Slow Motion: MAS 49/56 

Yeah, that would be technically correct. But what the DI label does convey is understanding that the mechanism is designed to use the gas impulse in a location physically distant from the gas block.

You can easily reload by fire forming 6.5X55 Swedish brass. The '36 is actually easier to load for then the '49, as you do not have to worry about primer sensitivity. Also FNM of Portugal makes boxer primed 7.5mm cartridges.

J Ballew Thanks!

I suspect it's because of the depth of the gas tube hole in the bolt carrier. I think the gas has enough time to slowly expand that we don't see a puff.

Thanks for the response. That makes sense.

Francis Allen no frf2

The magazine catch is magazine mounted, yes.

That's the actual handle part of the charging handle. Being plastic, it doesn't get uncomfortably hot or cold, and doesn't have sharp edges that can cut you.

It isn't open bolt. Open bolt is when the bolt is held back prior to its release for the trigger mechanism. This is a closed bolt; it is locked into the breech until it ejects the cartridge.

GetTheFO I corrected my comment. I meant open bolt where you can see thru the bolt. I changed my comment to top eject.

TroopperFoFo Ah. I've always been a fan of those designs as well, particularly the M1 Garand. It sucks that they cost so much, though. I'll probably never be able to afford my favorite rifle.

GetTheFO Try gunshows you might be able to find one.

TroopperFoFo Finding them isn't the problem, I can do that easily. I haven't been to a gun show where there hasn't been at least 20 of them. It's the PRICE of them. I can't afford a thousand dollar rifle, and by the time I can they'll probably cost 3 times that.

There were shoulder-fired recoilless rifles such as the M18 and the Carl Gustav. As for actual cannons with rapidly-burning powders, I doubt it.

I found the Russian RGS-50M but it's not realy a shoulder cannon. I find realy curious that this kind of weapons doesn't exist today.

It's a blind recess in the bolt carrier.

Browning Automatic Rifle of 1918 had a tilting bolt...

It's plastic of some type, and appears to be very sturdy.

Forgotten Weapons Hi, I've been a gunsmith in the French Army some 30 years ago, I've seen A LOT of FSA-49/56's and I don't remember special issues concerning this handle (thanks for the nice video BTW!)

veuzou Ok, cool. And thanks for your service; as long as you're on our side, I'm thankful of you.

It is solid nylon.

They were made in 7.5 French (7.5x54mm), and cost $450-$550 or so. Century also converted a bunch to .308, and those tend to be about $100 cheaper, because they generally don't run well (several problems with the conversion process).

Forgotten Weapons I had one of the Century hatchet job .308 conversions. Mine would not extract reliably at all. In my case the extractor itself was undersized and did not have proper purchase on the cartridge case. Worked fine when you hand cycled it. Live fire on the other hand.....

Quite reasonable.

The recall is less then a 30/30 lever action I own two MAS 49/56 in 7.5x54 mm and one in 7.62x51mm/308 the recall on both are the same

Ahahahhahaha

Funny how the AR-15 is currently in service and not the MAS 49/56.

James Land maybe because they had a lot of revision and it's an assault riflle not an semi-auto long rifle... Oh and also the ar-15 is a very cheap rifle

They keep using the M4/M16 platform because it's cheap, they already have the machinery for it, and they have tons of parts and equipment on hand for it. There definitely better designs. Hell, piston AR's are much beter than DI

James Land That's a very naive view, considering a force so wrapped up in red tape and 'special interests' as the US Army, service has very little to do with the quality of the firearm.

David Cruise When did he say US service? US red tape is one thing, but since the design has been tested, adopted, and used worldwide I would say that's indicative of success. Compared to the MAS which was used by... France....

You're thinking of early model SKS rifles, those could potentially be fired out of battery.

I wouldn't consider Russian made SKS's to be shit, the Type 56 Carbine, though, is shit.

Yes, the MAS is known for slam-firing with commercial ammo. It has a large free-floating firing pin - that's why. French military ammo uses hard and slightly recessed primers, and has no issues, but sometimes the gun can touch off soft-primered commercial or handloaded ammo. This one has a spring loaded firing pin in it (from Murray's Guns or Bowie TX) to prevent that possibility.

GoredonTheDestroyer In my experience and understanding, Chinese-made AK and SKS rifles are excellent.

GoredonTheDestroyer Do a little research on the Chinese SKS's. During the boom on their saturation of American market, a number of them were sold by several importers, that were actually rifles assembled with rejected, often poorly heat treated parts. The August 1993 of American Gunsmith as well as the August 1993 issue of Gun Tests goes into great detail about this issue. There is also videos of demonstrations of guns improperly firing that where used in civil trials against those importers. (In one video, an attorney, at a shooting range, strips 10 rounds into magazine, then with a stick, hits the handle on the bolt causing a round to not only to chamber but to slam fire, repeating event until magazine empty, all while never touching trigger.) Reportedly, basic problem was substandard quality of bolt, firing pin or both. If bolt hard and pin soft, or vice/versa repeated strikes with hammer would pean the firing pin to inside of bolt, thus when pin foreword projected on bolt face, would fire gun when chambering live round. SKS does not have a return spring for firing pin. On the mil-spec SKS's, this never a problem since both bolt and firing pin correctly hardened to avoid the peaning with the aforedescibed softer metals. Bottom line: All European and Chinese military SKS's OK if in generally good condition. Any commercial Chinese SKS should be examined by someone who knows what to look for. Regrettably, the corner gunsmith that can do a great trigger job on your tricked out 1911, or beautifully reblue your 1100, may lack expertise on this SKS footnote. Find a gunsmith who deals with military/collectors/esoteric weapons who can help.