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MAS-49 rifle

The MAS-49 is a French-designed semi-automatic infantry rifle that replaced the motley collection of aging bolt-action rifles (MAS-36, U.S.M1917 and captured Kar98ks) that were in French service after the end of World War II.

Background

The MAS (an abbrevation of Manufacture d'Armes St. Etienne - one of several government-owned arms factories in France) 49, in 7.5x54 French calibre, evolved from the prototype MAS 38/39 and MAS 40 (which entered service in March 1940) followed by the MAS 44, 44 A and 44 B adopted as MAS 49. It saw significant service with French troops in the latter stages of the First Indochina War, as well as the early stages of the Algerian War of Independence and the Suez crisis.

Like the French experimental Rossignol ENT B5 rifle(1901), the Swedish AG-42 Ljungman semi-automatic rifle and the later U.S. M16 assault rifle, the MAS-49 and MAS-49/56 employ the direct impingement gas system, which actuates a tilt-locking bolt (like that of the Russian SKS) The MAS-49 and MAS-49/56 both use a 10-round detachable magazine. Both rifle models are equipped with a rail on the left side of the receiver. It allows for the immediate installation of an APX 806L(SOM) telescopic sight by sliding it into place and then locking it in with a small pressure lever.

The MAS direct impingement design had reduced the number of bolt moving parts to only 6: the bolt carrier, then the bolt proper which carries the extractor, the ejector and the firing pin, and lastly the recoil spring. Disassembly of the entire bolt mechanism,for cleaning purposes, takes only a few seconds. The MAS-49 had a reputation for reliability in conditions of poor maintenance, sometimes being cleaned with nothing more than rags and motor oil. The rifle could also endure harsh service environments ( MAS rifles saw service in Algeria, Djibouti, Indochina, and French Guiana).

Variants

An improved version called the MAS-49/56 was introduced in 1957 and incorporated lessons learned from service in Algeria, Indochina, and the Suez Crisis. The rifle was shortened and lightened to improve mobility for mechanized and airborne troops, and a knife bayonet was added (replacing the spike bayonet). The MAS 49 built-in grenade launcher was replaced by a combination rifle grenade launcher/compensator. The MAS-49/56 ended production in 1980 and was replaced with the 5.56 x 45 mm NATO caliber FAMAS bullpup assault rifle.it was withdrawn from service in 1990.

Many MAS-49/56 rifles imported as surplus in the USA had been rechambered locally to fire the 7.62 x 51 mm NATO round, but several user reports have noted this conversion was unsatisfactory (resulting in numerous action stoppages and misfires) due to bad workmanship. The shortening of the barrel to allow rechambering brings the gas vent closer to the chamber hence creating a higher stress on the bolt carrier. Another point worth noting is that some modern commercial 7.5 X 54mmm "French" ammunition made in countries other than France for current commercial distribution have been known to produce burst fire (2 or 3 rounds at a time) because of more sensitive primers. The original heavy steel firing pins on the MAS49 and 49-56 can be replaced by commercial titanium firing pins which are much lighter and generally cure the problem of burst fire on these weapons.