Touching up the Ugly Duckling
Apr 23, 2020 12:21:03 GMT -5
Shakey, Ken O'Neill, and 6 more like this
Post by tinkerpearce on Apr 23, 2020 12:21:03 GMT -5
I inherited an appallingly ugly and neglected 'Sporterized' Caracano M38 in 7.35x51 Carcano, along with a lot of ammo packaged in the factory clips. I literally couldn't give it away, so it sat around until I was presented with a chunk of walnut big enough to do a new stock for it. Since I was mostly hunting in the brush I shortened it to 16-1/4" (and before you ask, unlike the 6.5mm this gun does not have progressive rifling,) then made my first custom stock, in the style of a Mannlicher carbine. I also fabbed a custom front sight and mounted it, which miraculously resulted in the gun shooting to POA at fifty yards. The barrel is floated from the action forward. It's gone out a few seasons and taken some goats (ironically very much not in the brush,) but I still haven't gotten a deer with this gun.
With some time on my hands I re-worked a Picatinny rail mount- there are no scope mounts for these guns- and mounted a Bushnell red-dot. It's now bore-sighted and ready to dial in properly when I get it to the range. Originally I had made a steel butt-plate for it, but last time I was at the range I decided enough was enough. I'd found a used Pachmayr butt-pad in Pinto's clearance bin for $1, so I mated that to the stock and refinished the butt after. Much nicer now!
All-in with the optic, mount and sling the gun weighs 7lbs.1oz., and at 38-3/4" overall length it makes a very handy little package. I can hardly wait to get it out to the range and get it properly sighted in.
With some time on my hands I re-worked a Picatinny rail mount- there are no scope mounts for these guns- and mounted a Bushnell red-dot. It's now bore-sighted and ready to dial in properly when I get it to the range. Originally I had made a steel butt-plate for it, but last time I was at the range I decided enough was enough. I'd found a used Pachmayr butt-pad in Pinto's clearance bin for $1, so I mated that to the stock and refinished the butt after. Much nicer now!
All-in with the optic, mount and sling the gun weighs 7lbs.1oz., and at 38-3/4" overall length it makes a very handy little package. I can hardly wait to get it out to the range and get it properly sighted in.
