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French
Rifles
French MAS
49/56 History
The
French MAS 49/56 was originally designed for the French Paratroopers
and was used in a multitude of places like Indochina. It's ammo is 7.5x54mm.
It fires semi-auto.
There
are bayonets for them and they sometimes come with grenade launchers.
They were replaced in the 70's by the FA MAS .223 bullpup rifle. The
French MAS 49/56 is a copy somewhat of the French Fusil MAS 36 which
was used by the French in WW2. This rifle was a bolt action and the
49/56 is a semi auto. The muzzle Velocity is 2700 F/S (823 M/S). The
gun itself usually runs around $175-250 depending on condition.
They
usually come with bayonet,bayonet scabbard, grenade launcher, a few
10 rd mags, some ammo, sling, cleaning kit and pouch, and broken shell
extractor. The ammo is fairly expensive if you cannot locate some of
the French military surplus stuff coming into the country. Cabela's
sells the MAS ammo for 20 rds of 150 grain SP it is $29.99 There free
catalog number is: 1-800-237-4444
MAS
49/56 Service Manual (Page 1/3)
by Melburn
Park (mpark@nb.utmem.edu)
1. DESCRIPTION
1.1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION
1.1.1. Purpose
1.1.2. Ammunition
1.1.2.1. For live fire of ball ammunition:
1.1.2.2. Reduced [non-lethal] fire
1.1.2.3. For grenade launching
1.1.2.4. For blank fire
1.1.3. List of Materials
1.1.3.1. F.S.A. 49-56 (F.S.A. means Rifle, semi-automatic)
1.1.3.1.1 Composition of Combined Kit
1.1.3.1.2. Principal components:
1.1.3.1.3. Aiming the weapon
1.1.3.1.4. Integral grenade launcher
1.1.3.1.5. Night sight device
1.1.3.1.6. Bayonet knife (A, fig. 3).
1.1.3.2. F.S.A. 49-56 M.S.E. (modified version)
1.2. NUMERICAL SPECIFICATIONS
1.2.1. F.S.A. 49-56
1.2.2. F.S.A. 49-56 M.S.E. (modified version)
1.3 SAFETY RULES REGARDING SUPPLIES
1.3.1. Ammunition not to be used with the F.S.A. 49-56 M.S.E.
1.3.2. Launching rifle grenades
1.3.3. Night sight fixture
1.3.4. Action in case of a stoppage
2. PROCEDURES FOR NORMAL FIRE
2.1 USE OF THE WEAPON FOR NORMAL RIFLE FIRE
2.1.1 Feeding
2.1.2. Unfeeding
2.1.3. Arming
2.1.4. Charging
2.1.5. Engaging and disengaging the safety (S, fig. 16).
2.1.6. Adjusting the elevation.
2.1.7. Firing
2.1.8. Unloading
2.1.9. Disarming
2.2 FIRING RIFLE GRENADES (Rifle-Launched Grenades)
2.2.1 Vertical grenade fire
2.2.1.1. Adjustment of the sighting bar
2.2.1.2. Adjustment of the sliding ring
2.2.1.3. Vertical (high-trajectory) grenade launch
2.2.2. Held grenade fire
2.3. USE OF THE NIGHT SIGHT APPARTUS.
2.3.1. Attach the apparatus.
2.3.2. Calibration of the apparatus
2.3.3. Aiming using the night sight apparatus
2.4 FIRE USING THE TELESCOPIC SIGHT, MODEL, model 1953 (fig. 12).
2.5. USE OF THE BAYONET KNIFE
2.5.1. Fixing to the weapon
2.5.2. Removal
2.6. BLANK FIRE
3. PROBLEMS
4. MAINTENANCE
4.1. MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS TO BE PERFORMED
4.1.1. Before firing
4.1.2. After firing
4.2. CLEANING SUBSTANCES TO BE USED
4.3. AUTHORIZED DISASSEMBLY
4.3.1. Remove the bolt cover
4.3.2. Remove the slide assembly
4.4 REASSEMBLY
4.5. SIGHT ADJUSTMENT FOR THE F.S.A. 49-56
4.5.1. Windage adjustment
4.5.2. Elevation adjustment
4.6. SIGHT ADJUSTMENT FOR THE F.S.A. 49-56 M.S.E.
4.6.1. Windage adjustment
4.6.2. Elevation adjustment
Table of Figures
Figures
1.Rifle Semi-Auto 1949-56 with bayonet knife and magazine
[left side view]
2.Rifle Semi-Auto 1949-56 modified version Saint-Etienne
[left side view]
3.Rifle Semi-Automatic 1949-56 [right side view]
4.Rifle Semi-Automatic 1949-56 M.S.E. [right side view]
5.Rifle S.A. 1949-1956 disassembled
6.Adjustable eyepiece of the F.S.A. 1949-1956
7.Night sight device
8.Recoil pads
9.High-trajectory fire of a rifle grenade with the sighting bar at 45¡.
10.Shoulder-held fire of a rifle grenade with the sight bar at 74¡
11.Sight picture for shoulder-held grenade fire at a range of 75 meters.
12.Telescopic sight, model 1953
13.Disassembly of the bolt cover
14.Dissassembly of the slide assembly
15.Reassembly of the bolt cover
16.Nomneclature of the 7.5 mm semiautomatic rifle, model 1949-1956
Fig. 1 -- Rifle Semi-Auto 1949-56 with bayonet knife and magazine
[left side view]
Fig. 2 -- Rifle Semi-Auto 1949-56 modified version Saint-Etienne
[left side view]
1. Description
1.1. General Description
1.1.1. Purpose
The Semi-automatic rifle, 7.5 mm, model 1949-56, or F.S.A. 49-56 (fig. 1 &
3), is a personal weapon designed for killing fire up to a range of 400 m,
using its integral iron sights, and to a range of 800 m using telescopic
sights, model 1953 (fig. 12).
Fed by a 10-cartridge magazine, it is designed for:
-- night fire up to a range of 100 meters, with the aid of the luminescent
night sight fixture
-- the firing of all forms of French 22 mm rifle grenades.
The semi-auto rifle, 7.5 mm, model 1949-56, modification Saint-Etienne, or
F.S.A. 49-56 M.S.E. (fig. 2 & 4) is a version of the F.S.A. 49-56 conceived to
improve normal rifle fire performance. This model my be alternately supplied
with 10 or 18 round magazines.
Fig. 3. Rifle Semi-Automatic 1949-56 [right side view]
A. Bayonet knife
B. Magazine
Fig. 4. Rifle Semi-Automatic 1949-56 M.S.E. [right side view]
1.1.2. Ammunition
1.1.2.1. For live fire of ball ammunition:
Currently the 7.5 mm cartridges, model 1929, are used:
-- ordinary ball
-- tracer (1)
Other models (armor piercing, incinderary, tracers....) may be placed at
the disposal of the Corps of Troops, but always in restricted quantities.
1.1.2.2. Reduced [non-lethal] fire
Cartridges for non-lethal fire, 7.5 mm, model 1961, with plastic bullets,
known as "Balplast."
These do not guarantee cycling of the semi-automatic action.
This round is dangerous up to a range of 100 m.
_______________
Footnote:
(1) tracer range: 600 m, increased to 800 m with the latest models
1.1.2.3. For grenade launching
Bulletless cartridges, 7.5 mm, for French rifle grenades and rifle flairs
with 22 mm tail assemblies (see the separate publication on French rifle
grenades and and their launching procedures, INF 126).
1.1.2.4. For blank fire
Plastic blank cartridges, 7.5 mm, model 1958, colored white. These will
cycle the semi-automatic action when [the rifle is] fitted with a gas check for
blank fire.
1.1.3. List of Materials
1.1.3.1. F.S.A. 49-56 (F.S.A. means Rifle, semi-automatic)
1.1.3.1.1 Composition of Combined Kit
-- the arm proper;
-- four magazines (B. fig. 3)
-- rifle sling;
-- recoil pad, either size 1 or 2 (fig. 8);
-- a bayonet knife (A, fig. 3) with sheath;
-- a night sight assembly (fig. 7) with canvas case
-- a wrench for the night sight assembly
-- a leather pouch, model 58, (or a canvas pack) and a parts case
containing
-- a cleaning pull-string
-- a brass [bore] brush and a chamber brush
-- a flat brush
-- an oil flask
-- a case puller
-- an ejector hook-screwdriver
-- a firing pin
-- an extractor and its spring
-- two grenade retaining springs
The kit optionally will contain a telescopic sight, model 1953
(fig. 12).
Fig. 5 -- Rifle S.A. 1949-1956 disassembled
A. Carrier
B. Bolt
C. Firing pin
D. Bolt cover
E. Trigger guard
F. Trigger
G. Safety lever
H. Receiver
J. Recoil spring (There's a misprint here. The French should read "Ressort" not
"Support."
Fig. 6 -- Adjustable eyepiece of the F.S.A. 1949-1956 (rear view from the right
side)
[N.B. This photo also shows the bolt cover latch that is operated in
disassembly.]
1.1.3.1.2. Principal components:
-- the barrel (K, fig. 16);
-- receiver assembly, including bolt cover, trigger guard (C, A & U, fig. 16);
-- sliding parts, consisting of the bolt carrier, bolt, and recoil spring (A, B
& J, fig. 5);
-- accessories;
-- magazines containing a maximum of 10 rounds, supplied in sealed boxes.
1.1.3.1.3. Aiming the weapon
Aim is made through the use of,
-- an elevation slide (B, fig. 16) mounted on the bolt cover and
graduated from 200 to 1200 meters in 100-meter intervals.
-- a rear sight aperature adjustable for windage
-- a trapezoidal foresight (M, fig. 16) protected by two ears and
adjustable for height.
1.1.3.1.4. Integral grenade launcher
It consists of,
-- a sighting bar (L, fig. 16) that can take three positions
(completely collapsed for rifle fire, elevated to 45 degrees, and
elevated to 74 degrees). It includes auxiliary sights
(a rear sight notch and foresight bead), on its left side, for the
high-trajectory launch of grenades and four angle-shaped
sights (labeled 50, 75, 100, and 120 meters antipersonnel) for
held launch of rifle grenades.
-- a sliding ring (N, fig. 16) engaging a scale of calibrated slots.
1.1.3.1.5. Night sight device
Fig. 7. -- Night sight device
[1.1.3.1.5. Night sight device (cont'd)]
It is fixed onto the end of the barrel with the aid of a wingnut. It
consists of an adjustable rear luminescent Partridge-type sight and adjustable
front-sight blade, the former adjustable for windage and the latter for
elevation. It serves as a flame-arrestor.
1.1.3.1.6. Bayonet knife (A, fig. 3).
The weapon can be fitted with a bayonet.
1.1.3.2. F.S.A. 49-56 M.S.E. (modified version)
The weapon possesses a pistol grip and two cheek pads.
The following parts have been modified: butt stock, trigger mechanism,
sights.
The adjustment screw for the rear peep-sight is drilled with two holes at
90¡ and provides 4 adjustment steps.
The round front-sight bead has 8 adjustment steps.
1.2. NUMERICAL SPECIFICATIONS
1.2.1. F.S.A. 49-56
Caliber................................................. 7.5 mm
Total length............................................ 1.02 m
Barrel length........................................... 0.525 m
Weight, without magazine................................ 3.900 kg
Weight of empty magazine................................ 0.200 kg
Weight of full magazine................................. 0.430 kg
Weight of bayonet and scabard........................... 0.500 kg
Muzzel velocity for ball ammunition..................... 820 m/s
1.2.2. F.S.A. 49-56 M.S.E. (modified version)
Total length............................................ 1.05 m
Thickness of lower cheek pad............................ 8.00 mm
Thickness of upper cheek pad............................ 17.00 mm
Weight, without magazine................................ 4.100 kg
Trigger pull............................................ 2.5 to 2.8 kg
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