I found a MAS 51 in 7.5x54 for a good price. My question is about ammunition. How available is it? The other hand is about conversion. What is easier to change to? .308, 7.62X39? I have no experience with this rifle or caliber. All I know is the Frappe guys were carrying it when they politely asked NATO to leave the light on once they were out of the country. Anyhelp would be greatly appreciated.
MAS 51 in7.5X54
- Thread starter hey you
- Start date
7.5
There is ammo available for it (made by Prvi) although I don't know if you can get it in Canada.
Graf's in the U.S. has boxer primed brass available for it and it uses standard .308 bullets and large rifle primers.
Lee makes reasonably priced reloading dies for the 7.5 French.
Some people have had luck converting 6.5x55 Swedish brass to 7.5 French by neck expanding and fireforming. The 6.5 rims are a little small and the cases may not extract reliably, however. It seems to be determined by the brand of 6.5 brass. Those with thicker rims work better.
A 150 gr. grain bullet and 54 grains of 4831 give a velocity of 2680
If you can get the components the ballistics are pretty decent and not far off .308 or 30-06.
There is ammo available for it (made by Prvi) although I don't know if you can get it in Canada.
Graf's in the U.S. has boxer primed brass available for it and it uses standard .308 bullets and large rifle primers.
Lee makes reasonably priced reloading dies for the 7.5 French.
Some people have had luck converting 6.5x55 Swedish brass to 7.5 French by neck expanding and fireforming. The 6.5 rims are a little small and the cases may not extract reliably, however. It seems to be determined by the brand of 6.5 brass. Those with thicker rims work better.
A 150 gr. grain bullet and 54 grains of 4831 give a velocity of 2680
If you can get the components the ballistics are pretty decent and not far off .308 or 30-06.
7.5x54
Thanks for the info. I've been chasing bit & pieces all day and it does no like too good for the rifle. Everything I have found out makes it seem more trouble than it's worth. Perhaps if I was in North Africa or Europe, but not here. Thank you for your assistance.
Mike
Thanks for the info. I've been chasing bit & pieces all day and it does no like too good for the rifle. Everything I have found out makes it seem more trouble than it's worth. Perhaps if I was in North Africa or Europe, but not here. Thank you for your assistance.
Mike
Find some 7.5 x 54 dies and full length resize 6.5 x 55 cases. Load with regular .308" bullets using .308 Win Data. Both Lee and RCBS make the dies. Midway lists them, but try Epp's. If they don't have them they should be able to get them for you. Reloading stuff requires the U.S. export permit, so buying from Midway will be a nuisance.
Go here for a good article about the rifle and its ammo. Finn Nielsen is the firearms guy in the Ontario Centre of Forensic Sciences. Good guy who knows what he's talking about.
Add the W's. .surplusrifle.com/shooting/frenchrifles/index.asp
.ellwoodepps.com/
Go here for a good article about the rifle and its ammo. Finn Nielsen is the firearms guy in the Ontario Centre of Forensic Sciences. Good guy who knows what he's talking about.
Add the W's. .surplusrifle.com/shooting/frenchrifles/index.asp
.ellwoodepps.com/
7.5 French
If you get the 6.5x55 brass, a Lee neck expander die and a Lee 7.5 x 54 die set plus some .308 bullets you can use the gun. Be sure to lube the case neck when expanding them and go SLOW.
Higginson's carries Lee dies at a reasonable price
http://www.higginsonpowders.com/pages/934271/index.htm
RCBS dies are good but are aboutr 3x-4x the cost.
I have two of these (a Model 36 and a Model 36/51) and they are both decent rifles to shoot.
If you get the 6.5x55 brass, a Lee neck expander die and a Lee 7.5 x 54 die set plus some .308 bullets you can use the gun. Be sure to lube the case neck when expanding them and go SLOW.
Higginson's carries Lee dies at a reasonable price
http://www.higginsonpowders.com/pages/934271/index.htm
RCBS dies are good but are aboutr 3x-4x the cost.
I have two of these (a Model 36 and a Model 36/51) and they are both decent rifles to shoot.
