According to a web based inflation calculator, the $19.95 Carcano would have cost $156.48, which is a very reasonable cost. It was not that long ago, (early 1990's) that I purchased new in the grease Lee Enfields for $60.00. Since the supply has dried up, prices have gone up. We have all lived too long, because we remember the "low prices" of the 50's, and 60's, but, if those are adjusted for Government created inflation, you can see how much the Government has debased the currency.
I believe Oswald did it alone and I have stood under the windows of the Texas Book Repository in Dealy Square and seen how close the President was to Oswald. The distances from the window to Kennedy's car were 58 yards to to 88 yards. As a Master Class rifle shooter, Expert Class small bore prone, Bullseye Sharpshooter, I am confident that I could have tagged everyone in the Car had I semi auto rifle, such as a Garand, and with a bolt gun, most of them. I have never shot a scoped Carcano, so I am not sure of the bolt clearance and bolt manipulation time. I have heard that Oswald was left eye dominate and shot off the left shoulder. If this is true, Oswald could have kept his right hand on the bolt knob, which would have made his cyclic rate very fast.
I was around back then and remember the Horror experienced by the Nation. It was as much, if not more, than the trauma experienced by the Nation after 911. At the time, it was beyond the concept of many that some insignificant nut could kill their charismatic President. Thus, the class of 1964 continues with their screwball conspiracy theories all based on the irrationality of the period. Their great President could not have been killed by an insignificant nobody, no, it has to be vast, powerful, hidden, titanic forces. Pawns can't take kings, only Kings can kill Kings.
Today lots of insignificant whack jobs commit mass murder, seems to be on a daily basis, so later generations don't have the problems that the Class of 64 have with the idea that a single wacko could kill a President.
I have handled Carcano's, read about the mechanism, I don't consider the rifle or round poor. The action is inferior to the Mauser, heck the M1903 Springfield is inferior to the 98 Mauser. But the Carcano and its 6.5 round was a proven battle rifle, light weight and light recoiling, and it killed tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of Soldiers. For someone on a budget, as Oswald was virtually broke, this rifle was not a bad choice.
This is a page from Oswald's Marine Score Book. He would have shot this slow fire standing. This is not a great 200 yard group, but, I have seen worse groups at 100 yards! Also, he was shooting an issue rifle, I had one bud who told me that when he qualified with an issue Garand, the rifle was loose and the barrel worn. To show the Range Officer how worn the rifle was, Bud took an issue 30-06 cartridge and inserted it, bullet down, into the muzzle. The barrel was so worn the cartridge stopped at the cartridge case neck. The Range Officer more or less told him "tough luck" and that is the rifle with which he qualified!
I believe Oswald did it alone and I have stood under the windows of the Texas Book Repository in Dealy Square and seen how close the President was to Oswald. The distances from the window to Kennedy's car were 58 yards to to 88 yards. As a Master Class rifle shooter, Expert Class small bore prone, Bullseye Sharpshooter, I am confident that I could have tagged everyone in the Car had I semi auto rifle, such as a Garand, and with a bolt gun, most of them. I have never shot a scoped Carcano, so I am not sure of the bolt clearance and bolt manipulation time. I have heard that Oswald was left eye dominate and shot off the left shoulder. If this is true, Oswald could have kept his right hand on the bolt knob, which would have made his cyclic rate very fast.
I was around back then and remember the Horror experienced by the Nation. It was as much, if not more, than the trauma experienced by the Nation after 911. At the time, it was beyond the concept of many that some insignificant nut could kill their charismatic President. Thus, the class of 1964 continues with their screwball conspiracy theories all based on the irrationality of the period. Their great President could not have been killed by an insignificant nobody, no, it has to be vast, powerful, hidden, titanic forces. Pawns can't take kings, only Kings can kill Kings.
Today lots of insignificant whack jobs commit mass murder, seems to be on a daily basis, so later generations don't have the problems that the Class of 64 have with the idea that a single wacko could kill a President.
I have handled Carcano's, read about the mechanism, I don't consider the rifle or round poor. The action is inferior to the Mauser, heck the M1903 Springfield is inferior to the 98 Mauser. But the Carcano and its 6.5 round was a proven battle rifle, light weight and light recoiling, and it killed tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of Soldiers. For someone on a budget, as Oswald was virtually broke, this rifle was not a bad choice.
This is a page from Oswald's Marine Score Book. He would have shot this slow fire standing. This is not a great 200 yard group, but, I have seen worse groups at 100 yards! Also, he was shooting an issue rifle, I had one bud who told me that when he qualified with an issue Garand, the rifle was loose and the barrel worn. To show the Range Officer how worn the rifle was, Bud took an issue 30-06 cartridge and inserted it, bullet down, into the muzzle. The barrel was so worn the cartridge stopped at the cartridge case neck. The Range Officer more or less told him "tough luck" and that is the rifle with which he qualified!
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