MAS 49/56

[tpractice]

Hello, I am new to the forums as well as new to world of C&R and I was wondering if anyone knows if the MAS 49/56 is legal to own here in California.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
tpractice

[Saigon1965]

Absolutely - Just can't have the "grenade launching" stuff on there -

[NaughtyMonkey]

I'm pretty sure they are Cali legal, I believe I've seen some sold here on Calguns.

[JeffM]

It's fine as long as the grenade launcher is removed or deactivated. I love mine. It's just a b*tch to feed, but the Privi 7.5 works great.

Stay away from the .308 conversions Century put out a few years ago unless you want to pay someone lots of money to fix it.

[tpractice]

Ok that's good to know. So if I were to buy one out of state should the grenade launcher be removed or deactivated before it was shipped here or can that be done after it was received.

[NaughtyMonkey]

It would have to be done before it entered Cali.

[smle-man]

The flash hider and grenade range ring has to come off before it comes to CA or you can have the ring removed, have the diameter of the flash hider enlarged so a RG won't slip over it. The flash hider and gas shut off still constitute a GL as the flash hider is the proper diameter to fit NATO rifle grenades. The ring just establishes how far they'll fly.

[JeffM]

The flash hider and grenade range ring has to come off before it comes to CA or you can have the ring removed, have the diameter of the flash hider enlarged so a RG won't slip over it. The flash hider and gas shut off still constitute a GL as the flash hider is the proper diameter to fit NATO rifle grenades. The ring just establishes how far they'll fly.

It's not quite that simple.

If the bold section were true, every AR with an A2 flash hider, or a muzzle device 22mm (IIRC) in diameter, would be a "grenade launcher" as they can accept NATO rifle grenades.

The problem really arises when a device is specifically intended to be a grenade launcher and serves no other purpose.

[nats_76]

Joined this group in search of just this question. Awesome site. Although I do have the .308 version. Now in search of the problem and fix, haven't had it out in years...but never had any feeding issues.

[tpractice]

Thanks everyone for your help. It looks like it's going to be difficult at best to get one of these. I seiously doubt I can get an out of state seller to remove the gl. Hell, half of them won't ship anything to California period. Maybe someday I'll get lucky, but in the meantime there's plenty of good guns out there.
tpractice

[smle-man]

It's not quite that simple.

If the bold section were true, every AR with an A2 flash hider, or a muzzle device 22mm (IIRC) in diameter, would be a "grenade launcher" as they can accept NATO rifle grenades.

The problem really arises when a device is specifically intended to be a grenade launcher and serves no other purpose.

The flash hider on an AR/M16 is designed for launching grenades - fortunately no one at the DOJ seems to consider this a problem as the flash hider properties catch their attention. However, an aggressive interpertation of the law could cause a problem for a shooter. Why take the chance?

[Saigon1965]

They're out there - I've bought several guns that "needed" work before it got to my CA FFL - Stay focus -

Check on Gunboards.com - Private sellers tend to work with you more -

Thanks everyone for your help. It looks like it's going to be difficult at best to get one of these. I seiously doubt I can get an out of state seller to remove the gl. Hell, half of them won't ship anything to California period. Maybe someday I'll get lucky, but in the meantime there's plenty of good guns out there.
tpractice

[Khram]

I thought I was the only person that sort of likes and sort of collects French firearms. I missed a Mas49 around $200 6 years ago. Also a $100 non bubba Lebel. I want a Mac50.

[Saigon1965]

No you're not the only one nut - I just saw a 44 sold for a bit over 1k -

I just finished watching "The Battle of Algiers" - MAS were everywhere -

I thought I was the only person that sort of likes and sort of collects French firearms. I missed a Mas49 around $200 6 years ago. Also a $100 non bubba Lebel. I want a Mac50.

[JeffM]

I love mine. Over the last few years my passion for guns in general has waned, but some of the odd-ball stuff like the MAS keeps my interest peaked.