Mauser Model 45 rifle and MAS model 45

5.5mm (22LR)
 

Mauser rifle Model 45 single shot

Mauser carbine Model 45

MAS Rifle Model 45

 
Information: 
Weapon length: 1120 mm (Mauser Model 45)
1085 mm (MAS Model 45)

Barrel length: 660 mm (Mauser Model 45)

610 mm (MAS Model 45)

Length of the line of sight: 715 mm Height: 260 mm

Weight empty: 3.800 kg (Mauser Model 45)

3.600 kg (MAS Model 45)

Loaded Weight: 3.840 kg (Mauser Model 45)

3.640 kg (MAS Model 45)

Magazine Capacity: single shot (Mauser Model 45 single loading)

5 rounds (Mauser Model 45 and MAS 45)

Caliber: 5.5 mm
Ammunition: .22 LR

Cartridges used: regulations made by MFC M or trade cartridges

Rifling: 4 groove, RH, 1 turn in 420 mm (German)
4 groove, LH, 1 turn in 420 mm (French)

Velocity: 310-380 m / s

Energy (Eo):

Practice shooting speed: 12-15 strokes / min

Practice Range: 50 m
Maximum effective range: 100 m

                                                                                                                                   
       

 
Main Features:
Classification: Individual long gun, non-automatic
Subdivision: Training weapon
Use: Short distance firing: (Practice rifle)
Closure System: bolt action
Feed: manual, independent Magazine
Percussion system: straight percussion, armed closed breech
Extraction: normal action extractor, blade hook
Ejection spring claw: Fixed projecting, integral to receiver
Safety: locking by the helical ramp of the breech lock ring Collar: flag Mauser-type
Sights: Blade front w/ramp, Tangent rear, adjustable for windage and elevation (30-150 meters)
Accessories: none
Bayonet: none
Markings: Manufacturer and model number (on the receiver)
Finish: Fully blued or phosphate
Manufacturers: Waffenfabrik Mauser in Oberndorf am Neckar (Mauser Model 45)
St -Etienne (Mauser Model 45 and MAS 45)

                                                                                                  

    

 
History:
The history of the Mas 45 is a bit more complex.The Mauser factory at Oberndorff was captured by French
Forces on 20 April, 1945. The French Army had that factory resume production of K98 rifles and P38 pistols in
August 1945. They then ordered .22 trainers also, and Mauser engineers produced the Mod.45, which closely
resembles the KKW, but with a rear peep sight as per French specs (the German models had a tangent rear
sight). About 8000 of them were produced in Oberndorff, until the Soviets asked the factory to be closed in
August 1946, because the manufacture of weapons was banned in Germany. Before the French Army blew up
the plant they had its equipment transferred to France.

The production of the .22 trainer was resumed in France, first in Mulhouse, then in Saint Etienne. The first
hundreds were assembled from German made parts and have combined Mauser/MAS markings, but all the
others were from French made parts, with only MAS markings. The two models are not identical: the Mauser is
blued vs. the MAS parkerised, the Mauser barrel is slightly longer than the MAS one, and it is grooved to the
right vs the French one to the left. A great number of them were manufactured in Saint Etienne (hence the name
MAS for Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Etienne) as trainers for the armed forces and even for the civilian
market, well into the nineteen sixties. It is an excellent rifle, of excellent quality, although a bit heavy because
of the barrel.

St Etienne. The first focus was on the Mauser logo receiver, followed by "Fab MAS" (manufacture MAS), then
the MAS logo.

There are three types of rifle-type 45:

1 - The Mauser 45 single loading model which has no magazine. The shooter must manually load each cartridge
into the chamber.

2 - The Mauser 45 magazine model.

3 - The MAS 45 magazine model which is slightly shorter than the Mauser.

The rationale of using the .22 LR cartridge was for the recruits to practice during their classes without suffering
the disadvantages of noise and violent recoil, and to afterward transition to a higher caliber.
The coming of the FAMAS and his 5.56mm ammunition, overthrew the practice of shooting instruction.
Thus ends the career of this weapon’s robust, reliable and simple instruction within armies. Nevertheless it
continues a second life as a fine small caliber sporting rifle. 
 

        
Operation and constitution:
The MAS 45 includes five parts: the barreled action, bolt, trigger, wood and trim. The barreled action consists of the
barrel which is screwed from its rear to the receiver. 

Barreled Action MAS 45

Barreled Actions:

Mauser Model 45 (top) and MAS 45 (bottom) showing length difference of the two arms:
The sights are divided between the barrel and receiver, with front ramp and tangent rear

    

 
 Tangent rear sight

            

Elevation position 30 meters: rear peep sight

The receiver is hollow to permit passage of the bolt, it includes, on its left side the bolt stop. Projecting on the receiver’s
inside, is the ejector (an integral part of the receiver).

The trigger system is fixed under the receiver by a pin.

                                                   

 
    

Closed bolt: Bolt open: Open bolt:

Cartridge is ready to be chambered:

   
Armed: Fired: Bolt stop:

                                                                       
                                                                                             Trigger system:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The bolt comprises three main parts, the shroud (with the cocking piece and safety), the lock ring (part of the bolt handle),
and the bolt body which contains the firing pin and spring (see dismantling summary):
 

                                   
Close-up of bolt: Striker is eccentric like any rimfire weapon:

           

           

          
Left: Safety lever in "fire" position.
Center: Safety lever in the no.1 safety position (in this position the bolt can be opened, but the striker is locked and
armed).
Right: Safety lever in the no. 2 safety position (in this position the firing pin is still blocked, but the bolt cannot be
opened)
 
 
 
 
 
 The magazine is contained in the floor plate which incorporates a corrugated magazine catch:

                                                          
Magazine installed: Magazine removed:
 
The stock is of oiled ash and is one piece:

 
 
The Sling swivels, trigger guard and the butt plate are of quality steel:

                                   
Sling swivels
Note: The front swivel is integrated into the disassembly screw, where a socket is welded to the barrel:
 

Trigger guard: Butt plate:

 
 
 
 The top of the receiver comprises the marking of the manufacturer and the model:

 
  Mauser Model 45 (unspecified model): Mauser Model 45: Mauser Model 45 by MAS:
 
 
 

  Mauser Model 45 by MAS (variant): MAS Model 45:

 
The right side of the receiver has the registration number preceded by a series of letter

 
 
 Other Markings
 

Mauser Butt plate: MAS Butt plate:

Model on the bottom of the magazine:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Disassembly and reassembly:
 
The soldier was allowed to partially disassemble the weapon. Routine maintenance was to clean the barrel with the
cleaning rod and remove and clean the bolt. For more extensive cleaning, the soldier could remove the bolt and the
magazine. 
 
Summary dismantling for cleaning: 
 
Removing the bolt:

With the safety on "fire", open the bolt and bring back until it stops against the bolt stop, pull the bolt stop out from the
front and pull the bolt out from the rear. 

 
 
Full dismantling for cleaning consists of two phases:

Dismantling the bolt and removing the magazine:

Dismantling the bolt:

Remove the bolt from the rifle with the safety in the No. 1 position.
Depress the shroud release button and rotate the shroud assembly 1/4 turn Clockwise to separate the assembly from the
bolt body.
 

 
 Dismantling the Magazine:

Lift the leg of the spring projecting from the left side of the bottom plate and push the bottom plate forward while
holding the spring and extract the spring and follower from the magazine body.
 

Complete disassembly (six steps):

Only done by an armorer who has the necessary tools.

Removing the barreled action, firing pin assembly, bolt shroud, eyepiece, and bolt stop,
Disassembly and removal of the linings of the feed mechanism.

1 - Removing the barreled action:

Unscrew the forward sling swivel

Remove the cap screws from the trigger guard assembly (1 at the rear of the guard and 2 in front of the magazine well).
Separate the stock from the barreled action.
2 - Disassembly of the firing pin assembly:

Separate the firing pin assembly from the bolt.

Press the tip of the striker vertically on a soft surface (wood of a table for example) until the cocking piece is down
enough to release the safety lever then pull the safety lever from shroud.
Separate the cocking piece from the striker,
Let the firing pin spring decompress slowly, separating the firing pin and shroud

. 

3 - Disassembly of the trigger and sear:

Remove the trigger axis pin from its housing on the receiver and remove the trigger and spring.
4 - Removing the rear sight eyepiece:

Remove both screws from the sides of the eyepiece and remove the eyepiece.

5 - Removing a bolt catch:

Remove the needle-screw from the bolt stop and separate the stop from the receiver.
6 - Removal of Magazine box:

Remove the center screw of trigger guard and separate from the stock. Separate the magazine catch axis pin from the
magazine catch and remove from the magazine box.

 
Remove the screws securing the butt plate, and remove the butt plate from the stock.
 Complete disassembly finished:

Reassembly:

In the reverse order, not forgetting to function test.

Accessories: 
Shooting strap:

                                                                                             Shooting strap
Manual:

Magazine:

Cleaning Rod:

Cleaning rod

View of the handle and its three areas knurls: View of the thread:
 
 
 
 
 

 
Accessories store in handle of cleaning rod:

Cleaning accessories:

1brass brush
1 bore swab
1 cleaning patch