Rifle barel chamber bushings

Deles135 · February 10, 2002, 02:49 PM

I am looking for a source of chamber bushings to convert a 7.5 French MAS 49/56 RIFLE TO .308 CAL. Does anyone know of a source and does anyone have any experience using chamber bushings.

Thanks, The Old Man

George Stringer · February 10, 2002, 03:07 PM

Deles135, there is no such thing yet. At least I've not seen any. I am presently experimenting with making an insert but it won't be one that you could take out and use the rifle as a 7.5 again. It will be a permanent change if it works. I'm just trying to find a better method to rechamber them than to shorten the shank. Shortening the gas system is part of the problem of getting them to function properly after the conversion. George

Deles135 · February 10, 2002, 09:52 PM

George - Thank you for the information. I want to make a permanent conversion as I like shooting this piece but 7.5 ammo is almost impossible to find and very costly. When you work out the details of the bushing please let me know what you came up with. I will be glad to help with what little knowledge I have aquired after working as a machinist for more than 40 years. My big problem is that I no longer have access to any machine shop.Thanks again.

Gewehr98 · February 11, 2002, 12:08 AM

There's the cost of modifying the rifle to chamber .308 Winchester, or the cost of the currently available, and reloadable, Portuguese-made 7.5 French. Here's one readily available source:

www.empirearms.com

I just received several hundred rounds from them, and have the dies ready to go once I shoot them. Nice thing is, the 7.5 French is a true .308 bore, so bullet selection is no problem at all!

Deles135 · February 11, 2002, 01:44 AM

Gewehr98 Thanks for the source for the 7.5 French ammo. This will be my best bet for right now but I would still be very interested in a barrel bushing as I think the cost would be small and the labor minimal.
Thanks again, The Old Man

Gewehr98 · February 11, 2002, 06:22 AM

Just be darned careful with that chamber bushing idea, the Navy tried chamber inserts for their Garands and gave up on it.

Riss · February 12, 2002, 09:39 AM

This guy makes chamber adapters, if he doesn't make one he can probably let you know if one could be made. http://mcace.com/

Deles135 · February 12, 2002, 02:04 PM

Riss, this looks very possible. I will report my findings later.

Thanks, The Old Man

Deles135 · February 13, 2002, 01:18 PM

I contacted MCA Sports in Alaska and asked them about a bushing for the MAS 49/56 and the reply was "NO, that is not safe". That was plan A so now I will go to plan B. I will report the progress as things happen. The Old Man

February 10, 2002, 02:49 PM	#1
Deles135 Junior Member Join Date: February 10, 2002 Location: Lower SC Posts: 7	Rifle barel chamber bushings I am looking for a source of chamber bushings to convert a 7.5 French MAS 49/56 RIFLE TO .308 CAL. Does anyone know of a source and does anyone have any experience using chamber bushings. Thanks, The Old Man __________________ Old Man

February 10, 2002, 09:52 PM	#3
Deles135 Junior Member Join Date: February 10, 2002 Location: Lower SC Posts: 7	Chamber bushings George - Thank you for the information. I want to make a permanent conversion as I like shooting this piece but 7.5 ammo is almost impossible to find and very costly. When you work out the details of the bushing please let me know what you came up with. I will be glad to help with what little knowledge I have aquired after working as a machinist for more than 40 years. My big problem is that I no longer have access to any machine shop.Thanks again. __________________ Old Man

February 11, 2002, 12:08 AM	#4
Gewehr98 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2000 Location: Token Creek, WI Posts: 4,067	Weighing your costs... There's the cost of modifying the rifle to chamber .308 Winchester, or the cost of the currently available, and reloadable, Portuguese-made 7.5 French. Here's one readily available source: www.empirearms.com I just received several hundred rounds from them, and have the dies ready to go once I shoot them. Nice thing is, the 7.5 French is a true .308 bore, so bullet selection is no problem at all! __________________ "Bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round... Neural Misfires

February 11, 2002, 01:44 AM	#5
Deles135 Junior Member Join Date: February 10, 2002 Location: Lower SC Posts: 7	Rifle barrel chamber bushings Gewehr98 Thanks for the source for the 7.5 French ammo. This will be my best bet for right now but I would still be very interested in a barrel bushing as I think the cost would be small and the labor minimal. Thanks again, The Old Man __________________ Old Man

February 11, 2002, 06:22 AM	#6
Gewehr98 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2000 Location: Token Creek, WI Posts: 4,067	No problem! Just be darned careful with that chamber bushing idea, the Navy tried chamber inserts for their Garands and gave up on it. __________________ "Bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round... Neural Misfires

February 10, 2002, 03:07 PM	#2
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Deles135, there is no such thing yet. At least I've not seen any. I am presently experimenting with making an insert but it won't be one that you could take out and use the rifle as a 7.5 again. It will be a permanent change if it works. I'm just trying to find a better method to rechamber them than to shorten the shank. Shortening the gas system is part of the problem of getting them to function properly after the conversion. George

February 12, 2002, 09:39 AM	#7
Riss Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 1999 Location: Eastern, PA, USA Posts: 147	This guy makes chamber adapters, if he doesn't make one he can probably let you know if one could be made. http://mcace.com/ __________________ An X is still an X with a Quarter Inch group at 100 yards With a Quarter Inch Group on the keyboard an X could be - Z,S,D, or C. I am a quarter inch typist - Please excuse the errors!

February 12, 2002, 02:04 PM	#8
Deles135 Junior Member Join Date: February 10, 2002 Location: Lower SC Posts: 7	Rifle barrel chamber bushings Riss, this looks very possible. I will report my findings later. Thanks, The Old Man __________________ Old Man

February 13, 2002, 01:18 PM	#9
Deles135 Junior Member Join Date: February 10, 2002 Location: Lower SC Posts: 7	NO - Unsafe I contacted MCA Sports in Alaska and asked them about a bushing for the MAS 49/56 and the reply was "NO, that is not safe". That was plan A so now I will go to plan B. I will report the progress as things happen. The Old Man __________________ Old Man