MAS Modèle 45 (MAS-45) .22 LR Bolt-Action Training Rifle, 24 in Barrel, 5+1 Capacity
This French .22 LR training rifle from Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne (MAS) is a Modèle 45, produced circa 1947–1965 and used in service into the 1970s. It features a 24-inch steel barrel with 4-groove, right-hand rifling at a 420 mm twist, receiver-mounted elevation sights to 150 m, and a one-piece hardwood stock. This example includes a detachable 5-round magazine and an attached leather sling.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: There are scattered scratches and blemishes consistent with prior use and handling. Small spots of cosmoline are present.
What’s Included
- 1x 5-round steel detachable box magazine
- Leather sling (attached)
The MAS-45 was designed as a rimfire training rifle for French forces, giving shooters a .22 LR platform that mirrored service rifle handling. Production at the MAS arsenal ran from about 1947 to 1965, and the pattern remained in use into the 1970s. Markings include the oval “MAS” logo over “Mod.45.”
Its bolt-action system uses a turned-down bolt handle and a Mauser-type wing safety on the bolt shroud. Feeding is from a detachable 5-round magazine, providing 5+1 capacity. The action and controls were built to deliver service-rifle style manipulation in a small-bore package.
The 24-inch steel barrel carries factory 4-groove, right-hand rifling with a 420 mm twist. This specification supports consistent .22 LR training performance and reflects the rifle’s original military training purpose.
Sighting is provided by iron sights: a receiver-mounted elevation ramp rear sight graduated to 150 m and a front rectangular post on a raised ramp with anti-glare serrations. This setup offers a clear sight picture and precise elevation adjustments for target training.
The rifle is full-size with a one-piece hardwood stock featuring a comfortable semi-pistol grip. Metalwork presents a matte gray finish, and the steel buttplate is stamped with the MAS logo, reinforcing its French military origin and arsenal heritage.