Crusty one in the middle is the Syrian MAS 49
On the bottom looking fine is the MAS 49/56
Mike just happened to have a French 49/56, a French 49 and a Syrian 49. He looked at the bolt and pin in each and said “wait a minute they’re all the same.” I sent him a pin and he tried it in all three guns... and hurray, hurray it worked. I’m giving Mike the Magellan Award for a terrific discovery.
Top: BoltIn the 1990s large quantities of surplus MAS 49/56s were imported. Many were re-arsenaled and are in excellent condition. The F serial number prefix was made between 1956 and 1958. G series were made between 1958 and 1960. The H series was made between 1961 and 1963.
To the right of the serial number may be ‘P’ stamp followed by a square with two numbers in it. That stamp indicates re-arsenaling. Most re-arsenal dates were in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Let me first start by congratulating you on your titanium firing pin. It is a fine piece of machine work and accurate to OEM dimensions. The (pin in titanium) is founded in solid mechanical/physical principals and in the current specifications will eliminate the "slam fire". The solution to the slam fire problem is to hold the firing pin protrusion to .035 total (and to hold to other OE specs-editor). The Titanium firing pin may fire military issue but don’t chance it--just slip the OE pin back in and save the TFP for commercial ammunition.
The following procedure was used in the evaluation and testing your titanium firing pin (with an interesting observation noted).
Step 1. Inspected rifle and checked head space
Step 2. Loaded and fired one round French military surplus 7.5 x 54. Inspected case and primer
Step 3. Loaded magazine with two rounds of ammunition to check for slam fire. The first round loaded was one round of French military surplus followed by one round FNM commercial (Portuguese) Lot #9001, 7.5 x 54,
Step #4. Fired first round (French surplus), no slam fire, rifle recycled and chambered the next FNM round.
Step #5. Opened the action to check primer for indentation from titanium firing pin on unfired cartridge.
Observation
Upon extracting the unfired FNM cartridge case. I observed that the projectile had become completely detached from the case (due to the inertia of chambering) with the propellant spilled throughout the chamber and magazine. My observation confirms the FNM bullet did detach from the case. Upon inspecting FNM brass which was previously used to test fire other rifles, I observed powder fouling on all 15 FNM cases, with no fouling of 20 Privi Partizan, 35 French surplus or 30 Egyptian/Arabian surplus.
(In case the message is not clear AVOID FNM AMMO.)
Background
I consulted Bill to judge the quality and function of my firing pin. I was not after him for an endorsement. He surprised me by writing the above. Bill, I think, is the country's leading expert on MAS rifles. He has fixed many, many of them and knows their idiosyncrasies. If you are having any problem what-so-ever with a standard MAS or one that has been butchered, call Bill. He is a very nice guy and will find a solution for you.
Bill Toth
Design System Technologies
2A Old Green Creek Road
Benton, PA 17814
570-458-0140
$95.00 + $6.50 S&HPhilLittleGuns.com
15612 Hwy 7, #238
Minnetonka, MN 55345
952-935-8833 work
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You can't automatically buy the pin online because I want to talk with each buyer. I make new friends and I learn a lot from you. It also gives immediate feedback if a customer is having a problem. Yep that's Phil in the Goofy hat--life needn't be all too serious.
Your purchase of this product is an acceptance of the dangers associated with weapons, ammunition and what the combination can do when improper care and improper use of the weapon occur. You are expected to know all aspects of gun safety or find another hobby.
I am asking you not to use the TFP on milspec ammo. Primers are robust in combat ammo and I fear that titanium, being a more brittle material, may not last up against harder primers over the long haul. So switch firing pins for intended ammo. Luckily, the pin switch is quick and easy.
If the FTP fails in anyway just send yours back and I will reimburse you for its cost. Make no mistake if you do something really stupid (like shoot someone or damage property with your rifle) it is not the firing pin's fault! A suit against this product will be disappointing because the company has few attractive assets.
I finally got to the range today to test fire my MAS with the new TFP. The TFP has completely transformed my MAS!!! The performance difference is beyond my expectations! With the old steel pin my MAS would randomly slam fire the rifle to point of it being a range menace. Now, it shoots smooth and clean – not a single slam fire after several boxes of PMC Bronze .308. I'm totally thrilled with how your product breathed new life into my rifle. THANK YOU!!
Brian Arrington
Shoreline, Washington
My firing pin solved my slam fire problem.
Tommy in Georgia
The titanium pin totally solved the problem I had with my MAS 49/56. Before the replacement pin I would get 2 and 3 round bursts approximately every 30 rounds.
Brandon in Pennsylvania
The MAS 49/56 titanium pin solved my [slam-fire] trouble very, very well.
Di Giampaolo in Rome, Italy
Denis, from Fayetteville, NC, is a long time military guy who defended our nation with all its worthy and unworthy citizens. Denis is retired now doing the things he likes--shooting guns. Like me he’s into unusual guns like the MAS 49/56.
He discovered what we all have--slam fires with civilian ammo. He now uses the TFP and by his approving thumb we know he is happy with the results. We also know the man can shoot by his target patterns. Denis uses ‘Praetorian Guard’ in his e-mail address which tells us how he viewed his profession. Thanks, Denis.
Mark from Seward, Alaska owns an MAS like this one. I didn’t know trick stuff was available for the 49/56. Mark did an in-depth search online and discovered modern furniture that was made in France. He found it for sale on eBay and scarfed one up from a seller in France. Mark says, “It's obvious that a number were being manufactured a few years back”. The stock setup ran him about $750.
Mark had to carefully remove a bit of aluminum where the stock fits the rear of the action to make a proper fit. The pistol grip and forend went right in. The kit essentially makes it look similar to a CAR15. The forend grip was made in China (eBay), and swivels slightly to fit the rail. Push a button and the grips split in half to form bipod legs. Push another button on each and the legs pop out further. He has an aftermarket scope mount that goes in like the original, but has a picatinny rail.
Mark got my pin on 2/13/17 but there so much snow up there that he will have to delay a test firing. Thanks, Mark.
Tyler M. from somewhere in America heard that familiar MAS problem last year in the form of a pop, pop, pop...automatic fire. He put the gun away thinking it was a useless hunk of junk. Then he found my website and thought he’d give my pin a try. Tyler said “I want you to know my MAS is no longer trash. I went to the range yesterday and it operated properly and I am relieved considering the high cost they go for now!” Earlier when he got the pin he exclaimed “Received the pin in record time! Thanks. I look forward to releasing the bolt without surprises!”
Phil's other site: Phil Little Racing
