Mas 49/56

[Snuffalofogus]

I have the opportunity to pick up a 49/56 for a damn good price, but the grenade launcher is in the way.

Any way to remove/disable the thing?

[scott.cr]

I saw a guy at the range with one once and his had no grenade launcher. I asked, and he told me it was pinned on.

I don't know how the rest of MAS rifles are assembled, but even if the launcher was welded on it would be easily removed with a lathe. You might not even have to take the barrel off the receiver if the bbl is long enough to go all the way through the lathe's headstock; the launcher could be parted off and the new muzzle surface recrowned inside of 20 minutes. Then cold blue.

If you need to expediently remove the launcher in another state before bringing the rifle home and there's no apparent way to remove it, you can hacksaw it carefully (use a steel hose clamp as a guide) and then get it recrowned.

[JPglee1]

If you need to expediently remove the launcher in another state before bringing the rifle home and there's no apparent way to remove it, you can hacksaw it carefully (use a steel hose clamp as a guide) and then get it recrowned.

I'd do the whole job with a pipe cutter, hacksaw, and some files... It can be done nicely if you take your time.


JP

[whatever]

It's pretty straightforward to remove it. There is a smaller locking ring behind the muzzlebrake which is held in place by a thin washer which is staked into some slots.

Tap the staked washer out of the slots and then unscrew the brake. You can use a hardened punch to slide through the holes in the brake to give you leverage and then unscrew. It's tight but it will come loose.

Just unscrew the brake, retaining ring, then slide off the launcher ring.

[lpspinner]

Does anyone know what size the threads are?

[larryh]

Mas 49/56

Curious if anyone has successfully transfered one into CA sans GL.
Are there issues relating to their C&R status if the GL is removed?

[anothergunnut]

Some of the big C&R retailers (like Interordnance) have been selling Yugo 59/66 to CA residents with the GL removed so they apparently don't think it is a problem.

[xenophobe]

California does not consider the MAS grenade launchers to be grenade launchers... They never read a translated manual that says they fire 22mm grenades.

36/51s and 49/56s are still legal to buy and sell here.

[saki302]

If you were ultra paranoid, you could turn down the factory GL say a few MMs, it would still look right after you reblue it, but would no longer function as a GL. I'm surprised no one tried to do this with the Yugo SKS GL, it would look more original- after all, who can tell if you took off 2-3mm and finished it correctly?

-Dave

[whatever]

Curious if anyone has successfully transfered one into CA sans GL.
Are there issues relating to their C&R status if the GL is removed?

I talked to a guy who Private Party transfered 2 over a few months at Big 5's in the Bay Area. This was a few years ago. His were like brand new too!

[JPglee1]

If you were ultra paranoid, you could turn down the factory GL say a few MMs, it would still look right after you reblue it, but would no longer function as a GL. I'm surprised no one tried to do this with the Yugo SKS GL, it would look more original- after all, who can tell if you took off 2-3mm and finished it correctly?

-Dave

When I got my Yugo in '03 it was one of the first w/the GL on it, and I DROS'd it and took it home with it in place

Now of course its long gone, it went bye-bye the next day. Now she's 16" and much handier.


JP

[slowjonn]

I got a MAS a few years ago sans GL. It too was in near new condition. The only problem I had was with some of the ammo I originally had for it. Wouldn't cycle. The 139 grain stuff cleared that right up. One of my favorite rifles.

[larryh]

Likely most FFL's would not want to transfer it in without the
GL and brake/flash hider(which is it?) removed?

[zatoh]

California does not consider the MAS grenade launchers to be grenade launchers... They never read a translated manual that says they fire 22mm grenades.

36/51s and 49/56s are still legal to buy and sell here.

I wouldn't want to tempt fate. The grenade launcher law is a separate law from the assault weapon law. They get a "destructive device" category all their own.

12301. (a) The term "destructive device," as used in this chapter, shall include any of the following weapons:
(2) Any bomb, grenade, explosive missile, or similar device or any launching device therefor.

12303. Any person, firm, or corporation who, within this state, possesses any destructive device, other than fixed ammunition of a caliber greater than .60 caliber, except as provided by this chapter, is guilty of a public offense and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed one year, or in state prison, or by a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Now here's the conundrum: if one law says that you may not possess them at all (the destructive device law) and the other says it's okay, so long as you register it (AW law), which one is right?

[NeoWeird]

Since the MAs 49/56 is 50+ years old it retains it's Curio and Relic status, even when not in factory/issued condition, because it is old enough to be a Relic. That's why even many sporterized firearms are still C&Rs even though they are not in factory or issued condition.