French M.A.C. 1935 - S

Doc Hoy · February 28, 2015, 10:16 PM

Picked up a good condition very shootable M.A.C. 1935 at the Doswell GS today.

Caliber is the French .32 Long.

Most of the dimensions of that round are close to .32 ACP but a little longer.

Anyone have experience shooting .32 ACP in this pistol?

James K · February 28, 2015, 11:09 PM

It won't work with .32 ACP as the French gun is a locked breech and has a heavier charge and heavier bullet. Also, the .32 ACP is semi-rimmed and that can interfere with feeding. Sorry, but I don't know of any source either for ammunition or reloadable cases. (Of course you can get cases by pulling the bullets from Pedersen device ammo should you have a bunch of that laying about.)

Jim

mapsjanhere · March 1, 2015, 09:42 AM

Midway has the brass in stock, and Buffaloarms occasionally makes a batch.

tahunua001 · March 1, 2015, 11:53 AM

buffalo arms has it for $1.02 a round+shipping.

Doc Hoy · March 1, 2015, 12:44 PM

I think as soon as Buffalo gets it is stock, I'll get some.

We have a local reloader in Virginia Beach and he routinely has some exotic stuff. MAC'S RELOADS. Good fella.

Heres some photos

James K · March 1, 2015, 05:56 PM

The 1935A is, to my mind, the best feeling pistol I have found. It is too bad someone hasn't been able to make it in 9mm P.

The SIG 210 is much the same gun, but is a lot bigger and heavier.

Jim

Doc Hoy · March 2, 2015, 03:17 AM

Could also be nice as a .380.

jonnyc · March 2, 2015, 04:55 PM

Go on Midway's site and read the reviews for their brass, before you order any.
I believe it's Bertram brass.

Tidewater_Kid · March 2, 2015, 09:07 PM

Nice looking pistol Doc!

TK

**Mike Irwin** · March 3, 2015, 01:00 PM

I would swear that some years ago there was an article in American Rifleman about using .32 ACP in these guns by installing a chamber spacer. No other alterations (IIRC) were needed because the gun would feed and chamber .32 ACP.

Maybe they cut the rim down, I don't know...

James K · March 3, 2015, 02:54 PM

Mike, I have heard and read the same thing over the years. First, the .32 ACP won't feed. In fact, it .32 ACP of three makes won't even fit into the magazine of my 35S; they will fit into the 35A magazine.

Then they won't feed; the rims will fit in the breech face, but in feeding hang up on the extractors. If they did, they would be supported on the extractors, since they would not headspace properly.

But that doesn't really matter. The French guns are locked breech, recoil operated, and the factory .32 ACP with its light bullet and relatively low charge just doesn't have enough oomph to work them reliably. The French cartridge case is longer, has a longer and heavier (85 grain) bullet, and a heavier powder charge.

Could the .32 ACP and the guns be modified to work? I think so, if one wanted to spend the time and effort.

P.S. It is often written that the French 7.65 Longue is the same as the Pedersen device cartridge. That is not true. The cases are the same, but the French round, with its longer bullet, won't fit in the Pedersen device magazine. The usual story is that the U.S. left millions of rounds of Cartridge, Pistol, Ball, Caliber .30, M1918 in France and the thrifty French made pistols to use it. I have no doubt that the Pedersen device round was the starting point for the 7.65 Longue, but the cartridges are not identical.

Jim

jonnyc · March 3, 2015, 05:06 PM

Ah, but the Pedersen rounds will fit into the 1935 pistols! I had 50 or 60 Pedersen rounds and planned to reload them for my 1935A, and they hand cycled perfectly. I ended up selling the pistol and rounds before I got around to the reloading project.

February 28, 2015, 10:16 PM	#1
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	French M.A.C. 1935 - S Picked up a good condition very shootable M.A.C. 1935 at the Doswell GS today. Caliber is the French .32 Long. Most of the dimensions of that round are close to .32 ACP but a little longer. Anyone have experience shooting .32 ACP in this pistol? __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath. Last edited by Doc Hoy; February 28, 2015 at 11:06 PM.

March 1, 2015, 09:42 AM	#3
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	Midway has the brass in stock, and Buffaloarms occasionally makes a batch. __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

March 1, 2015, 11:53 AM	#4
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	buffalo arms has it for $1.02 a round+shipping. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

March 1, 2015, 12:44 PM	#5
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Thanks for the leads guys.... I think as soon as Buffalo gets it is stock, I'll get some. We have a local reloader in Virginia Beach and he routinely has some exotic stuff. MAC'S RELOADS. Good fella. Heres some photos __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

March 2, 2015, 03:17 AM	#7
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	I like the feel of this "S" too Could also be nice as a .380. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

February 28, 2015, 11:09 PM	#2
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	It won't work with .32 ACP as the French gun is a locked breech and has a heavier charge and heavier bullet. Also, the .32 ACP is semi-rimmed and that can interfere with feeding. Sorry, but I don't know of any source either for ammunition or reloadable cases. (Of course you can get cases by pulling the bullets from Pedersen device ammo should you have a bunch of that laying about.) Jim

March 1, 2015, 05:56 PM	#6
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The 1935A is, to my mind, the best feeling pistol I have found. It is too bad someone hasn't been able to make it in 9mm P. The SIG 210 is much the same gun, but is a lot bigger and heavier. Jim

March 2, 2015, 04:55 PM	#8
jonnyc Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,731	Go on Midway's site and read the reviews for their brass, before you order any. I believe it's Bertram brass. __________________ 2024 PA Cartridge Collector Show; Aug. 16-17, 2024!!! Buy...Sell...Trade All Types of Ammunition & Ordnance PM or email me for 2024 show details.

March 2, 2015, 09:07 PM	#9
Tidewater_Kid Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 925	Nice looking pistol Doc! TK

March 3, 2015, 01:00 PM	#10
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	I would swear that some years ago there was an article in American Rifleman about using .32 ACP in these guns by installing a chamber spacer. No other alterations (IIRC) were needed because the gun would feed and chamber .32 ACP. Maybe they cut the rim down, I don't know... __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 3, 2015, 02:54 PM	#11
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Mike, I have heard and read the same thing over the years. First, the .32 ACP won't feed. In fact, it .32 ACP of three makes won't even fit into the magazine of my 35S; they will fit into the 35A magazine. Then they won't feed; the rims will fit in the breech face, but in feeding hang up on the extractors. If they did, they would be supported on the extractors, since they would not headspace properly. But that doesn't really matter. The French guns are locked breech, recoil operated, and the factory .32 ACP with its light bullet and relatively low charge just doesn't have enough oomph to work them reliably. The French cartridge case is longer, has a longer and heavier (85 grain) bullet, and a heavier powder charge. Could the .32 ACP and the guns be modified to work? I think so, if one wanted to spend the time and effort. P.S. It is often written that the French 7.65 Longue is the same as the Pedersen device cartridge. That is not true. The cases are the same, but the French round, with its longer bullet, won't fit in the Pedersen device magazine. The usual story is that the U.S. left millions of rounds of Cartridge, Pistol, Ball, Caliber .30, M1918 in France and the thrifty French made pistols to use it. I have no doubt that the Pedersen device round was the starting point for the 7.65 Longue, but the cartridges are not identical. Jim Last edited by James K; March 3, 2015 at 03:05 PM.

March 3, 2015, 05:06 PM	#12
jonnyc Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,731	Ah, but the Pedersen rounds will fit into the 1935 pistols! I had 50 or 60 Pedersen rounds and planned to reload them for my 1935A, and they hand cycled perfectly. I ended up selling the pistol and rounds before I got around to the reloading project. __________________ 2024 PA Cartridge Collector Show; Aug. 16-17, 2024!!! Buy...Sell...Trade All Types of Ammunition & Ordnance PM or email me for 2024 show details.