Carcano

[the priest]

Howdy,

After handling an old Carcano a few weeks ago I'm SERIOUSLY thinking of buying one and having it rebarreled to something more mainstream. I'm not sure what caliber yet. Maybe something slow and heavy,....maybe something light and fast. They housed the 8mm Mauser in some rifles so must have a reasonably strong action.

Why? I have to admit I was impressed with how small and quick handling that little sucker was. If it would shoot it might make a perfect truck gun/tag along rifle/mt gun.

Anyone have thoughts?

[the priest]

A good read on the rifle:

personal.stevens.edu/~gliberat/carcano/emary.html

[hoss]

Huh... never had the Carcano bug myself: it was all enfields, mausers and mosins... But, might be cool. I like the slow heavy combo these days... or fast heavy, but heavy all the same! Still haven't gotten my H&R shoulder cannon back... *sigh* You back in Joisey?

[the priest]

Yep,....and still haven't gotten to shoot.

That little pop-gun will handle the .35 Remington which is one I had been thinking about before this idea ever popped in the head.

Incidentally, that article (and many on the net) speak highly of this little rifle with proper bullets. Some claim 1" 100yrd accuracy. It appears the problem is this 6.5 uses .268 bullets instead of .264. It also says it'll do real close to the 6.5 Swede's(x55) performance with less brass and the smaller action. The steel was an abnormally high grade for the day too.

Another guy claimed it had the slickest action ever,....even when compared to the Enfield's.

All internet heresay of course.

[hoss]

I believe it. I knew folks that regularly hunted with the Carcs, I just never was drawn to em. 35 rem would make for a real handy bolt gun.

[church]

The head size on the Carcano round and 7.62x39 are pretty close, and the Russian cartridge is sure a lot more available than the Italian round.

[hoss]

oooh... 7.62x39 in a turnbolt has appeal for me... Hope you get some trigger time soon, man. I'm going tuesday. Finally goin home after 6 weeks of floatin!

[the priest]

6 weeks? I thought you were two out and back in? I've been on my buddy's boat a lot lately. Two days on it and come Monday morning my computer screen moves on it's own for a good day or so. (really)

I think a .358 Winchester will work in that thing too based on rim size and case length,.....or for that matter about any .308 offshoot.

[nobearsyet]

What the pressure vs. action strength issue? Be careful which one you pick

[the priest]

no pressure to strength issues to speak of. this rifle was running the 8 mm mauser which is just under 60k psi IIRC. That was with thinned bolt lugs, etc to make it fit (plus two stock enforcing bolts). one would think a shorter ctg should be more than fine with the same pressure because chopping wouldn't be necessary.

[nobearsyet]

I remeber reading something in one of the surplus gun magazines about the weaknesses in the Carcano bolt's design, PM me an adress and I'll send you the article.

[hoss]

I had always heard the 8mm conversions were just for lookin at: I heard the pressure was unkind to them. (but, I also heard the 93-95 mausers in 308 were no good, and HP White labs refuted that.)

[nobearsyet]

From what I read they are, and Carcano's are best left in the original caliber for strength reasons

[the priest]

i read recently of a carcano being test fired three times at 90k psi. the only comment was head space had increased slightly. no bears, thanks for the kind offer. what magazine was that article in and what is the title? i may have it. thanks.

[nobearsyet]

I was a guns and ammo periodical (one of the annuals, it's next to the thinking stool right now, but I'll get back to you)