Wanted 6.5 Carcano Info
I'm thinking of buying one that is in great shape. I owned one many, many years ago and I seem to remember a warning about a bolt problem. Does anyoe know what the warning was? I'm also looking for brass and 140gr bullets & stripper clips if you have any to sell. Do you have any reloading information that I might find helpful? Why am I buying it - For some reason I always liked the rifle and now is my chance to pick one up again.
John
John in PA
John
John in PA
0
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I've often wished that Lee Harvey Oswald would have left information on how he was able to fire the Carcano at nearly full auto rate of fire.
Truly amazing how he was able to fire as fast and accurately as he did..................................
Inquiring minds would "still" like to know.
MAYBE the Warren Commission "didn't" tell us everything!!0 -
He had the Super-Duper 6.5 Carcano Model - there was only one made and it came with magic bullets.
John
John in PA0 -
I don't recall hearing anything about a bolt problem, but then I'm usually not listening when the Carcano subject comes up. Seriously, the basic action of the Carcano remained unchanged throughout its service life of some 50 years. If there ever was any real problem the Italians would hve changed the design somewhere along the line. I believe that standard miltary ball was 162gr. for the 6.5 mm and something like 128gr. for the 7.35. Norma offers brass and loaded ammunition for these old war horses, but five boxes of Norma facory loads will probably equal the value of the rifle.
You can spend your money as you please but buying a Carcano, even if it were new, is not a great investment. The rifles were never great to begin with, quality was only average, the action was solid but no Mauser, ammunition is expensive and hard to find, the guns are not very accurate (save in the hands of Lee Harvey) and there is zero collector interest except as the butt of numerious jokes. Not much to recommend it in my opinion. Hey, adjusted for inflation the Carcano's are cheaper now than they were in the glory days of the 1960's! I've heard many a man wish he'd layed away a stash of Lugers from way back then. Not too many are crying that they missed the Carcano boat. I'm
Capecod, I just can't help it.
"Trust me, I know what I'm doing!"
Mark T. Christian0 -
Yeehaa here we go! The Carcano Cowboy rides again!
There is nothing wrong with the bolt. What you may have heard is that the firing pin can snap off when firing and drive back into the shooters face, but this is an urban legend; not only is the Carcano as strong as any 2 lug Mauser but the firing pin is, in fact, retained quite safely.
Regarding loads- this gun originally was made to take .268" bullets; most manufacturers load with .264" as they are more available but Grafs and Sons now has the proper bullets, which are a lot more accurate. www.grafs.com
If you want some loaded ammo fairly cheap go to www.empirearms.com and this brass is reloadable. Also, NORMA makes ammo and brass, and 6.5 Mannlicher Shoenaur brass can be reformed and trimmed to use. I advise Hornady dies if you go with the .268" bullets, and specify that is what you want; if you go with regular bullets any dies will do but if you get Lee, get an RCBS shellholder #9 as the Lee is too large and strips rims. A few other good links are:
http://www.gunboards.com/forums/ (go to the Italian firearms forum)
http://attila.stevens-tech.edu/~glibera1/carcano/
I have had several of these and currently have 2, one in 6.5 and one in 7.35 in my collection.
"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf0 -
Jonk, I stepped out of line with my Carcano crack about the rifles having no collector interest. You have two in your collection now and I did not mean to insult you. I've also owned one or two myself. I'm just a starting member and should lay back and take it easier. I feel I have a lot to offer to the forum- 25+ years as a dealer and more as a collector. I've been enjoying myself here on the site for the past few days and I want to stay with you folks. I'll mind my manners from here on out...or at least until I get a few stars. I use my own name on the site. VERY SORRY. MTC
Mark T. Christian0 -
capecod,
I would not dismiss mark,s and jonk's comments. I have never owned one and never will. The reputation is not very good as an arm but then again I have never tested the metallurgy. If JFK was
actually murdered with the scoped Carcano from Klein's Sporting Goods,
well.......... Perhaps as a representative arm but I would never fire
one. My $.020 -
Well guys, we're all entitled to our opinions - pro & con. That's the most valuable thing about this forum there are a lot of years of combined experience available on it and you get to hear both sides - then its up to you to decide. So I decided right or wrong, I will go ahead and buy the Carcano and I will plan on shooting it just for fun.
Now if anyone can help me out by telling me where I can buy some brass for it at a reasonable price - I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks to all of you - I learned a lot in just one day.
John
John in PA0 -
Mark, I wasn't offended and I don't know why you would think I was.
Regarding collectability- I am only in my 20s but I am told that back in the 1960's, some stores were selling these rifles for $10 each, or throwing in a free rifle with the purchase of a box of Norma ammo. Now I never see one go for less than $60 even in ratty shape, and really nice ones fetch well over $100, with rare makers and exceptional condition commanding $200. Not as good as a Springfield or German Mauser perhaps (and not as well made either) but worth having anyhow.
Regarding strength- a Texas state info video was commissioned to blow up a Carcano for a safety briefing on reloading or some such. When the guy making the video tried to do it, he found that even a case full of Bullseye would not destroy the gun; he had to use nitro glycerin in the end. Not as safe or strong as a 3 lug Mauser, but as I said, as good as any other 2 lug Mauser or Mannlicher. As for mettalurgy, I can't speak one way or the other, but consider that many have been around since the 1890's and used by military and civilians alike with no trouble, I can't imagine that it was anythign less than very good. I have never heard of a functional 6.5 or 7.35 blowing up with book loads or military surplus. Even the M38s rebored to 8mm have been found safe to shoot by some owners, though I think I would hesitate to use one myself, except perhaps with low pressure cast bullets.
As for my personal feelings, the Carcano is certainly NOT my favorite milsurp weapon, but I don't hold it in contempt like many other shooters. It is a good, solid action that served well for 60 years. Personally, I like the Enfield and Mauser better which is why I own far more Mausers than Carcanii. I might just like it as it is a bit of an underdog.
Just my $.02.
"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf0 -
I presently own three Carcano's, one in each caliber. Not show pieces for sure but using my favorite C.E.Harris load for cast bullets they are all a hoot to shoot! For the price they are hard to beat for fun plinking. nb 0 -
Don't know if it's what you refer to, I've never had 1 in my hands but remember that for the weapon to feed, the clips are necessary to engage the extractor properly. You cannot easily use as a single shot as with a Mauser because the extractor will not overide the rim. To feed single shot you have to hold the round in the proper position as the bolt slides forward so it will engage the rim under the extractor claw.
Edited by - Oneshy on 09/08/2002 00:47:310
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