Saw a couple old semi's: Johnson 1942 30-06 & French MLe 1942-56 cal. 7.5?
- Thread starter JoshcBoucher
- Start date
They had the Johnson "reduced" from $8K, down to $5500. Neat piece. I just searched the Mas 56. Interesting. Might grab that one, if I can find some ammo for it.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.a...Prvi+7.5+French+139gn+FMJ+20rd+Box&groupid=82
Available from this vendor and many others. Prvi also has brass for reloading... uses a .308 diameter projectile.
Available from this vendor and many others. Prvi also has brass for reloading... uses a .308 diameter projectile.
Yep, they get good money. Been awhile since I noticed what they sell for.
Melvin Johnson, the USMC and the Johnson are a neat story.
Thanks Dan, for the link. Now I've got a quandary. The French Mas or the JM stamped 45-70 Marlin. Thanks pm, for the Johnson info. They also had a K98 sniper, I got excited about, for $1250.00, until the owner explained it was cobbled together from parts and the scope was a fake. Nice of him as I'm no expert.
Privi ammo is usually in stock at Graf's. Surplus ammo is hard to get and much of it has dead primers. But the MAS 49/56 is a nice rifle to shoot. I reload for mine using Privi brass 4895 and pulled 150 grain US 30 caliber projos.
Thanks, samnev.
How much do you shoot the Mas? Any accuracy? Slam fires? I read, some where, that there's a " guy" that works on them, and that they can be converted to 308. What's the collectors value for the future? Now I'm thinking about getting both. The reason I need to stay out of gun stores.
Salm fires can occur with the MAS 49/56 because reloader's use primers that are much softer than the primers the french used in the 7.5 AMMO. The firing pin on the 49/56 is very heavy and free floating and when the bolt goes forward the firing fin inertia can cause a slam fire. I reloaded for my 7.5 49/56 for almost 10years using only CCI #34 primers which are mil spec and harder than the normal primers we all use. So far no slam fires. The 7.62X51 MAS 49/56 French manufactured 49/56's (only 150 made) used a much lighter firing pin for their 7.62X51 rifles to avoid slam fires with the standard NATO 7.62X51 ammo. CAI's 308 conversions used the same heavy firing pin as the 7.5 MAS 49/56. When they did work, most had big problems, there were many reports of slam fires. I don't know about the quality of the 308 49/56's made by the builder you mentioned.
I shot the 49/56 a lot until a few years ago when I got into long range shooting. As for accuracy it's about the same as the M1 Garand. As far as collector value in the future who knows what the mood of the collector will be. Japanese rifles at one time you couldn't give away now they are getting pricey. I think as the available 49/56's go into collection they price will climb but how much I have no idea.
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Thanks for the feedback. I had read, in several places, that " some company" did a bad job on some conversions to 308. Wondered what a good smith could do. On the fence right now, given the History of their fire arms. Maybe je parle un peu de Francais.
Just got back from the LGS with a Mas 1949-56 in hand. Any one know where to get a scope mount? Read about the KVR, but can't locate one. Any info would be appreciated. Updated: found one, not original, but will do.
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IIRC Buddy Hinton hand some original APX scope/mounts a while back. I'd contact him and see if they are still available. Either google to find his info or I believe he always posts on Sturmgewehr.com. I believe this is his email address.
[email protected]
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