French MAS 49/56 7.5 muzzle thread / count / pitch?

[Sam Hainn]

Does anyone know the thread size, count, and/or pitch on a French MAS 49/56 7.5 muzzle end? I've removed the grenade launching ring and want to replace the flash hider with a muzzle brake but I can't find any specs or aftermarket for a replacement muzzle brake.

Anybody know the thread size or where a replacement brake can be found?

Before a debate breaks out on brakes - the majority of the flash hiders on the 49/56 guns that came into America ARE flash-hiders and NOT muzzle brakes. The position of the holes and the large bore drilled out are clear indicators. They were intended as flash-hiders at first but soldiers complained they didn't work - the inner diameters were too small (I think 9mm) and worked as muzzle brakes, so they were later drilled out to either 11mm or 14mm to work as flash hiders. The following photos are from the Buddy Hinton collection showing the differences between type 1 and type 2 flash hiders, and the rare TRUE muzzle brake almost never seen in the US with its smaller bore:

[whatever]

Have you ever shot one of these at night? They definitely do NOT hide any flash. More like a flash enhancer.

[whatever]

To answer your question, I just did a google search and found this info posted by "kelt":
The thread at the end of the 49-56 barrel is dia 16.8mmx100, left turn, length 22mm, after a 15mm dia by 6mm long barrel start.
The barrel itself is 17mm dia.

[Sam Hainn]

Have you ever shot one of these at night? They definitely do NOT hide any flash. More like a flash enhancer.

Oh, I completely agree! That is a big reason why the debate exists if a flash-hider or not. As short and open as they are I don't see how it could ever hide any flash especially with the power of 7.5 French. There's even a longer special made clamp on night-time flash-hider for that purpose with night sights (which I also own).

It's all semantics to the DOJ & I don't want to have to prove to them it doesn't hide flash - I would rather swap it - I prefer a muzzle brake anyway.

Big thanks on the thread information - I have no idea what you did to find it that I didn't do - your Google-fu is much stronger and I am a mere novice.

[smle-man]

Oh, I completely agree! That is a big reason why the debate exists if a flash-hider or not. As short and open as they are I don't see how it could ever hide any flash especially with the power of 7.5 French. There's even a longer special made clamp on night-time flash-hider for that purpose with night sights (which I also own).

It's all semantics to the DOJ & I don't want to have to prove to them it doesn't hide flash - I would rather swap it - I prefer a muzzle brake anyway.

Big thanks on the thread information - I have no idea what you did to find it that I didn't do - your Google-fu is much stronger and I am a mere novice.

Kelt posts on the French arms section of the Gunboards forum. Thanks for the thread info, I've been thinking of doing the same thing to my 49/56.

[dfletcher]

I have a 49/56 also - how did you get the thing off? I see the washers & cuts they set into & can't quite do it. Also, is it convetional unscrew or to the left?

[berg]

There is a washer that sits between the brake and the tightening ring behind it. The washer is usually staked into the little recessed areas in the locking ring. Stick a punch in there and bend the washer out. To unscrew the brake either slide a longer punch through some holes in the brake to use as leverage, are use some sort of wrench. It unscrews in the normal fashion, lefty loosey. It's very tight but it will come loose.

[dfletcher]

Thanks - I got as far as fiddling with the washer & cuts.

[marlim4]

Mine didn't come with a muzzle break just the launcher which I have already taken off. Interesting....