Making 7.5 M.a.s. brass.

Chainsaw. · June 18, 2016, 10:01 PM

Anyone have experience making french 7.5m.a.s. brass? Ive read one post on some random site that said a fellow used 30-06 brass to good affect. But one post leaves me wondering a bit. What say you?

Slamfire · June 19, 2016, 09:42 AM

I took loaded boxer primed 6.5 X 55 brass and fired it in my MAS 36. I would recommend you lubricate the case, such as bench rest shooters do, when fireforming the case. Bench rest shooters do this to make perfect cases, what the case lubricant will do is that it will prevent the sidewalls from stretching and the case will be perfectly formed to the chamber.

There will be no accuracy when firing 6.5 X 55 brass in a 7.5 X 54 chamber. I was 25 yards away from the berm and bullets aimed at the middle of the berm would hit the bottom, than the top. But the cases were fireformed.

You will need to trim case necks as some of the Swedish case necks were a bit long, but after trimming, these cases will be 100% useable for your French rifle.

It is my opinion that American 6.5 X 55 ammunition has a different case rim width than European. My Swedish surplus ammunition has a wider diameter rim than my American cases. This may cause extraction issues in the MAS 36.

**Unclenick** · June 19, 2016, 11:18 AM

The 7.5×54 MAS has a CIP rim diameter of 12.39 mm or 0.4878" max. The CIP rim diameter for 6.5×55 Swede is 12.23mm or 0.4815" max. The SAAMI number for the Swede is 0.4803", so it is 0.0012" smaller than the CIP standard for this cartridge. The 30-06 has a SAAMI rim diameter 0.473" max. The CIP uses 12.03mm or 0.474" maximum rim diameter for 30-06. This is why the Swede is closer to the MAS round on paper.

Gunplummer · June 19, 2016, 11:21 AM

The wider rim and head is what you want, but American brass will usually work. Remington seems to usually be the largest spec brass. There is so much new 7.5 brass available now that I don't see the reasoning behind forming. You did not say what type of rifle you had. I have a couple of the semi autos (44, 49, 49/56) and you will have other issues if you reload for them. The bolt guns are not a problem. I have two converted to .308 and these did need extractor work. I never owned an MAS 36 converted to .308, but there are plenty around (A California importer) and I never heard of extraction problems.

**Unclenick** · June 19, 2016, 11:23 AM

Yes, Midway has Prvi ammunition for it. SG Ammo has it. Selway has it and this other brand with a slightly heavier bullet.

Chainsaw. · June 19, 2016, 11:25 AM

Its a bolt gun, not sure of the model. Kicks like a branded mule too!

Gunplummer · June 19, 2016, 11:34 AM

It should have MAS and the model number on the left side of the receiver. Some of the later models had the grenade launcher on them and were marked MAS 36/51. There were also a few conversions thrown in (German and French) but the main bolt action was the MAS 36.

I bought new PRIVI brass through Graf & Sons just a few months ago.

T. O'Heir · June 19, 2016, 11:39 AM

Like Uncle Nick says, the .30-06 case head is more than 10 thou smaller. The 6.5 Swede is only 6 thou smaller. 6.5 is 2.165" long vs 2.126" too.
Mind you, Graf's wants $58.99 per 100 for the Prvi brass. $55.99 per 100 from Midway.

Clark · June 19, 2016, 12:26 PM

My Mas36 looks unfired and only has one scratch where a French soldier dropped it. I paid $60 at BIG5 in Dec 1999. I want to keep it authentic.

But my friend, Roger [a fellow retired EE], painted his, with his wife's help. He said I could use his pic.

**Mike Irwin** · June 20, 2016, 07:18 AM

Most likely a MAS 36, although it could be one of the Betherier conversions.

Gunplummer · June 20, 2016, 04:05 PM

Yes, they do pop up once and a while. Don't really think of them because there does not seem to be a lot around.

June 18, 2016, 10:01 PM	#1
Chainsaw. Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2015 Location: Issaquah WA. Its a dry rain. Posts: 1,774	Making 7.5 M.a.s. brass. Anyone have experience making french 7.5m.a.s. brass? Ive read one post on some random site that said a fellow used 30-06 brass to good affect. But one post leaves me wondering a bit. What say you?

June 19, 2016, 09:42 AM	#2
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	I took loaded boxer primed 6.5 X 55 brass and fired it in my MAS 36. I would recommend you lubricate the case, such as bench rest shooters do, when fireforming the case. Bench rest shooters do this to make perfect cases, what the case lubricant will do is that it will prevent the sidewalls from stretching and the case will be perfectly formed to the chamber. There will be no accuracy when firing 6.5 X 55 brass in a 7.5 X 54 chamber. I was 25 yards away from the berm and bullets aimed at the middle of the berm would hit the bottom, than the top. But the cases were fireformed. You will need to trim case necks as some of the Swedish case necks were a bit long, but after trimming, these cases will be 100% useable for your French rifle. It is my opinion that American 6.5 X 55 ammunition has a different case rim width than European. My Swedish surplus ammunition has a wider diameter rim than my American cases. This may cause extraction issues in the MAS 36. __________________ If I'm not shooting, I'm reloading.

June 19, 2016, 11:18 AM	#3
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	The 7.5×54 MAS has a CIP rim diameter of 12.39 mm or 0.4878" max. The CIP rim diameter for 6.5×55 Swede is 12.23mm or 0.4815" max. The SAAMI number for the Swede is 0.4803", so it is 0.0012" smaller than the CIP standard for this cartridge. The 30-06 has a SAAMI rim diameter 0.473" max. The CIP uses 12.03mm or 0.474" maximum rim diameter for 30-06. This is why the Swede is closer to the MAS round on paper. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

June 19, 2016, 11:21 AM	#4
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	The wider rim and head is what you want, but American brass will usually work. Remington seems to usually be the largest spec brass. There is so much new 7.5 brass available now that I don't see the reasoning behind forming. You did not say what type of rifle you had. I have a couple of the semi autos (44, 49, 49/56) and you will have other issues if you reload for them. The bolt guns are not a problem. I have two converted to .308 and these did need extractor work. I never owned an MAS 36 converted to .308, but there are plenty around (A California importer) and I never heard of extraction problems. Last edited by Gunplummer; June 19, 2016 at 11:27 AM.

June 19, 2016, 11:23 AM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Yes, Midway has Prvi ammunition for it. SG Ammo has it. Selway has it and this other brand with a slightly heavier bullet. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

June 19, 2016, 11:25 AM	#6
Chainsaw. Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2015 Location: Issaquah WA. Its a dry rain. Posts: 1,774	Its a bolt gun, not sure of the model. Kicks like a branded mule too!

June 19, 2016, 11:34 AM	#7
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	It should have MAS and the model number on the left side of the receiver. Some of the later models had the grenade launcher on them and were marked MAS 36/51. There were also a few conversions thrown in (German and French) but the main bolt action was the MAS 36. I bought new PRIVI brass through Graf & Sons just a few months ago.

June 19, 2016, 11:39 AM	#8
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Like Uncle Nick says, the .30-06 case head is more than 10 thou smaller. The 6.5 Swede is only 6 thou smaller. 6.5 is 2.165" long vs 2.126" too. Mind you, Graf's wants $58.99 per 100 for the Prvi brass. $55.99 per 100 from Midway. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

June 19, 2016, 12:26 PM	#9
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	My Mas36 looks unfired and only has one scratch where a French soldier dropped it. I paid $60 at BIG5 in Dec 1999. I want to keep it authentic. But my friend, Roger [a fellow retired EE], painted his, with his wife's help. He said I could use his pic. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

June 20, 2016, 07:18 AM	#10
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Most likely a MAS 36, although it could be one of the Betherier conversions. __________________ "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.

June 20, 2016, 04:05 PM	#11
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	Yes, they do pop up once and a while. Don't really think of them because there does not seem to be a lot around.