I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with the MAS-36 ... I notice that some places are selling .308 versions of this 7.5mm rifle. I'd like a bolt .308, but don't really want to spend the $450 for a new one. On the other hand, I don't have a use for a dangerous or completely innacurate $100 rifle either!

Thanks,
Saands

I just looked at one a buddy bought at a gunshow. Save yer dollars! This one had very crude woodwork, my comment was that I could expect that quality from Japanese stuff because I'd know it would be manufactured later on in the war, but when France was only in combat for a week it is kinda hard to justify such shoddy quality. How bout a mauser rechambered, seem to be a few of them for around the same price, or maybe a SMLE in 308? Depends on what you want, but I'd think about saving up a little more and buying a used 70, 700, or Savage.

I had a .308 one, now I understand why the German Army beats up the French Army every 30 years or so.

The MAS 36 can be a very accurate rifle, I belive that the basic action is still used for sniper/competition rifles. In some ways better than the mausers or Enfields.

What you need to look for is the feed ramp not being cut to far into the chamber. On some rifles the feed ramp goes into the chaber far enough that cartridges blow through the caset in front of the web. In traditional Centeury Arms style, quality control is non-existant, so you will find some of these rifles that are rechambered very nicely, while some are junk.

Check out any rifle closely before you purchase, and you should be fine.