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| Article Written
by: Jamie Mangrum |
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Adobe PDF
Downloadable Version of Article |
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 I
admit that for the longest time I really did not
understand what anyone ever saw in the MAS 36 rifle. I
realize now that my opinion was solely based upon the
first one that I ever owned. It was a very ugly looking
specimen. The metal appeared to be painted and was
chipping off in most places. The overall quality really
reminded my of an early 20th century toy rifle in
quality and appearance. Also, the lack of having a
safety and instead half cocking the bolt is not an
endearing feature at all. |
 As
a result the MAS 36 is one of the least
expanded sections here on Surplusrifle.com. But please
believe me this is
something that will be remedied soon because I have had a
change of heart. I now look at the little MAS 36 with a
different eye. I made several trades this past summer and as a
result ended up with quite a few French rifles. Luckily
some were arsenal
refurbished MAS 36 rifles that looked like they were
unissued. These
MAS 36 rifles have a really nice dark parkerized finish. |
 The wood is brand new and the
bores are bright and shiny. Once I found a good supply
of 7.5x54 MAS ammunition, which is
not an easy thing to do, I was off to the range to shoot
my new acquisitions. I have to say that I
really like the sights on the MAS 36. In my opinion they
are comparable to the Enfield No. 4 and the U.S. 03A3
in functionality and performance. With the size
(width) of the front sight post, the sight picture as
seen in figure 3 is perfect for aging eyes.
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The standard French Service rifle of WWII was the MAS
Model (19)36 rifle in 7.5x54 caliber. |
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Specifications for the MAS
36 Rifle |
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Barrel Length: |
22.6 in |
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Overall Length: |
40.15 in |
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Weight: |
8 lbs 5 oz. |
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Action:
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Bolt Action |
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Caliber: |
7.5x54mm |
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Magazine Capacity: |
5 |
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 Loading
the MAS 36 with stripper clips is a breeze. After
I shot off a few 5 round groups at 50 yards, this is
when my opinion really started to change. If a rifle is
consistently accurate like this then who cares what it
looks like. The surplus ammo I was shooting was
surprisingly accurate. With a slip-on but pad that was
originally intended for the grenade launching version of
this rifle the MAS 36/51 I found the recoil to be mild
and shooting the rifle to be enjoyable. Time after time
I was able to produce targets like figure 5. |
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Getting a little cocky I decided to move my
target out to 100 yards to see if the accuracy
continued. Although the groups opened up a little (as
shown in figure 6), I was
able to still keep the majority of my shots consistently
in the black.
Let me count the positive aspects of the MAS
36:
- It is light and easy to handle;
- The sights are excellent;
- The rifle is very accurate;
- Surplus ammo is fairly accurate;
- When in good condition it can be a handsome
rifle.
Let met count the negative aspects of the MAS 36:
- The ammo is difficult to find and is mostly
corrosive;
- The rifle lacks a safety and instead you pull
the bolt handle upwards. The problem if you have a
round in the chamber is when carrying the rifle it
is easy to accidentally knock the bolt down. This is
an unsafe feature or lack of a feature.
The MAS 36 is a great little rifle that can be found
at local gun stores and shows for around $200 or less
for one in excellent condition. I am now a MAS 36
convert and have taken several great specimens off of
the market. |
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Adobe PDF
Downloadable Version of Article |
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| Article Written
by: Jamie Mangrum |
