Carcano carbine

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cluttonfred

cluttonfred

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Christmas will start a bit early this year!

I just paid $229 to DK Firearms for a Moschetto Modello 1891 (the original 6.5x52mm WWI-era Carcano carbine with the folding bayonet) with one brass en bloc clip included. That would have totaled just $244 including shipping directly to me (first time I am actually using my C&R license) but I treated myself to four additional brass clips. Separately, I also ordered a 3D-printed MVU single-shot adapter for shooting without the clips without damaging the extractor. That makes about $310 all in, not bad at all.

I'll post pics when everything arrives. Now if only somebody would get the ammo back in stock again. :-/

Cheers,

Matthew
 
cluttonfred said:
Christmas will start a bit early this year!

I just paid $229 to DK Firearms for a Moschetto Modello 1891 (the original 6.5x52mm WWI-era Carcano carbine with the folding bayonet) with one brass en bloc clip included. That would have totaled just $244 including shipping directly to me (first time I am actually using my C&R license) but I treated myself to four additional brass clips. Separately, I also ordered a 3D-printed MVU single-shot adapter for shooting without the clips without damaging the extractor. That makes about $310 all in, not bad at all.

I'll post pics when everything arrives. Now if only somebody would get the ammo back in stock again. :-/

Cheers,

Matthew
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I bought one many years ago and they are a nice little carbine. Norma and Prvi Partisan still make this ammo, but it is a bit pricey. Enjoy your new to you carbine!
 
You might want to get on an in-stock email notify list at SG or J&G for your ammo. I waited two months for 6.5 x 52 to come into stock, ordered a couple boxes of PPU, then when I wanted to order some more a couple weeks later they were out already. Norma's prices are outlandish and if you want PPU you'll have to wait. Hopefully they'll discover there's more demand now with all the Carcanos coming into the market.
 
tark said:
There is a problem with PPUs 6.5 Carcano ammo. It's loaded with .264 dia. bullets. Carcano's bore .268.
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It's my understanding they were set to address that with new production, but I can't find the reference now.

Some people that complain about Carcanos shooting way too high just aren't familiar with the proper sight picture to use.
 
tark said:
There is a problem with PPUs 6.5 Carcano ammo. It's loaded with .264 dia. bullets. Carcano's bore .268. They will fire OK but may have poor accuracy. Norma ammo is pricy but loaded with the right dia. bullet. ( I think !! )
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tark is partially correct. Both Norma and PPU ammunition is loaded with .264 diameter bullets and the Carcano has a .268 diameter bore. The Norma "Alaskan" and "Oryx" are top notch bullets but not the correct diameter. PPU makes a .266 diameter bullet (123 grains) that is marketed for loading the 6.5 Carcano (and other 6.5s that have had severely shot out bores) and Hornady at least used to have a bullet at .267 diameter/159 grains. Hornady currently makes a 160 grain bullet with a similar profile as the original round that seems to be a little more accurate. Maybe they still do. I've seen it listed as discontinued but it still seems to be available - or at least it was before the latest panic. There is another issue with Norma ammunition in that the case rims are thicker than what the extractors are designed for. This raises issues with some clips and rifles. This is not an issue with my Carcano so I don't pay that much attention to it. I have not heard of this occurring with PPU brass. Along the same lines, the thickness of the rims does mean I have to be mindful of what I'm doing when I'm handloading ammunition in that it is easy for Norma cases to get stuck in the case holder. I could go on further but this is long as it is...

I really like my Carcano. It is fun to shoot, not too much recoil, and with proper bullets it shoots at least to my ability out to two hundred yards. I hope your experience is similar. It's great to have a piece of history.
 
wiscoaster said:
For reloaders, PPU sells a 0.268 diameter 139 grain bullet: https://www.grafs.com/dealer/catalog/product/productId/29100
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https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIAxAC&usg=AOvVaw2_9_Sz7MCIswLcZjXHr3Ok

The 2016 PPU catalog shows some PPU 6.5X52mm factory ammunition was loaded with that bullet, B-605 nominal 6.5mm .268", as well as another bullet designated as "New" B-352, 123 grain SP nominal 6.5mm .268" which oughta be great hunting ammunition for rifles chambered for the 6.5X52mm cartridge.

So how does one determine if the PPU 6.5X52mm factory ammunition available for purchase from any given retailer was loaded with the B-605 nominal 6.5mm .268" 139 grain FMJBT vs B-083 nominal 6.5mm .263" 139 grain FMJBT, before actually purchasingany live ammunition which typically has a "No Returns" policy at retailers?

Similarly, how does one determine if the PPU 6.5X52mm factory ammunition available for purchase from any given retailer was loaded with the B-352 nominal 6.5mm .268" 123 grain SP vs the B-117 nominal 6.5mm .263" 123 grain SP?

One thing would be if the ammunition was manufactured before 2016, it's unlikely either of these .268" bullets were used since the PPU 2016 catalog shows those two bullets, and factory ammunition loaded with those two bullets, as something "New". I

I suppose if the retailer would send the factory lot code info inside the box to a potential purchaser, that prospective purchaser forwards that info to PPU USA to determine details of that factory ammunition.

And of course if there's a B&M retailer convenient to a prospective purchaser with PPU 6.5X52mm factory ammunition in stock, a prospective purchaser could measure the bullet diameters of that ammunition the retailer physically has in stock. Since 6.5X52mm factory ammunition isn't in widespread demand in the USA currently, it's unlikely (though possible) this could be an option for some potential purchasers at some point in time.

The other thought is if the retailer is willing to measure the bullet diameters in the PPU 6.5X52mm factory ammunition the retailer would use to fulfill an order placed by a prospective purchaser.

There may
 
I have a handful of PPU boxes for Carcano 6.5, it's listed on the box what size they used. I recall all mine say .264. I haven't shot either guns yet. Not worried about accuracy too much, just to enjoy a firearm thats been thru both World Wars. One was made in 1908, the other in 1912
 
Carcano brass is extremely rare now as well due to the influx. Not exactly much around to begin with.

There is a lot of 218 rounds of Prvi factory ammo on Gunbroker.

Asking price is $650.

You’ve got a situation where barely anyone was shooting this ammo and it is being produced in limited quantities in factory runs. Same for brass. Now you have hundreds if not thousands of people buying their $199 Carcano carbine and desiring ammunition to shoot in it. It simply doesn’t exist, especially in today’s market.

I considered buying one of these Carcano from the web but sobered up quickly after thinking it through. Ammo and components are going to be ridiculously hard to come by in that caliber for the foreseeable future.
 
I like the one I have.

I dont like the sights, though, as you have to "bury" the front sights tip into the bottom of the rear sights "V" notch.
Once your used to the sight, they do well enough and are battle set at 200 yards I believe.....might be 150, Im not sure, but worth looking into so you dont damn all things spaghetti when you cannot hit anything.....like me......LOL!!
Once I learned the sights, I quit shooting things over the ridge and just scaring thing....

You gotta Good price, too!!
 
I'm willing to wait. There's a lot of these 6.5x52 Carcanos on the market and being sold into private ownership. Once this Chinese virus pandemic is over, PPU is going to respond to the market and begin producing more factory new ammo. Have patience guys, it'll probably be OK. The only possible fly in the ointment is a political fly, and we aren't allowed to discuss that here, and its outcome is yet to be determined, anyway.
 
wiscoaster said:
I'm willing to wait. There's a lot of these 6.5x52 Carcanos on the market and being sold into private ownership. Once this Chinese virus pandemic is over, PPU is going to respond to the market and begin producing more factory new ammo. Have patience guys, it'll probably be OK. The only possible fly in the ointment is a political fly, and we aren't allowed to discuss that here, and its outcome is yet to be determined, anyway.
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I think I would rather buy these Carcano from the initial buyers.

Odds are, many people who are snatching these up aren’t going to be able to find any ammunition, or very very little ammo, so it isn’t like someone is going to shoot one out.

You’ll also be able to see the rifle you are getting. It’s a crapshoot buying these sight unseen milsurps online.

I predict these carbines will hit the open market at low prices once owners realize they bought a paperweight with no ammo available. I do hope Prvi or someone else makes more 6.5 Carcano. It would be neat for them to make new runs of the original round nose ammo too.
 
I agree. I knew ammo was scarce before ordering my rifle. If PPU was willing to make it before, then why wouldn't they or someone else be willing to do so now that there are thousands (?) of additional Carcanos hitting the U.S. milsurp market? Be patient and the ammo will come and, without getting into politics, I have never heard of any proposed U.S. gun regulation under any administration that would impact bolt action rifles.

wiscoaster said:
I'm willing to wait. There's a lot of these 6.5x52 Carcanos on the market and being sold into private ownership. Once this Chinese virus pandemic is over, PPU is going to respond to the market and begin producing more factory new ammo.
Click to expand...
 
cluttonfred said:
.... I have never heard of any proposed U.S. gun regulation under any administration that would impact bolt action rifles.
Click to expand...
Yes, but they are proposing a ban on online ammo sales. Do you have a LGS that's going to stock a hundred different rifle calibers for all the different hunting, sport and milsurp rifles that might exist in the community? Continued online sales is the only way you're going to be sure of continuing to get those esoteric rifle calibers.
 
As far as I know, all Carcanos are Italian-made. If people stopped buying every brand of gun that has been used in a criminal act, we'd all have to make our own flintlocks.
 
I was just pointing out its historical background. It never occured to me someone might not buy a Carcano because it was used so infamously. I hope anyone that was triggered by my post will reconsider and go ahead and buy a Carcano no matter its history.
 
Once the latest banic (is it too early to call it that?) settles down, Privi will probably manufacture a run of 6.5 Carcano. I wouldn't be in a hurry to buy a Carcano before that, as it's probably going to be sitting for a bit.

At $250, you can afford to just buy one and stick it in the back of your safe for a year or two, but it's not a deal I would kick myself for passing up either.
 
The Carcano M38 carbine was my first rifle, my dad paid $15 for it at a B&M store GI Surplus that closed in the 80's. It was in part an award for good grades and allowed me to go hunting with him, with him using a 303 SMLE he'd removed the top wood from. With no local source source of ammunition supply I sold my carbine in the later 1980's.

The fact that Oswald used such a firearm for a heinous act never was a topic of discussion nor barrier to ownership in my family. It was a great fit for my use as a spindly teenager metal buttplate & all! I had two of the en bloc clips that were included with the carbine when I sold it.
 
Wow...I didn't even know there was a bunch of Carcono's coming in. I've always wanted one. Not sure why more people don't re-load, as that solves the problem pretty well...in fact I don't see any problem. One does not need a lot of fancy stuff, bench presses, and all that to load a simple rifle cartridge. You can get a Lee hand-press, a set of dies, hand-priming tool and a scale for not much money. Way under $100 bucks.

So....who is importing them? All carbines, or rifles too?
 
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