6.5x55 cases with the smaller 30-06 sized case head of .473!!!!!! Giving you an under sized case head of .013!!!!!!!! NOT COOL


Do yourself a favor and buy some 7.5x54 brass from grafs.com

http://www.grafs.com/metallic/774

 

[R.W.Dale]

double tap